The World’s First Olympic Track
Each year, the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity selects 19 of the top undergraduate men from across the nation to attend the Tragos Quest to Greece. This is a powerful overseas experience that is unmatched in the fraternity world. Participants are stretched mentally and physically during a 10-day journey through Greece in mid-June. Each scholar prepares for the trip with multiple books, and various classic writings and plays. Once there, they get to see the very mountains and seas that serve as settings for these stories.
Let me just tell you, the Quest to Greece was unbelievable.
The trip pushed everyone to their limits — greek mythology and discussion on prior readings started at 7:00am and group debrief and hangout time sometimes went until 1:00am the following morning. Our views were breathtaking, our conversations made us vulnerable and took us out of our comfort zone, we made real connections to the origins of Greek life. I built some of the best relationships with brothers from across the nation. We walked 20,000 steps a day, toured nearly every archeological site in Greece, and stood where some major history has been made. Here’s my favorite moment of the trip.
We just arrived to Ancient Olympia. We walked past several stone platforms, where some of the greatest Olympic gold medalists of 800 BC were honored. We walk through the vaulted tunnel that leads to the stadium.
We took a moment to catch our breath as the atmosphere was beautiful and historic. This stadium was a holy-place for ancient-Greek athletes, as all sporting events that occurred here were dedicated to Zeus.
A group of 19 of the sharpest and most impressive SigEp men walked to the start line of the world’s first track. As we lined up on the world’s first starting line (see picture below) to take a run down the track, hundreds of visitors started to take notice.
They cleared the track, moved to the grassy banks on the side and started cheering. It felt like we were in the Olympics, getting ready to start the 100 meter sprint race for the Gold Medal. A daring lady walks to the middle of the track…
“ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!”
And we were off.
With adrenaline pumping through our veins, we ran as fast as we could.
We just ran amongst some of the greatest names in history.
As the 2016 Summer Olympics come to a close in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I can’t help but to reflect on this incredible journey through Greece.
— Zac Gillman, Austin Peay State ’15
