Indoor Track & Field Season Preview

STATESBORO, Ga. – Having reached the pinnacle of success during the 2007 outdoor season, the Georgia Southern track & field team knows what it takes to get to the top. The Eagles are also well aware that it’s harder to stay there then it is to get there.

On the verge of opening the indoor season, GSU wants to embrace the past, while moving forward and preparing for what looks to be another successful track & field season.

Last season GSU finished third at the Southern Conference Indoor Championships, behind Appalachian State and Western Carolina. It was Appalachian State’s seventh consecutive indoor title. However, the Eagles would avenge the Mountaineers during the outdoor season bringing the championship to Statesboro for the first time, after finishing as the runner-up the previous four seasons.

“The excitement and motivation of this team is really good right now for the simple fact that they want to come back and repeat this year,” said GSU head track & field coach Natalie Smith. “I really believe that some of these young ladies are about to do some extraordinary things this year and we’re ready to begin this weekend and see some of those things happen.”

Gone are the golden spikes of former GSU phenom Nicole Brown. However, Georgia Southern’s only track & field athlete to compete at the NCAA Championships traded in her spikes for a whistle and a stopwatch this offseason. An accomplished athlete, Brown was the 2007 Southern Conference Field Performer of the Year (indoor) and 2007 SoCon Track Athlete of the Year (outdoor). She holds 11 Georgia Southern school records as well as two SoCon records (60m indoor, long jump outdoor). Brown was named to the NCAA All-East Region team in 2007 for her performance in the 4x100m relay and the triple jump. She also claimed the East Regional Championship in the triple jump in 2007.

Brown is in charge of the sprinters and jumpers this season. “I think you’ll be able to see that we should be the tops in both jumping events during the indoor season,” said Smith. “We’re hoping we can place first, second and third in the long jump as well as the triple jump. That has a lot to do with the athletes as well as the respect that the athletes have for Coach Brown. She’s doing an exceptional job so far.”

Smith believes that several of the sprinters and jumpers on the squad this year will have great success and help the team pick up where they left off. Sophomore Demetrise Anthony posted impressive numbers during her freshman campaign setting career bests in the 60m dash with a time of 7.69 and a distance of 38’09.75” in the triple jump at the Carolina Classic last February.

Junior Dominique Thurman and freshman Lynndsey Hyter will both compete in jumping events, with Thurman in the long and Hyter in the triple jump. Sophomore Shaunta Hamilton will also contribute to the talented jumpers, which should make it an exciting indoor season from the sprinters and jumpers.

“I’m looking forward to Demetrise Anthony as well as Lindsey Hyder and seeing what they’re able to accomplish,” said Smith. “They’re young, but I think they’re going to jump exceptionally well.”

Senior Carla Ballard will look to have an impact wherever Smith decides to place her. Ballard is an exceptional athlete that will be utilized in a number of ways as she has an array of skills that can benefit this year’s squad. She was selected All-Conference a year ago for her performance as a member of the  4x400m relay team during the spring. Ballard also competed in the Pentathlon, 200 and 400m dash last season.

“Carla is so versatile that we’re trying to find the best fit with her and where she can help the team the most,” said Smith. “She's a tremendous athlete and I think she’s going to help us a lot this season.”

The Georgia Southern throwers will also be competitive as they return senior Jennifer Charles and sophomore Jessica Irizarry. Throwing coach Jeremy Hinton is up for the challenge as he’s also new to the coaching staff.

“Coach Hinton is a newcomer to the coaching atmosphere,” said Smith. “He is adjusting and having to coach at a really high level because he’s dealing with some really good athletes and I think he’s up to the task. He’s helped a great deal so far so it will be exciting to see how the young ladies perform under Hinton’s guidance.”

Distance runner Abby Bloom returns for her senior season as she’ll be looked upon for guidance from a young core of runners. Junior Shauntel Jennings will also be looked up to as she has a wealth of experience in mid-distance events. Fresh off the cross country season the distance runners should be in great condition when they finally hit the track for competition. Bloom was the first Eagle runner to cross the finish line in every cross country meet this season. As for Jennings, it was her first collegiate season as a cross country athlete, but Smith feels that she will benefit from her experience.

“Not only did Shauntel run well but she was our No. 2 runner after never having run cross country at the college level,” said Smith. “I’m excited for her because I know she’s going to see the benefits in the 800m and her times are going to benefit as a result. As for Abby, she saw just how strong and versatile she really is during the cross country season, which will help her during both the indoor and outdoor track & field season.”

The indoor track & field season opens this Friday, November 30, as the Eagles head to Clemson, S.C. The meet is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Category: Track & Field

Published on Thursday, 29 November 2007 05:29