Junior pole vaulter Mallory Prelewicz was in a good position heading into the 2020 outdoor track & field campaign. On Feb. 21, she repeated as the America East Indoor pole vault champion. She was gearing up to capture her second straight conference outdoor title when the spring season was cancelled on March 12 due to COVID-19.

Prelewicz and her teammates have found support from each other during the past several weeks as well as from their Binghamton coaches and support stuff. She has also been able to have quality family time during the past month. All the while, Prelewicz and her teammates are getting motivated for the day they are able to return to training and competing.  

Take us through the day when you found out the spring season was cancelled and what it was like for you and your teammates.

The day that spring season was cancelled was a whirlwind.  I had practice that morning, and Coach kept checking his phone and updating us while meet after meet announced its cancellation.  We still had hope that we would at least have two meets and a conference championship when I left practice, but by that evening the NCAA had shut everything down.  My teammates and I were just in shock that the day before, we were gearing up for a full season. 

What were the next few days like before everyone left campus?

The few days before most people left campus was surreal.  It was especially hard saying good bye to seniors and wondering when the next time you would see them again would be.  It was a state of sad solidarity that everyone seemed to be in, supporting each other, and grieving the season together.

How has the team managed to stay close during this time? Do you sense the team chemistry getting stronger through this time?

I think this abrupt end to the season made everyone realize what they had been taking for granted.  For people who will be returning, I think that this has lit a fire for us to be focused and ready to give it everything we've got next year, because as this spring has proven, you never know when it can all be taken away from you.

What have you managed to do to stay in shape during this time?

Most tracks are closed, so I have been running around my neighborhood and following the circuits that the strength and conditioning coaches have been putting up on instagram.  They've been great at providing creative ideas for how to lift with no equipment.

How supportive have you coaches been during this time? How about any support staff at Binghamton University?

The coaches have been very supportive.  They aren't putting any added pressure on us to do crazy workouts, and pretend that we're still in season.  They want us to use this time to be with family and to do what makes us feel good, which I know is appreciated.

Since you have been home during this time -- what has it meant to be with your family?

It's been really nice to spend time with my family.  They are so supportive of me, but I rarely get to see them, so It's been good to reconnect.