My only connection with Track and Field is watching it as a spectator during the Olympic games. I enjoy watching the sprints-100m,200m because the athletes have such high energy and look like they are flying across the track in a matter of seconds. The endurance and strength of the athletes are reflected in the sport as they are forced to battle against some of the best and fastest athletes from around the world. Since track and field is not a team sport, each athlete is left on their own to reach the finish line before anyone else. I always found it fascinating that no matter where you are in the world, track and field is a common sport in every country. Paul Wilcox’s talk about the transatlantic series showed how track and field helped connect students from different colleges and countries in order to participate in a sport that they were all passionate about.

The historic rivalries between Oxford and Cambridge and Harvard and Yale are broken during the transatlantic games which encourage teamwork among different colleges who are participating to win together. Oxford are Cambridge are usually paired up along with Harvard and Yale and Cornell and Penn. The games allow either the American teams to travel to England or the English teams to come to America in order to participate in the event. Both the English and the Americans face a culture shock while traveling to the other country; however, they bridge the culture gap through their mutual passion for track and field. The athletes not only get the opportunity to participate in one of the most prestigious events for track and field, but also get the opportunity to form long lasting friendships. Wilcox is still on the board of the transatlantic series committee and fondly reminisced about his track and field days. The series is more than just a competition among the best track and field athletes, it is a coming together of different minds and cultures and the positive relationships that grow out of these interactions.