
Young teams look to make noise
Preview: UCF, Lincoln (Mo.), LSU have strong underclassmen
DIVISION I |
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Jordan Hasay |
Kimberly Duncan
Key Notes: |
Aurieyall Scott |
Tina Sutej |
Julie Labonte
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DIVISION II |
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Judith Riley |
Lauren Graham |
Indiria Spence |
Monica Kinney |
Melissa Walker |
DIVISION III |
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Erica Johnson |
Portia Jones |
Ashlynn Chavis |
Randelle Boots
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Keelie Finnel
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DIVISION I |
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Noting Oregon: The Ducks won the 2011 national championship by a large margin and are position to win it for the third consecutive year. Unlike many programs, Oregon is not completely dependent on one category. There were Ducks in the finals in sprints, distance races and field events. Their first, third and fourth-place finish in the mile did prove to clinch the title, and two of those runners will return this season. Also returning for Oregon is the entire runner-up distance medley relay team, eighth-place 1600m relay team, and its sixth-place finisher in the 60m dash. Also, sophomore Laura Roester will look to improve on her 15th-place finish at nationals in the 800m dash.
Noting LSU: The Tigers have finished in third at nationals for the past two seasons and look to bring home their first championship since 2004. They return their entire 1600m relay team which finished third last year. The strength of this team belongs to the sprinters as LSU returns two 200m dash finalists, a 60m dash finalist, and a national qualifier in the 400m dash. Where the Tigers will hurt some this year is the field events. They lost Brittani Carter, third-place finisher in the high jump, and Melissa Ogbourne, seventh-place finisher in the triple jump.
Noting UCF: The Knights may be in the most advantageous position entering the new season. While they only sent four individual performers to nationals, they earned a second-place finish in the 60m dash, eighth in the 200m dash, seventh in the long jump and third in the 60m hurdles. All of these athletes return. Two of their best sprinters are sophomores. UCF only placed 21st at the national championship meet but this young team, coming off its first C-USA championship and behind coach Caryl Smith -- reigning USTFCCA South Region coach of the year -- could be the team in March that makes a surprising stride toward the championship. |
DIVISION II |
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Noting Lincoln: A runner-up finish is usually considered a successful season, but not when that finish interrupted a run for a third consecutive national championship. The Tigers look to rectify that situation and will be back with a strong team. Two Tiger freshman made the finals in the 60m dash along with three underclassmen in the 200m and 400m dash finals. They also return three members of the championship 4X400 relay team.
Noting Grand Valley State: The Lakers look to follow-up on last year’s first national championship. They look well on their way returning 12 national qualifiers from last season. This includes the mile champion and another finalist, 5,000 meter champion and the 11th-place finisher, three members of the 4X400 relay team, three members of the distance medley relay, two top-five pole vault finishers,the top two shot-putters and the third and fourth-place weight throwers.
Noting Johnson C. Smith: Head Coach Lennox Graham took over the Golden Bull track and field program in 2007 and has had them on the incline ever since. In 2011, the Golden Bulls finished second in the CIAA championship to perennial power St. Augustine’s and seventh at nationals. The big race was the 60m hurdles as Johnson C. Smith sent four runners to the national finals and three are returning. Sophomore Danielle Williams was the best performer as she also made the finals in the 60m dash. |
DIVISION III |
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Noting Wartburg: After finishing two points behind national champion Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2011, Wartburg will look to improve one spot this season. The Knights return six of the eight athletes that qualified for nationals, and they won their ninth consecutive Iowa Conference title. Sophomore Camesha Goods put on a stellar performance finishing fourth in the 55 high hurdles and will be a key member of the 2012 team.
Noting Ilinois Wesleyan: The Titans only had one senior participate in the 2011 national championship race and still finished sixth overall. Senior Lauren Albert had an All-American performance finishing fifth in the 400 dash and participated on the runner-up 4X400 relay team that set a school-record. Illinois Wesleyan will also look to improve inside the conference also, after finishing second to North Central (Ill.) at the CCIW meet.
Noting MIT: The Engineers have some work to do if they want to duplicate or exceed last year’s impressive season. Karen Fisher was a national runner-up in the pole vault and Anna Holt-Gosselin had two All-American performances to help the Engineers to fourth place. Three runners return from the fifth-place 4X400 relay team and the distance medley relay team that finished sixth. Also, Lauren Kuntz finished sixth in the pole vault. |
Top Events | |||
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Jan. 14 -- MIT, Bates and Colby at MIT Invitational |
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Vs. |
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Jan. 20 -- LSU vs. Texas A&M Dual meet |
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Jan. 27-28 -- Tennessee, Penn State and Shippensburg at Penn State National Invitational |
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Jan. 27-28 -- Ashland, Findlay and Adrian at Findlay Classic |
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Feb. 3-4 -- Florida, Texas A&M and BYU at New Balance Collegiate Invitational |
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Feb. 3-4 -- Central (Iowa), Wartburg and Augustana (Ill.) at Wartburg Select |
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Feb. 10-11 -- Oregon, Washington and Stanford at Husky Classic |
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Feb. 10-11 -- Grand Valley St., Calvin and California (Pa.) at Grand Valley State Big Meet |
All Photos Courtesy of Athletic Departments