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 Junior Zeb Johnson, the defending SoCon Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, leads the Catamounts into the 2006-07 indoor season this weekend in Boone. |
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Nov. 30, 2006
2006 ASU Indoor Invitational Schedule
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Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina men's and women's track & field teams open their 2006-07 indoor season this weekend at the Appalachian Invitational in Boone, N.C. This season, the Catamount men are vying to repeat as Southern Conference champions and the women are looking to build upon a successful '05-06 that saw them finish as the conference runner-up.
"We are looking forward to a challenging season with hopes that the success of last year will continue and carry over into this season," said WCU's 20-time SoCon Track & Field Coach of the Year, Danny Williamson. "Both sides have a strong chance at solid individual performances, as well as team championships in the conference this year."
Youth continues to abound for the Catamount women as the 40-person roster has just four seniors and a combined 22 sophomores and freshmen. Of the returning student-athletes, seven were named All-Southern Conference at last year's indoor championship, with three capturing indoor individual titles. Highlighting Western's roster is the return of senior sprinter Asia Davis, who qualified for the NCAA National Championship during the outdoor season a year ago. She is joined by a pair of juniors, Raquel Ramseur and Tangelia Johnson, who went head-to-head during last season's indoor sprints capturing three individual championships and four All-SoCon honors combined.
"Our women's team has a chance to be a very exciting bunch," said WCU's 20-time SoCon Track & Field Coach of the Year, Danny Williamson. "Not only is this the largest team in school history, it probably is loaded with the most talent that we have ever assembled together on one team in a given year. For the past two seasons, we have been very close to the team title and we hope that the experience gained will be a valuable asset to us this year."
Williamson added that with continued hard work and leadership displayed by his few upper classmen will manifest itself throughout the season and peak at the SoCon Indoor Championships February 17-18 in Clemson, S.C. In addition to WCU, defending women's champion Appalachian State and the third-place team from a year ago, Georgia Southern, are the front-runners to contend for this year's crown.
WCU Women's Sprints/Hurdles:
As mentioned above, Davis, Johnson, and Ramseur return after banner seasons a year ago, leading a very talented group for the Catamounts. WCU also returns sophomore's Melissa Berry, a two-sport athlete (women's soccer) who missed last season with an ACL knee injury, and Aneesha Lane, both of which have worked hard to position themselves at the same level as the top sprinters in the SoCon. Also, all four of the runner-up 4x400-meter relay team (Lane, Ramseur, Davis, Annie Bailey) is intact from last season.
Williamson expects the hurdles group to be much improved over last season (5th and 7th at the indoor championships). Davis is arguably Western's top hurdler, but junior NaShay McGriff and sophomore Rashanda Simmons have made great strides and will be very solid for the Catamounts.
But as is the case with most areas, newcomers - such as Tierra Johnson, Sherrell Froneberger, Morgan Joseph, Marshalee Lindo and Montoya Stevenson - are expected to have an immediate impact.
WCU Women's Jumps (Long-Triple-High) and Pole Vault:
Williamson optimistically points out that this group of student-athletes," could be the most improved area of the team this season." Western boasts quality depth with a mixture of old and new faces in these field events. Defending indoor and outdoor high jump champion, Jessika Johnson - who also plays post for the Lady Catamount women's basketball team - returns with last season's indoor runner-up, senior Brittany Whitaker. Both of the aforementioned McGriff and Berry will also provide options, in addition to juniors Melissa Cabe and Jessica Wilkerson, and sophomores Simmons, Angelia Stark, and Morgan Broadnax, who will all be able to step up because of the valuable experience gained at the collegiate level.
McGriff, Simmons, and Berry headline the long and triple jump competitors for WCU, with freshmen Morgan Joseph and Tiana Jones also expected to contribute. Jessika Johnson and Whitaker leading Stark and Wilkerson in the high jump. Melissa Cabe, a top eight finisher at last season's SoCon meet, leads Western's pole vaulters, with freshman Amanda Massey expected to contribute throughout the season.
WCU Women's Throws:
This is one of the deepest groups on Western's women's team this year in terms of the total number of athletes. Senior Sharhonda Bell, along with juniors Nicole Lopez and Michaela Hall will lead the group of throwers with everyone in the group, minus Hall, competing in both the 25-lbs. weight throw and shot put. Both Bell and Lopez have been in the scoring position for us in previous SoCon Championships, with Hall, along with sophomores Tara Touszen & Rachel Karriker beginning to develop into what it takes to be competitive in the conference.
Williamson feels that all of his throwers have really stepped it up and are working very hard with the influx of four freshmen to also bring them along to the college level. Karess Mayse, Logan Rhodes, Deidra Steele and Brandise Hawthorne are among the rookies expected to add depth this season.
WCU Women's Middle Distance and Distance:
Much like in the jump events, Williamson is looking to his distance and middle distance runners for improvement over last season. Led by senior Deanna Kulesz and junior Kerrie Savery, the group has really developed over a year ago. Also in the mix are junior Brooke Saddler and sophomores Annie Bailey and Skye Aiello who have spent the extra time and put in the work necessary to move up in the conference rankings.
Kulesz, Savery, Saddler and Bailey all have been All-SoCon selections during their collegiate careers. Savery, Saddler, Bailey and freshman Sara Dickson are expected to anchor the shorter distances, with Kulesz, Aiello and freshmen Lindsay Groce, Brittany Beeker and Jenna Hester to handle the longer events.
WCU Women's Multi Events:
A very experienced group including Whitaker, Wilkerson and Broadnax has all scored in previous seasons in the event for Western. Depth this season for Williamson and company should allow for the student-athletes to be used to their fullest athletic ability.
For the Catamount men's squad, 2006-07 was a tremendous season. The squad swept both the SoCon indoor and outdoor titles for just the second-time in school history (1999 & 2006). Despite returning just three of the seven individual champions from a year ago, Western has 12 All-SoCon performers from last year's indoor championship squad back for the title defense.
"Entering the indoor season, I think our men's team is in a dangerous position. Any time you are the defending conference champion, you have a big target on your back and everyone is gunning for you," Williamson explained. "Even though we graduated a very talented group last year, we are very excited about the team we have today. It will be assembled a little different than previous teams, but can possess just as much punch as in previous years."
Western will have to replace 100-plus points that graduated from last year's team, which is a major challenge especially since the Catamounts' top rival - Appalachian State - returns almost their entire squad from a year ago intact. Williamson feels the rivals from Boone are the team to beat this indoor season, with significant challenges to be made by The Citadel, Davidson, and Chattanooga.
WCU Men's Sprints/Hurdles:
The Catamount men return arguably the top sprinters in the SoCon this season. Led by junior Zeb Johnson, who was named both the SoCon Indoor Track athlete of the year and Western's Student-Athlete of the Year, Western is expected to continue its strong showing on the track. Other top names include two-sport standout, Mike Malone, seniors James Gregory, Ashten Bennett and Matt Harlfinger, as well as junior Duke Craig and sophomores Kevin Johnson, John Oros and Manteo Mitchell rounding out the deep group.
"Sprinting has been good to us over the past couple of seasons and we hope that continues. We have a lot of experience and look for this to be a very solid area for us," said Williamson.
In the hurdles, look for Malone, Harlfinger, Bennett and some of the talented newcomers, such as Dominique Young, Christian Buthane, Albert Ashcraft, Michael Brunson and Kelton Moore, to continue the tradition for the Catamounts.
WCU Men's Jumps (Long-Triple-High) and Pole Vault:
For the Catamount men, this group could be the most experienced. Led by senior Tyler Ferguson, junior Justin Spormann, and sophomores Rashad Herndon, Daniel Joseph, Chris Gaillard and Joel Lynch, there are numerous podium finishes among the group.
In the Long/Triple Jumps, Ferguson, Herndon, Joseph and Gaillard all return along with newcomers Lee Banks, Matt Evans, Stephon Moore and Anthony Rogers. In the men's High Jump, Joseph, Herndon and Gaillard will anchor the event, along with Rogers and Evans. For the Pole Vault, Spormann, Lynch, sophomore Logan James and freshman Michael Osteen will battle for the top spots.
WCU Men's Throws:
Just as experience abounds in the jumping events, youth and inexperience dot the throwing field events, which include the shot put and 35-lbs. weight throw. Sophomore Chris Page headlines the group and will be joined by a trio of freshmen, Cale McDaniel, Ryan Pless and David Weber. Although this is the youngest area of the team, Williamson feels that each individual possess raw talent with which to work with throughout the season.
WCU Men's Middle Distance/Distance:
Another area of concern for the Catamounts will be the lack of experience in the Middle Distance and Distance running group. Williamson feels that the talent is there, the athletes simply need to step up and accept the challenge. The group will be lead by junior Dylan Hermelee, who was All-SoCon in the DMR a year ago and his classmate, Field Miller. Other returning runners include sophomores Jesse Ramirez, Ogden Hansford and Noah Taylor, with a host of freshmen led by Jestin Jennings and Chris Justice.
"These guys prove themselves almost everyday in practice," Williamson state. "Now they just have to take it to the competition with them."
Hermelee, Ramirez and Hansford along with newcomers Jestin Jennings and Chris Justice will handle the middle distances with Miller, Taylor and the remaining freshman group of Stephen Hammond, Jake Clawson and Kurt McEntire to man the longer running events.
WCU Men's Multi Events:
With the return of All-Southern Conference performer Matt Harlfinger and fourth-place finisher, Ashten Bennett, the Catamounts should be in good hands in the multi-faceted events during the indoor season. These two have solid experience at the collegiate level, but expect to see several additional names to surface along side this season, including red-shirt freshman David Gift, true freshman Michael Robinson as well as Osteen.
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