The Observer, March 23, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 21
Track teams hope to improve indoor season performance
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The Spartan track and field team is looking to improve upon its performance during the indoor season. The men finished sixth and the ladies took fifth in a field of seven teams at the UAA Conference Championships held at Brandeis University.
"For the outdoor season we are looking to improve as a team. We were only 35 points out of third place, so it is very obtainable," said senior Paul Hannen, who anchors the men's throws team. "We pick up three relays, two throwing events, and one race, so there are more points available. Now that the team knows where we stand, we can take it to the next level."
The throws team will look to continue its domination of the UAA. Head coach Dennis Harris will look for great things from Hannen and fellow senior Pat Benasutti.
"We've had a rock solid team in the past, and we want to add to that legacy this year," said junior Brandon Jeffries. Hannen and Jeffries took first and second in the weight throw at Brandeis and will help the team pick up additional points with the addition of the javelin and discus in the outdoor season.
The women's throws team may be the best in school history, according to Harris. Leading the squad will be Elizabeth Ehrke and Lauren Dudley. Ehrke was conference champion last year in the discus.
"We have a very hard-working throws team this year," said Harris.
Another event that is unique to the outdoor season is the 10,000 meter race, and it is another opportunity for the Spartans to earn points. Stephen Hrinda was conference champion in the 10,000 last year with a time of 31:35:41. Alongside Hrinda will be a select group that Harris calls his "super sophomores," including Mike Petro, Dominic Smith, Ryan Gjoraas, and Michael Werneiwski. The 3000-meter run will change into the 3000-meter steeplechase, where runners must leap over obstacles and run through water hazards.
Leading the ladies' distance squad is Esther Erb. A returning national qualifier, she placed first in the mile and 3000-meter runs at the indoor conference championship.
The sprints team will transition from indoor's 55-meter dash to outdoor's 100-meter dash. Harris will count on senior Emily Bruckner, returning from a hamstring injury suffered at Brandeis. Overall, both the men's and women's sprint teams are both young and talented, but lack depth.
The team also moves its practice from Veale to Case Field at the Village for the outdoor season.
"The air quality will be better outside, but it'll probably be pretty cold for the first couple tournaments," said freshman distance runner Brian Cromer. In fact, it often snows during the Case Invitational, which takes place on April 7, and a meet has been snowed out each of the last two years. The outdoor season is very short, with only three meets before the All-Ohio tournament on April 14. The week after that, the UAA Championships take place at Emory.
Coach Harris isn't worried about where the team will wind up in the UAA.
"I'm going to teach and the athletes are going to work hard. The rest will take care of itself," he said.
The teams begin the season this weekend at the Muskingum College Invitational.
