2013 - Incarnate Word Track & Field Preview

Incarnate Word Track and Field Preview

2013 Season – by Don Garrett

Incarnate Word came very close to a breakthrough season in 2012, yet fell short at the conference meet with 7^th place finishes for both its men’s and women’s team.  The women were just points out of 4^th place and the loss of just a few key athletes probably robbed them of finishing in the top half of the conference.

WOMEN  - lost only 2 point scorers from the 2012 point scorers  and one only scored on their sprint relay. Incarnate Word had a great recruiting class, among the best in the LSC, adding lots of depth and some kids who will impact the team immediately. The Cardinals outlook as they move to D-I appears to be quite good.

Lost – Jane Vosteen finished 2^nd in the HJ last year; Lauren Pratt ran on the sprint relay that finished 3^rd in 2012; Amanda Bishop had a great XC season in 2011, gaining newcomer of the year in the LSC after finishing 5^th at the LSC meet, yet she did not run after a few indoor meets and is no longer on the roster – should have been big contributor; Bailey Loyd – a contributor in the 2010-11 season, she sustained a series of injuries that scuttled the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

Key returnees – a solid core of returnees, with 83% of the 2012 points from the LSC meet returning

·         Stephanie Glatt – Sr - at the LSC meet, she was 7^th in the steeplechase, 8^th in the 5,000, then came back to run extremely well in the LSC this past fall, leading UIW with a 4^th place finish

·         Elvira Gonzales – Jr - after finishing 2^nd in the LSC 400 hurdles in the 2011 (along with 7^th in the 100 hurdles and 9^th in the long jump), she was injured and missed the 2012 season. Should be a huge addition for 2013.

·         Brittney Holcombe – Soph - 8^th in the LSC pole vault

·         Emma Jewell – Soph - after a strong 2011 XC campaign, she established herself as one of the top distance freshmen in the LSC with a 5^th place finish in the LSC steeple, plus finishing 15^th in the 5K

·         Stephanie Nelson – Soph - 5^th in the LSC long jump, she also helps in the sprints with a 13^th place in the 100

·         Zariah Noyola – Soph - tied for 3^rd in the HJ, she was also close to scoring in the 400 hurdles (10^th) and 100 hurdles (11^th)

·         Lilya Piskunova – Sr - 7^th in the heptathlon and 8^th in the javelin at the LSC outdoor meet

·         Marissa Shinsky – Jr - tied for 3^rd in the LSC outdoor high jump, also 2^nd in the LSC indoor invitational last year

·         Shaneve Swift – Jr - one of the premier sprinters in the LSC, finishing 2^nd in the 400, 4^th in the 200, 8^th in the 100 and anchoring both the 4x100 and 4x400 for UIW

Other returnees who could help: UIW had a large number of “almost scored” athletes, who include: Daniele Anane-Bedakoh – a Canadian transfer from Texas State who only finished 20^th in the 100 last year, yet is already a provisional national qualifier indoors this year in the sprints; Jacqueline Arnold – 19^th in the 800; Irma Garza – 10^th in the 800 and 11^th in the 1500, then was all-LSC in XC (10^th place) this past fall; Alyson Gonzales – 9^th in the 10K; Ebony Moore – 18^th in the long jump and 200; Hannah Peterson – 11^th in the heptathlon; Lawanda Sanders – 18^th in the 400.

Newcomers – Coach Derek Riedel had a banner year recruiting for his women’s team. Teamed up with a load of talented sophomores, this team looks strong for the next 2-3 years.

·         Christian “Rainy” Castaneda – fr from Laredo United South – won Dist 29-5A 1600 and 3200

·         Candida Chairez – Fr from Del Rio – 3^rd Dist 29-5A 1600

·         Ekaete Eduhoukwa  - Fr from Frisco Centennial – 4^th in the 4A long jump

·         Elizabeth Eduhoukwa – Fr from Frisco Centennial – in the Dist 9-4A meet, 5^th long jump and 6^th triple jump

·         Lindsey Frost – Fr from Gregory Portland – won the Dist 30-4A 1600 and 3200

·         Adriana “Ceci” Garcia – Fr from Laredo Alexander – 1^st in the Dist 29-5A, she finished 5^th in the Region IV-5A 800; then was all-LSC in XC this past fall with a 15^th place (the top 15 finishers get all-conference)

·         Whitney Handy – Fr from Cibolo Steele – 5^th in the 5A 4x100 relay, she also won the Dist 25-5A 100 hurdles

·         Crysta Hollins – Fr from Rockwall – 5^th in the Dist 10-4A 100 hurdles

·         Claudia Ramirez – Fr from Del Rio – in the Dist 29-5A meet, 4^th 3200 and 6^th in the 1600

·         Kaitlyn Savage – RS-Fr from Boerne Champion – 8^th in the 4A 1600 in 2011, she redshirted in 2012, then was 18^th in the LSC XC this past fall

·         Marine Vaillant – Jr from France – found solid times for her – 2:16 in the 800 and 4:37 in the 1500, but had a relatively disappointing XC season, finishing 24^th at the LSC meet

·         Jasmine Waring – Fr from San Antonio Randolph – at the 2A state meet, ran on the victorious 4x100 and 4x200 relays, as well as winning the Dist 29-2A high jump

MEN – the Cardinals men took heavier losses from their 2012 team and did not fill as many holes with recruiting as they did on the women’s team. Still a reasonably competitive team.

Athletes lost from last year: almost 1/3 (31%) of last year’s production lost, including: Adrian Carrillo – 4^th in the steeple; Leon Knights – 5^th in the HJ; Kenneth Pryor – 6^th in the HJ; Tobias Dreier – 8^th 10K, 10^th 5K; Lamar Edwards-Johnson, who ran on the 4x100 relay; Miles Thetford, who ran on the 4x400, plus Solomon Rotich, who only placed 19^th in the 10K last year, but who was 7^th in the 5K in 2011.

Key Returnees:

·         Eduardo Alexander – So – 3^rd LSC PV and 14^th in the 400 hurdles

·         Tommy Brown – Sr – 5^th LSC 100

·         Hilario Coronado – Sr – 8^th in the LSC steeple and 9^th in the 5K in 2011 – redshirted in 2012

·         Chance Dziuk – Jr – 4^th in the hammer throw

·         Corey McDonnough – Sr – 7^th LSC 400

Other returnees who could help: Chris Dewitt – So – 12^th LSC 100, 13^th 200; Matthew Harris – Soph - 9^th LSC long jump and 15^th 100; Will Havins – Jr - 10^th decathlon; Alejandro Hernandez – Jr – 12^th LSC 10K; Andrew Martinez – LSC 15^th discus and javelin; Cody McDonnough – 17^th LSC 400; Marcos Mora – So      - 17^th LSC 1500; Adan Narvaez – Jr – 12^th triple jump, 16^th 100; Michael Tate – 13^th LSC HJ in 2011; Edward Williams – 11^th LSC 110H.

Newcomers – a few kids who should provide some instant impact:

·         Ernest Aguilar – Fr from Devine – 2^nd Dist 27-3A shot put and discus

·         Matthew Crockett – Fr from Floresville – won the Dist 30-4A 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump, triple jump, plus 3^rd in the district high jump

·         Frantz Goring – Fr from Marion – 4^th in the 2A 200, plus he won the Dist 29-2A 400

·         Caleb Gutierrez – Fr from New Braunfels – won the Dist 25-5A 3200

·         Charles Hall – Fr from San Antonio St. Anthony’s – 2^nd in the TAPPS 5A 300 hurdles

·         Brandon Hernandez – Fr from San Antonio Central Catholic – 2^nd TAPPS 5A 3200

·         Michael Luevano – Fr from Boerne – 3^rd in the Dist 26-3A 800 and 1600

·         Javier Salas – Fr from San Antonio East Central – 9^th 5A 3200 and also won the Dist 28-5A 1600

·         Jacob Ulbricht – Fr from Smithson Valley – 5^th 4A PV

2013 - Angelo State Track & Field Preview

Angelo State Track and Field Preview

2013 season – by Don Garrett

In 2012, the Angelo women continued to build on their legacy as the top women’s team in the Lone Star Conference by winning the LSC outdoor crown – by a total of ½ point over ACU in the closest team championship race in LSC history.  A stirring anchor leg by then-freshman Jaylen Rodgers on the 4x400 moving from 3^rd to 2^nd saved the day for the Angelo women. The Angelo men slipped to 3^rd place in the team standings, finishing behind perennial champ ACU and the fast improving Hoggies from Kingsville. Both squads lost some firepower from 2012, but it appears to me that the losses are manageable and that both squads should remain at or near the top of the LSC.

WOMEN – lost 27.5% of their points from last year’s squad, including multi-talented Cathryn Rittenberry, but they have added some national class kids who should easily make up the points lost from 2012

Athletes lost – Kelsey Wilson Coffman (2^nd pole vault); Shelly Diggs (5^th 400 hurdles); Carmen Herrera (7^th triple jump; Alyssa Priest (6^th 1500, 8^th 800); the aforementioned Rittenberry (2^nd heptathlon, 3^rd 100 hurdles, 6^th long jump, 9^th triple jump); Jayda Spencer (3^rd discus, 5^th hammer). Also lost some athletes with eligibility left – Aimee Denham (3^rd pole vault) and Larissa Wilson (6^th in the LSC 100). Total of 54 of their 195.5 points from 2012 to be replaced.

Key Returnees – Angelo had a young squad last year and many of their freshmen (now sophomores) came through big for them:

·         Jessica Boudreau – Sr – 8^th in the LSC 10K in 2012, after placing 4^th in the 5K in 2011

·         Lexi Brooks -  Soph – 3^rd in the LSC 400 hurdles

·         Brittany Clarke – Sr – 6^th in the LSC triple jump after finishing 4^th in 2011

·         Emeline Crutcher – Sr – won the LSC 10K and was 3^rd in the 1500 in 2012, after finishing 2^nd in the 1500 and the 10K, plus a 3^rd in the 5K in 2011 – one of the top distance runners in the LSC running one last season in 2013

·         Keshawna Fisher – Sr – JC transfer finished a crucial 4^th in the LSC 400

·         Annifer Flores – Soph – lightly recruited distance runner had an excellent LSC meet, finishing 4^th in the 10K and 5^th in the 5K

·         Ashlie Frances – Soph – 4^th in the shot put and 5^th in the discus

·         Jordon Gray – Soph – 5^th in the LSC heptathlon, plus just missed scoring by finishing 9^th in both the long jump and the 100 hurdles – competing extremely well in the indoor season thus far in 2013

·         Kati Holly – Jr – 3^rd in the high jump, after finishing 2^nd in 2011

·         Monica McCafferty – Soph – 5^th in the 800, 6^th in the heptathlon and 8^th in the high jump

·         Jaylen Rodgers – Soph – won the 800 and was 10^th in the triple jump, plus that fantastic anchor leg on the 4x400

·         Theresa Sue – Sr – won the LSC 400 hurdles in 2011 and 2012, plus finishing 5^th in the 100 hurdles in 2012

·         Summer Sutherland – Sr – won the LSC pole vault in 2012 and 2010, with a redshirt year in between

·         Katy Williams – Jr – 4^th in the 2011 steeplechase, she finished a disappointing 12^th in 2012

·         Kimberly Williams – Jr – won the shot put and the javelin in 2012, along with 9^th place in the hammer – one of the top returning throwers in the LSC

Other Returnees who might help - a fairly short list, since most of their team members scored points in 2012, but there are a few: Kinsey Coppedge (15^th in the 100 and she actually did score on the 4x100 relay in 2012); Kami Orsak (10^th in the 10K in 2011, redshirted last year); Sofia Ramos (15^th in the LSC 800 in 2012, she scored in 2011 by finishing 5^th).

Newcomers – there are several on this list who should provide immediate help:

·         Starting with Kearah Danville – transfer from Jamaica and New Mexico Highlands who was the NCAA D-II national champ in the triple jump! At the outdoor national meet in 2012, she narrowly defeated ACU’s Amanda Ouedraogo – so the LSC has the 2 best triple jumpers in D-II, in fact, they are 2 of the top 8 collegiate triple jumpers in the nation at any level. Danville also finished 2^nd in the long jump and 5^th in the long jump at the Rocky Mountain Conference meet in 2012 – a true triple threat.

·         Jasmine Ambowode – a redshirt freshman from France who should be one of the top multi-athletes AND jumpers in the LSC

·         Shelbie Hutchens – transfer from Water Valley HS and South Plains College – 11^th in JC pole vault in 2012

·         Chastity King – freshman from Zephyr – 5^th in the 1A 1600

·         Rausalyn Miller – freshman from Crane, where she was one of the top small school sprinter/jumpers in the state – winning the 2A 200 and finishing 2^nd in the triple jump

·         Brittany Patterson – freshman from San Angelo Central, where she was 3^rd in the Dist 3-5A pole vault

This looks like the team to beat again in 2013 on the women’s side of the conference.

MEN – Angelo still scored a very respectable 152 points at conference, but they lose a considerable amount of firepower from that team, over 50% of their points from 2012 are gone.

Athletes lost – Angelo took heavy losses, not only from seniors, but from underclassmen no longer on the roster. The ones who have used up eligibility include: Bryan Barker (the grad asst for Angelo in 2012 who came to ASU with one year of college eligibility left and made the most of it – 3^rd in the LSC 1500 and steeple, 6^th in the 5K for 15 huge points); Robert Hummingbird (4^th in the 10K); Jacob McDonald – won both the pole vault and javelin for 20 huge points; Nick Smith (7^th in the 100). Lost tracksters with eligibility left include: Brendon West (2^nd in the 200, 7^th in the 200), Hewett Holmes (3^rd decathlon, plus 11^th in the long jump and javelin), Patrick Hunter (JC transfer who won the long jump and was 5^th in the triple jump); and Donald MacCarthy (6^th decathlon and 7^th pole vault). Plus, Chisam Akagha, who was 6^th in the 110 hurdles as a freshman in 2011, but hit a hurdle and went down in the prelims last year. These athletes represent 82 of the team’s 152 points or 54%. A lot to replace!

Key Returnees – as dire as I made it sound in the paragraph above, Angelo’s cupboard is not bare of outstanding returnees, including a key athlete who missed 2012 as a redshirt:

·         Nick Alejandro – Sr – missed last season as a redshirt, but was 3^rd in the hammer throw and 5^th in the shot put in the LSC meet in 2011

·         Isidro Garcia – Sr – 5^th in the LSC 400, be won that event in 2011 – finished 9^th in the 400 in the D-II meet in 2012

·         Dallas Gray – Soph – 3^rd in the LSC 400 and 10^th in the 200

·         Keaton Hatch – Jr – 2^nd in the LSC javelin, 6^th in the discus and 11^th in the hammer

·         Jeffrey Jones – Sr - 3^rd in the LSC 400 hurdles, 7^th in the 110 hurdles, and 12^th in the national meet 400 hurdles

·         Seth Pearson – Soph - 2^nd in the decathlon – one of most pleasant surprises for ASU at the 2012 LSC meet

·         Sean Reagan – Jr – 6^th in the shot put and 7^th in the discus after a transfer from UT-San Antonio

·         Mark Slone – Sr – 1^st in the LSC triple jump, as well as 11^th in the D-II TJ

·         Chris Sottak – Soph – 4^th in the LSC 800, after having the fastest time in the prelims

·         Ethan West – Sr – just missed the finals in the 110H (9^th place), but was 4^th in that race in 2011

Returnees who could help – Angelo can make up some of their big losses from returnees who just missed contributing in 2012. This group includes: Dalton Boyls (11^th in the triple jump and 13^th in the 400 hurdles); Tomas Callejas (13^th in the 10K); Jamin Goecker (12^th in the steeple, then was All-LSC by finishing 10^th in the LSC XC meet last fall – appears to have improved exponentially); Guy Henry (11^th 100); Dylan Littlejohn (10^th 1500, 13^th 5K – also part of a hugely improved ASU XC team, he finished 17^th in the LSC XC last fall); Robbie Thayer (15^th in both the 400 and the 400 hurdles); Isac Valdez (17^th in the 10K).

Newcomers – ASU has added a lot of bodies, including a few mid-term additions. It appears that this group can make up some of the points lost from last year. I do think this group has a lot of kids who will help Angelo 2-3 years down the road – lots of potential in some of the small town kids.

·         Alwin Flohr – Jr transfer from Germany – my German is spotty (2 years of HS Deutsch), but I did find a solid time of 10.44 in the 100 meters – a very competitive time in the LSC

·         Olisa Obietuna – Fr from Saugus, MA – he won the Massachusetts D-III long jump indoors and was 6^th at the New Balance National HS indoor triple jump; then finished 2^nd in both the MA Division III LJ and TJ – one of the top jumpers in Massachusetts

·         Tyler Brooks – Redshirt Fr from Canutillo – finished 4^th in the David Noble Decathlon unattached in 2012

·         Josh Day – Fr from Harper – at the 2A state track meet, he was 6^th in the 3200 and 7^th in the 1600

·         Graham Hazlewood – Fr from Round Rock – 2^nd in the Dist 16-5A 1600

·         Justin Lema – Fr from Bandera – 2^nd in the Dist 26-3A 800

·         Christian Lozoya – Fr from Los Fresnos – 6^th in the 5A pole vault at the state meet

·         Jarrett Lujan – Fr from Marfa – 3^rd in the 1A 800

·         Landon Meek – Fr from Wall – 7^th in the 2A 100, also won the Dist 7-2A 200 and was 2^nd in the long jump

·         Garrett Morris – Fr from Grandview – 2^nd in the 2A pole vault

·         Joe Owens – Fr from Salado – 8^th in the 3A 200, he was also on the 4^th place 4x100 relay at state for Salado

·         Luis Perez – Fr from North Forney – 8^th in the 3A 200

·         Hakeem Regis – Fr from North Forney – at the Region II-3A meet, he was 4^th in the triple jump and 5^th in the high jump, missing a trip to state in both by inches

·         Spencer Sims – Jr transfer from Graham and Wayland Baptist – was actually playing golf at WBU, but he was 4^th in the 3A 110H back in 2009, so there is some potential here

Angelo may take their lumps in 2013, but there is loads of potential here for the future. And, if their freshman produce as well as the Angelo freshmen women did in 2012, the ASU men could be right in the thick of it again this year. 

2013 - ACU Track & Field Preview

Abilene Christian University Track and Field Preview

2013 Season – by Don Garrett

ACU remained right at the top of the LSC world in 2012, with the men winning the LSC title (albeit by a scant 5.5 points over TAMU-Kingsville) and the women losing the women losing the title by ½ of a point to Angelo, the smallest margin in the history of the LSC. Both team races made an exciting LSC outdoor championship meet. The ACU teams face very different tasks in 2013 – the women have very few vacancies to fill after last season and appear to have filled those holes with some superstar quality athletes. The ACU men have to replace 54% of their points from last season, including replacing the greatest thrower in LSC history.

WOMEN – looks like another team championship brewing with Angelo State and with a fast-charging West Texas A&M

Athletes Lost – Karla Hope (3^rd in the 400 and 4^th in the long jump) and Alexis Wilder (6^th in the shot put and 3^rd in the hammer throw. Including relay legs, these 2 women represent 24 points or 12.5% of ACU’s total of 195 in 2012.

Key Returnees – lots of seniors finishing their careers for ACU in 2013 – next year will be a crucial recruiting year for the Wildcats as they move to the Southland Conf

·         Cassie Brooks – Sr - 4^th in the LSC heptathlon in 2012, after a 2011 season which saw her win the heptathlon, get 4^th in the high jump and 6^th in the 100 hurdles

·         Alyse Goldsmith – Sr – 3^rd in the 10K and 4^th in the 5K in 2012, after winning both events in 2011

·         Lauren Hartwick – Soph – 1^st LSC hammer throw

·         Emily Hill – Soph – 4^th LSC 800

·         Shalaina Lakey – Jr – 3^rd LSC hammer throw and 7^th discus

·         Amelia Mitchell – Jr – 2^nd LSC javelin in 2011 and 2012

·         Amanda Ouedraogo – Sr – 1^st triple jump and 7^th long jump; 2^nd in the D-II triple jump outdoors, after winning the national triple jump indoors

·         Karolyn Palmer – Soph – 3^rd LSC 100, also 11^th in the 100

·         Tara Riley – Jr – 2^nd discus and 5^th shot put

·         Ayesha Rumble – Sr – 2^nd LSC 800, 5^th 1500; 4^th in the D-II 800 at the national meet

·         Sydney Smith – Sr – 16^th in the LSC 100 in 2012, after finishing 3^rd in the 100 and 300 in 2011

·         Shennae Steele – Sr – 1^st LSC 100 and 200

·         Chloe Susset – Sr – 1^st LSC steeplechase and 1500, and 2^nd in the 5K (28 huge points)

·         Lexus Williams – Soph – 1^st 100 hurdles, 2^nd 400 hurdles; 6^th in the D-II 100 hurdles

Newcomers – only 2 newcomers (ACU has a very small team overall), but both are potential superstars

·         Elea Diarra – Soph from France – ran on the French 4x400 relay in the 2012 Olympics – should have a great impact in the 200/400

·         Reyare Thomas – Jr from Trinidad and Tobago – ran on the Trinidad 4x100 relay in the 2012 Olympics – she was the junior college 100/200 champ in 2012 for Central Arizona

ACU’s Achilles heel will undoubtedly be their lack of depth. They will need to see production from every single person on their roster. This recruiting year will be crucial to ACU, since at least 7 of their women finish their eligibility this year.

MEN – losses were heavy from 2012 – like I mentioned above 54% of their points are gone from last year. ACU had a relatively good recruiting year, bolstered by some walk-on kids who appear to have a future. It appears that they will see a dip in overall production in 2013 that might make it hard to defend their LSC outdoor championship for the 20^th consecutive year in their swan song in the LSC.

Athletes Lost – Dennis Bain (won the LSC 110 hurdles, plus 6^th in the 100 and 200; then 2^nd in the D-II 110 hurdles); Paris Robertson (3^rd 100, 4^th 200); Jake Schofield (8^th steeple, 9^th 1500); Will Pike (9^th in the 10K, after finishing 4^th in both the 5K and 10K in 2011); Michael Rason (4^th 110 hurdles); Levance Williams (2^nd long jump and triple jump and 4^th in the high jump in the first time he ever tried the event); Milo Parsons (6^th in the hammer throw – he is now the throwing coach for Hardin-Simmons); and Nick Jones – the greatest thrower in LSC history (1^st in the shot and discus, 3^rd in the hammer throw and 6^th in the javelin in his only time to ever compete in the event; he then won the D-II discus for the 4^th time and finished 3^rd in the shot, after winning the D-II indoor shot). Whew! Not easy to replace such great athletes.

Key Returnees – not all is lost, still some solid returnees for the ‘Cats. Lots of seniors on this squad as well, so recruiting is important to ACU to be a factor in the Southland Conference in 2014

·         Aaron Bynum – Jr - 4^th in the LSC javelin and 10^th in the discus

·         Jordan Geary – Sr – won the LSC 400 and finished 2^nd in the 200, national qualifier in both events

·         Darian Hogg – Jr – all-conference receiver finished 4^th triple jump and 5^th long jump in the LSC, qualifying in the long jump for nationals

·         Banjo Jaiyesimi – Sr – 3^rd LSC 800, 8^th 1500

·         Kevin Johnson – Sr – 2^nd LSC 110 hurdles (1^st in 2011); national qualifier in the event

·         Baptiste Kerjean – Sr – won the LSC hammer throw and was 3^rd at the D-II meet

·         Parker Petty – Sr – won the LSC decathlon in 2011 and 2012, plus finishing 4^th in the pole vault and 5^th in the javelin throw, before finishing 9^th in the D-II decathlon

·         Matthew Stark – Sr – 8^th in the decathlon and a three-way tie for 8^th in the pole vault (that is why both ACU and TAMU-K have a  1/3 point on their totals), after finishing 3^rd in the decathlon in 2011 – already a national qualifier for the indoor heptathlon this season

Returnees who could help – ACU can make up some of the 94 points lost from 2012 from within – there are several of these kids who could potentially score at conference: Osie Alleyn-Forte (13^th LSC 400 and younger brother of LSU All-American Ade Alleyn-Forte); Gary Duncan (24^th LSC 5K); Erik Forrister (9^th LSC 5K, 13^th 10K – missed scoring last year in the 5K by one-tenth of a second); James Grantham (22^nd LSC 800).

Newcomers – a solid bunch, but probably not enough to make up for all of those lost points from 2012

·         Malcolm Barnes – Fr from Cypress Creek – 5^th Region III-5A triple jump

·         Josh Bloom – Fr from Kingwood Park – won the Dist 18-4A shot put and discus

·         Devan Brown – Fr from Abilene Wylie – at the 3A state meet, he was 3^rd in the 100 and 5^th in the 200

·         Jonathan Farquharson – Fr from Orlando Christian Prep – in the Florida 1A state meet, he won the long jump and was 2^nd in both the 100 and 200

·         Bryton Fernandez – Fr from Abilene Christian HS – 2^nd in the TAPPS 2A high jump, plus 2^nd in the 4x100 and 3^rd in the 4x200

·         Keaton Hart – Fr from Houston Northland Christian – at the TAPPS 4A state meet he won the long jump, was 3^rd in the triple jump and 6^th in both the 100 and 200 – grandson of long-time ACU teacher and administrator, the late Dwain Hart

·         Andrew Hudson – Jr from Bushland and Oklahoma State – former 2A state discus champ, he was 10^th in the Big 12 discus in 2011 after a knee injury scuttled his football career at OSU – may help some with the loss of Nick Jones

·         Xavier King – Fr from Ontario – at the Ontario HS championships, he won the 2000 steeple and was 3^rd in the 1500 and 4^th in the 5K

·         Taylor Ochs – Fr from Midland Christian – 3^rd in the TAPPS 3A 800

·         Jelani Rainey – Fr from Lucas Lovejoy HS – won the Dist 11-3A shot put and discus

·         Jeremy Tatham – Fr from St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Florida – 4^th in the Florida 4A triple jump, he also went to state in the 110 and 400 hurdles – son of former All-American jumper Mazel Thomas Tatham

·         Luke Woods – Fr from Houston Northland Christian – at the TAPPS 4A state meet, he was 3^rd in the 300 hurdles and 4^th in the 110 hurdles – training as a decathlete

One of the better recruiting classes in the LSC this year – with a big emphasis on kids who will help down the way. 

2013 - Midwestern State Track Preview

Midwestern Track and Field Preview

2013 Season

Last year was the first year for Midwestern to compete in the LSC meet, I believe.  The Mustangs only field a women’s team in track and field and they have no field athletes. Their runners are virtually all distance runners, since they have a great cross country program – the LSC champs the past 4 years. Therefore, their preview is very different looking than the other schools.

Athletes lost – as short list: Lindsay Pate, who only finished 17^th in the 1500. Midwestern scored 15 points at the LSC track meet  last year and all of them are back.

Key Returnees – a strong cross country bunch who did not have great seasons on the track:

·         Melody Caldwell – Jr, from Saginaw Boswell - 8^th steeplechase

·         Janel Campbell – So, from Ingram Tom Moore – 6^th in the 10K and 10^th in the 5K

·         Ashley Flores – So, from Haltom City – 7^th in the 5K and 8^th in the 1500, she finished 6^th in the LSC XC meet in 2011 and 9^th in 2012

Returnees who could contribute – I was convinced that some of these kids would place at the conference track meet in 2012 – Sara Cuba (23^rd in the LSC XC meet in 2012, she redshirted XC this year, after placing in the 2A state meet in 2010 and 2011 for Holliday); Kim Krezonoski (17^th 1500, 19^th 5K); and her twin, Michelle Krezonoski (16^th 5K); Cara Mack (22^nd 1500, 26^th 5K, but 16^th in the LSC XC in 2010); Heather Owen (18^th 5K).

Newcomers – a very strong group, that includes the first quartermiler I have seen Midwestern recruit

·         Brittany Adams – Fr from Forth Worth Castleberry – at the 3A state meet, she was 3^rd in the 1600 and 4^th in the 3200

·         Danielle Androes – Fr from Prosper – 6^th in the 3A 1600 in Austin last spring

·         Danielle Chavaria – Jr transfer from Antelope Valley JC in California, where she was 11^th in the California junior college championships 5K

·         Tylor Farrar – Fr from Spearman – at the 2A state meet, 5^th 1600 and 7^th 3200

·         Carrie Finson – Fr from Topeka, KS, Jefferson West – at the KS 4A state meet, she was 8^th 3200 and 11^th 1600

·         C.J. Frizzell – Fr from Canyon HS – in the Dist 3-4A meet, she was 2^nd 800 and 3^rd 1600

·         Abigail Gonzalez – Jr transfer from Graham and Western Texas – at the JC national meet, she was 9^th 10K and 10^th in the 5K

·         Katy Kipp – Fr from Fort Worth Castleberry – 2^nd Dist 11-3A 800

·         Alex Kohrs – Fr from Highlands Ranch, CO, Thunder Ridge HS – 8^th in the Continental League 1600

·         Ana Lopez – Fr from Hereford – 6^th in the 4A 1600

·         Maira Salinas – Fr from Luling – in the 2A state meet, 4^th in the 3200 and 6^th in the 1600

·         Darianna Walker – Fr from Burkburnett – 4^th in the Region I-3A 400 last year, she placed 4^th in the 3A 400 back in 2010

A team made up almost exclusively of distance runners, but they have some good returnees and a huge number of newcomers who have experience at the highest level of HS competition – the Texas HS state track meet. I would not be surprised to see them score 25 or even 30 points this year (compared to the 15 scored last season). They could well effect the final champion of the LSC based from whom they take away those points. 

2013 - Harding Track Preview

Harding Track and Field Preview

2013 Season – by Don Garrett

What? You say. Why do a profile on Harding, who left the LSC after 5 years of membership to move first to the Gulf South Conference, than 2 years ago to the newly formed Great America Conference. However, the GAC does not have a conference track meet – indoors or outdoors. Harding has spent the past several years as an independent in track and field. Several coaches in the LSC wanted to see the conference host an indoor track championship. The NCAA will help pay for a conference championship, BUT only if there are 6 schools that sponsor that sport in both genders. By adding Harding as an affiliate member, the LSC has 6 schools that will send a men’s team to the new LSC indoor championship – ACU, Incarnate Word, Harding, Eastern New Mexico, TAMU-Kingsville, and West Texas A&M. There will be 8 teams on the women’s side – these 6 schools, plus Angelo which will only send a women’s team indoors and Midwestern, which only fields a women’s team. Voila, Harding re-joins the LSC in track only and the NCAA pitches in more money for both the indoor and outdoor meet. I think it is a good move on part of the LSC office.

That said, I will try to look at a team that has not been on the LSC radar for 12 years.  They have a very solid team, usually a few national qualifiers each year. I think the best way to look at them is to single out key contributors – national qualifiers and top LSC performers, plus some newcomers that should be of great help.

WOMEN – it would appear that they have a chance of breaking into the top half of the conference, both indoors and outdoors. They have some seasoned distance runners and some of the best vaulters in the LSC.

·         Dallis Bailey – Soph from Conway, MO – top 10 LSC 800

·         Brittany Bartelt – So from Elizabethton, KY – top 10 LSC shot put and 2^nd at the Harding Inv outdoor SP last spring

·         Portia Bell – Sr from Pacoima, CA – already a provisional national qualifier indoors in the 200 and 400

·         Tiffany Chambers – Sr from Rogers, AR – provisional qualifier in the vault

·         Kara Dobbs – Jr Transfer from Western Kentucky – top 3 in the LSC in the vault

·         Lydia Gordon – Fr from Vilonia, AR – top 10 in the LSC TJ, but she was also 6^th in the AR 5A 400 last year

·         Tammy Kim- Fr from Temecula Valley, CA – 10^th in the  GAC XC last fall, now ranked in the top 10 in the LSC 400

·         Bailey Pearson – Soph from Bentonville, AR – top 10 in the LSC high jump, plus she was 2^nd last spring in the Harding Bison Inv 400 hurdles

·         Erin Perring – Jr from Guthrie, OK – top 10 in the LSC SP

·         Kathryn Phillips – Fr from Searcy Harding Acad – top 15 LSC 400, top 20 LSC 60 hurdles – at the AR 3A state meet in 2012, she was 2^nd in the 300 hurdles, 3^rd in the 100 hurdles and 5^th in the triple jump

·         Jordan Rapowitz – Fr from Searcy Harding Acad  – top 10 LSC 5K

·         Rachel Roberts – Jr from Guthrie, OK – 13^th in the GAC XC meet last fall, she won the Harding Bison Inv 3K last spring and is ranked in the top 5 in the LSC 3K this winter

·         Kelsey Taylor – Fr from Marietta, GA, Walton – top 15 in the LSC 3K this winter, after finishing a strong 4^th in the GAC XC meet last fall

·         Ewa Zaborowska – So from Poland – last year she was 9^th in the NCAA D-II Indoor 800 and 10^th at the national meet outdoors – already a provisional qualifier in the 3K indoors this eyar

·         The women’s distance medley relay is already a provisional qualifier for the indoor national meet, the only one from the LSC.  That is a pretty well-rounded team that should compete well at the LSC.

MEN – like their women, the Harding men appear to have a well-rounded team with depth in the middle distances, throws and sprints/hurdles

·         Dillon Bagwell – Soph transfer from Azle and North Texas – ranked top 10 in the LSC 400

·         Corey Bassett – Fr from Plano East – 7^th in the 5A 100 last year, already a provisional qualifier for the national indoor meet in the 60

·         Landon Belcher – Jr from Keller – provisional national qualifier in the 400 and ranked top 10 in the LSC 200 & 400

·         Ryan Cagle – So from Nashville’s Lipscomb Academy – ranked top 10 in the LSC shot put

·         Kenny Duong – Fr from Clovis Christian in NM – won the NM 1A SP and is ranked LSC top 10 in the shot

·         Scott East – Fr from Elkins, Ark – 3^rd in the Ark 3A 800, ranked in the LSC top 10 mile

·         Andrew Evans – Fr from Rogers, AR, Shiloh Christian – ranked top 10 LSC 3K-2012

·         Stephen Hedlund – Fr from O’Fallon Christian in MO – in the MO Class 2 state meet, he was 1^st in the 300 hurdles and 2^nd in the 110 hurdles, already ranked in the LSC top 10 in the 60 hurdles

·         Taylor Lively – Jr from Lake Dallas – a strong 800/1500 runner in 2012, he placed 15^th in the Great America Conference XC meet last fall, but has not run yet this indoor season

·         Jacob McDonald – Fr from Rogers, AR – ranked top 10 in the LSC shot put

·         Kevin Naceanceno – Fr from Clovis Christian in NM – ranked top 15 in the LSC 60, he won the NM state meet in the 1A 100, 200 and 400

·         David Pencarinha – Fr from Kingsport, TN – top 10 in the LSC 60 hurdles

·         David Salley – won the South Carolina 3A pole vault for Charleston’s Porter-Gaud HS, but has not competed yet this year

·         Zach Uhiren – So from Cabot, AR – ranked top 10 on the LSC 3K

·         Eric Wilson – Sr from Cerritos, CA – ranked  top 10 in the LSC 800

·         Josh Winslager – Sr from Arlington’s Grace Prep – top 10 in the LSC high jump and pole vault

·         Harding’s 4x400 relay is already a provisional qualifier for the national meet and they appear to be right up there in the conference rankings as well – running 1^st or 2^nd all year

Harding has recruited a good, strong group of newcomers. I think that the Harding women have a better shot at moving into the top 4 in the conference standings, but the men certainly appear to be highly competitive.