The little things have meant a lot for the University of Windsor Lancers' track and field team.
 
The men's team enters today's two-day OUA championship at York University having won 13 straight titles and 21 of the past 22.
 
The women have won the past two and six of the last seven.
 
"It is a source of pride for both the coaching staff and athletes," Lancers head coach Dennis Fairall said.
 
"No one wants to be on the team that breaks the streak."
 
The Lancers have boasted plenty of high-end talent over the years, but it's the team's ability to chip away at the opposition event after event that has kept them on top.
 
"A point for the team is a point for the team," Lancers third-year athlete T.J. Rodin said.
 
The 21-year-old Rodin, who is six-foot-four and 187 pounds, is seeded as a medallist in the men's pentathlon, but he's also seeded to score in the top eight in the 60-metre hurdles and high jump.
 
So, right after competing in the hurdles during the pentathlon today, he'll immediately turn around and try to qualify in the men's hurdles.
 
"You always want to pitch in for the team," said Rodin, who is part of a men's team ranked No. 1 in the CIS.
 
Rodin was a volleyball player before switching to track and has embraced Windsor's teamfirst concept.
 
"I like being part of it," he said. "You talk to other athletes (outside of Windsor) and they'll tell you that Windsor has the best team atmosphere."
 
The women's team might have a bigger challenge having lost so many high-end athletes to graduation, but Windsor enters the meet ranked No. 2 in the CIS behind Guelph.
 
"The fact that this team, with all the graduations last season, is currently ranked second in Canada shows a great deal of Lancer pride and spirit," Fairall said.
 
"They just won't let down." There have been athletes to step up and fill the void left by graduation and others, like Jaideene Lowe, that are hoping for a healthy return to form.
 
The 2009 OUA female rookie of the year in 2009, the 22-yearold Lowe has rebounded from an injury-plagued season a year ago and is seeded to medal in both the long jump and triple jump while reaching automatic qualifying standard for the CIS championships.

"It's the first time I've automatically qualified for CI's (in long jump)," Lowe said.
 
The fourth-year senior said there's a little pressure to pick up points for the team, but that responsibility doesn't just rest with her.
 
"I want to step up and get points for this team because it's such a big family," Lowe said. "We need every point and every point is vital, but I know everyone will give 110 per cent."
 
It's a formula that has served the Lancers well in the past and Lowe sees no reason why it won't work again this time around.
 
"I'm excited and I'm nervous," Lowe said of the meet. "I'll give everything I have and I'm sure everyone else will as well."

Courtesy of The Windsor Star