As the Ithaca College men’s track and field team transitions into its outdoor season, there is one pole vaulter that stands out from the rest: senior Brendan Sheehan.

Unlike most athletes, long-distance runners often participate in three separate competition seasons throughout the academic year: cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring. This rigorous schedule — usually with no more than a week off between racing periods — comes with a great responsibility to manage not only time and academics, but also stress and injury prevention.