Feb. 16, 2007
2007 SoCon Indoor Heat Sheets
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Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina University men's and women's track & field teams are set to kickoff the winter championship season this Saturday (Feb. 17) and Sunday (Feb. 18) at the annual Southern Conference Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships to be held at the Clemson Indoor Track & Field Facility in Clemson, S.C.
The Championships begin on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 8:30 am with the pentathlon events and will conclude that evening with the men's distance medley at 8:20 pm. Competition will continue on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 10:00 am with the heptathlon events and culminate with the men's 4x400-meter relay at 5:40 pm, followed by the presentation of the team championship trophies.
The Catamount men enter the event as the defending champions, claiming their third indoor title all-time en route to sweeping both the indoor and outdoor championships a year ago. Edged out by a mere 26.5 points by defending champ, Appalachian State, Western's women finished as the runners-up at last season's meet marking the second-straight year.
ASU's women are currently first in the Southern Conference power rankings with 168.5 points, leading second-place Western Carolina (146) by 22.5 points. Georgia Southern (131.5) is currently third with Chattanooga (39) and Elon (36.5) rounding out the top five. Appalachian's men also lead their respective rankings with 258.5 points, while Western Carolina claims the second-place slot with 236 points. Davidson (43) and Chattanooga (33.5) round out the top half of the competition.
"Going in as the defending champion on the men's side, we will do everything possible to defend that championship," said WCU's 13-time SoCon Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year, Danny Williamson. "On paper, it appears that we are entering this season's championship meet as an underdog to Appalachian State. We both have the ability to score big, so it will ultimately come down to which side has the better weekend with what it does best. ASU is strong in the distance events and can do damage in the hurdles and field events, while we are very strong in the sprints and can score in both the field and hurdles. The team that gets hot is probably going to come out on top.
"The women's race looks like it is coming down to a three-team battle between our women, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Much like on the men's side, we see ourselves heading to Clemson as the underdog. We have very talented athletes in all areas with the ability to score points in almost every event. If we can get in a good rhythm early, we will give ourselves an outstanding opportunity to be in the chase for the team championship."
In last year's competition, Western's men watched rival Appalachian State earn seven of the 10 individual SoCon championships during day one to lead after the first day. However, WCU turned the tables on the final day of competition, winning five of the 10 individual championships. During the two-day event, Western had a total of 25 podium (top three) finishes including seven total individual championships to capture the crown.
Entering this year's meet, the Catamounts command the top spot on five SoCon performance charts, three on the track and two in the field events. Led by sophomore Albert Ashcraft's school-record setting time of 6.75 at the Akron Open, Western holds the top four spots - and five of the top six - in the 60-meter dash. January's SoCon Men's Indoor Athlete of the Month, junior Zeb Johnson, ranks second (6.80) just ahead of sophomore Manteo Mitchell (6.93), freshman Dominique Young (6.97) and senior Mike Malone in sixth (7.00).
Johnson leads the league in 200-meter event (21.55), with Mitchell edging him out in the 400-meter dash (47.98). Much like the 60, Catamounts dominate the top performances from the season as WCU boasts the top five - and six of the top seven - in the 200 and five of the top six in the 400-meter event. Malone is Western's best opportunity for a podium finish in the 60-meter hurdles, running the third-best time in the SoCon this season at the Akron Open, 8.42, just three one hundredths of a second off the top-time in the conference. Also, in the final event of the meet, Mitchell, Malone, Johnson and senior James Gregory will team in the 4x400-meter relay. The four sprinters lead the SoCon rankings entering the meet.
In the jumps, five Catamounts have occupied the top six spots in the men's high jump with freshman Matt Evans (2.03m) leading sophomore Rashad Herndon (1.93m) and senior Matt Harlfinger (1.88m) in the performance charts. Herndon and freshman Lee Banks have been WCU's top two in the long jump with sophomore Daniel Joseph ranking second in the triple jump with a leap of 14.40 meters (47-8.0).
Junior Chris Page will be leaned upon heavily for Western to score points in the field events. The Tryon, N.C., native ranks third in both the shot put (14.08m) and 35-lbs. weight throw (14.80m), with freshman Cale McDaniel in fourth in the weight.
On the women's side a year ago, Western posted nine podium finishes, including four individual championships as a part of its second-consecutive runner-up finish. Two individuals - Tangelia Johnson and Raquel Ramseur - each set school records as Johnson ran a 7.48 in the 60-meter dash and Ramseur clocked a 24.51 in the 200-meter event.
Johnson again enters the SoCon Championships with the best time this season in the 60-meter dash, posting a mark of 7.59 at the season-opening ASU Invitational. Ramseur, who was named both the SoCon Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week (Jan. 31), and was honored for the month of January, ranks third on the 60-meter chart while leading both the 200- and 400-meter dash performance lists. The Charlotte, N.C., native ran 24.59 in the 200 as a trio of Catamounts rank in the top four, and edged teammates Aneesha Lane (57.43) and senior Asia Davis (57.67) with a time of 54.53 in the 400-meter dash. Davis also enters the championships ranked third in the 60-meter hurdles.
In the middle distance and distance events, WCU junior Kerrie Savery headlines the SoCon top times by more than five seconds in the 800-meter run with her school-record setting time of 2:10.23 at Akron back in early February. Savery also ranks fourth in the mile run, posting her seasonal best (5:05.26) at last weekend's Tiger Invitational in Clemson. Senior Deanna Kulesz, making her final appearance at the indoor meet, is the highest ranking Western runner in the 3,000-meter run, ranking fifth with a time of 10:10.64.
Western ranks first and second, respectively, in the two indoor relays. The team of Lane, Ramseur, Savery and Davis posted the best time this season in the 4x400-meter relay (3:46.60), while Savery, Brooke Saddler, Annie Bailey and Kulesz ranked second in the distance medley relay during the regular season.
With defending indoor high jump champion, Jessika Johnson, competing with the Lady Catamount basketball team, senior Brittany Whitaker is WCU's best chance after ranking third in the season (1.60m). Sophomore Rashanda Simmons was the highest Catamount in the women's long jump (6th, 5.57m), with Morgan Broanax and NaShay McGriff carrying the banner in the triple jump. Broadnax also led the SoCon in the pentathlon scoring this season.
In the field events, senior Sharhonda Bell moved up to fourth-best in the women's shot put (12.37m), while junior Nicole Lopez hurled the second-best mark in the 20-lbs. weight throw (16.32m)
"Both our women and men will put every ounce of energy and effort into having Western Carolina in the best position that we can at the end of the day on Sunday," concluded Williamson.
Full results from the opening day will be made available at CatamountSports.com and SoConSports.com. Check back on Saturday evening for a recap of opening day activities, with a full event recap available on Sunday night.
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