|
1998 Women's Track and Field Outlook
With the merging of the men’s and women’s track teams under the direction of one head coach combined with the outstanding senior leadership, the women’s track team is ready for action in their second year of Big 12 competition. Led by head coach Greg Scholars and assistants Darrel Robinson and Trece Hayselett, the Red Raiders are striving to increase Tech’s overall status in the world of track and field and increase their level of competition at the conference and national level.
“The Big 12 Conference, along with the SEC, are the two toughest conferences in the realm of track and field,” Scholars said. “Across the board, this conference is one of the most competitive. There are national qualifiers competing in each event from the Big 12. The Big 12 conference meet provides a preview of the national meet.”
Distance
After leading the cross country team to its best finish in Texas Tech history, junior transfer Evette Turner and sophomore Leigh Daniel look forward to achieving the same level of success on the track. The women’s cross country team advanced to the 1997 NCAA Mountain Region meet in Ogden, Utah, finishing eighth in the 17-team field. Turner paced the pack, crossing the line in 14th place with a season-best time of 17:57.5. Finishing just four seconds back was Daniel, a sophomore from Lubbock, with a time of 18:01.5 in the 18th position. Other strong finishers for Tech were senior Lori Knowles with a time of 18:46.4 for 53rd, sophomores Kristen Koppes in 19:03.8 for 70th, Dawn Charlier with a time of 19:09.8 for 76th, and Tara Hangge in 19:40.1 for 92nd in a field of 113 runners.
Scholars expects strong performances by his distance runners, especially Daniel, Koppes and Hangge. Scholars said Daniel exhibited great leadership on the cross country team and has made a big step forward. Daniel led the team last year in the 3,000-meters and the 5,000-meters with her best times of 9:59.90 and 17:23.15 respectively. She finished 17th overall in the conference in the 3,000-meters and 14th overall in the 5,000-meters. Daniel finished fifth at the Big 12 Conference meet running her best time of 17:23.15. Koppes stayed right on the heels of Daniel throughout the season, finishing as the number two runner for Tech in the 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters. She ran her best times of 10:10.56 at the Gatorade Invitational in Miami, Fla. in the 3,000-meters and her best time of 17:53.90 at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Hangge showed strong effort by finishing in the number three spot for Tech in the 3,000-meters and the number two spot in the 10,000-meters behind Leigh Daniel. Hangge’s bests were a 10:31.5 at the Pomona Pitzer Invitationl in Claremont, Calif. in the 3,000-meters and 40:31.40 at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas in the 10,000-meters. Backups for the Red Raiders include sophomores Keeli Hanzelka, Charity Garrison, and Holin Gummelt, juniors Ruthann Carlton and Aimee Roberson, along with rookies Melissa Gilbert and Julie Roettinger.
Middle Distance
Junior Amber Affeldt was an NCAA provisional qualifier in the 800-meters becoming Texas Tech’s first women’s conference champion since 1989 when Amanda Banks won the SWC triple jump. Affeldt finished first at the Big 12 Conference meet with her career-best time of 2:05.88 in the 800. Scholars is very excited about her return, along with junior Corrie Weathers and sophomore Dawn Charlier, and the addition of junior Evette Turner. Turner and Charlier both led the cross country team to its strong finish. Charlier led the Red Raider runners in the 1,500 meters with her best time of 4:35.70 coming early in the season at the UC Irvine meet in Fullerton, Calif. Weathers finished in the number three spot for Tech during the outdoor season in the 800-meters with a best time of 2:15.91. Scholars expects great things from newcomer Ngozi Iwu, a freshman who has showed good potential in the fall.
Sprints
Behind the guidance of senior Jennifer Wright, Tech’s sprinters will be working on improving their level of intensity and success. Wright led all Tech sprinters in the 100-meters and 200-meters last season with best times of 11.86 and 24.04 respectively. Scholars said Wright has shown dramatic improvement this fall and credits it to maturity and focus. He looks forward to a successful season for the Tech senior. Newcomers Melonie Barrow and Tami Zachery have shown outstanding potential this fall and will add depth and quality to the sprinters line up.
Hurdles
Outstanding senior leadership displayed by Ami Peters will push the hurdlers to the top. After finishing as a NCAA provisional qualifier both in the indoor 55-meter hurdles and the outdoor 100-meter hurdles, Peter’s experience at a higher level and maturity should guide the hurdlers to a new level of competition. Backing up and supporting Peters will be junior Bobbi Crill, sophomore Danelle Chapman, and freshman Nicole Mitchell. Chapman exhibited strength, finishing as Tech’s top finisher in the 400-meter hurdles with her best time of 1:05.40 coming at the UC Irvine meet in Fullerton, California.
Jumps
With the return of junior Kaneshia Polk, senior Cheryl Gardner, and sophomore Crystal Harlan, the Red Raider jumpers are ready to spring into action in the Big 12. Polk finished last year with her best triple jump at the Big 12 Conference meet placing her in the 14th position overall in the Big 12. She also assisted in several sprinting events such as the sprint medley relay, the 400-meter relay and the 1600-meter relay. Harlan achieved her personal best of 5’8” last year in the indoor season high jump and hopes to top that this season. Gardner brings experience and knowledge to the group which will aid in Tech’s goal of getting better and rising to the next level.
Throws
Sophomore Sipa Finau and freshman Tracy Anderson will try to build upon the foundation laid by former veteran Alexcia Jones. Finau stepped in last year as a rookie and led Tech’s throwers in the shot put event. She threw 38-00.75 for her best throw of the season at the Texas Tech Invitational. Anderson, a graduate of Brownwood High School, is expected to contribute and fill the holes. With the addition of assistant coach Darrel Robinson, this is one area which should strengthen and grow.
|
|
