The Observer, February 29, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 19
Track and field tunes up for conference meet
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Having a top-ranked distance program paid dividends at the Kent State Tune-Up for the Spartans as senior Esther Erb placed third with a time of 17:35.94 and freshman Justine Jeroski finished eighth with a time of 18:21.74 in the 5000-meter run for the women. On the men's side, junior Dominic Smith took third with a time of 14:49.61 in the 5000.
"Dominic ran very close to the indoor school record and just missed a NCAA provisional qualifying mark," said distance coach Kathy Lanese. Smith posted a 45-second personal record (PR).
The Spartans fared just as well at the Greater Cleveland Championships at Baldwin-Wallace College with first-place finishes by Kristen Bowhers in the mile with a time of 5:10.49, and Elizabeth Ehrke in the women's weight throw with a toss of 14.06 meters. With a quality finish at the GCC, Bowhers looks to challenge the rest of the competition in the UAA next weekend. "I'm looking forward to the distance medley relay and the mile," noted Bowhers. "[There] should be some good races." Other notable finishes for the women include Bettina Kaphingst and Allison Early. Kaphingst placed fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:27.81. "Bettina ran a six-second PR, a huge PR for an 800, on Friday at BWC," said coach Lanese. Kaphingst finished fourth of 22 runners."It was a breakthrough race... Bettina ran with a new sense of aggressiveness I have not seen in her other performances."
On the field, Early placed fourth in the women's shot put with a throw of 11.21 meters. "Although I placed fairly well this past weekend, I was not very happy with my throws," said Early. However, she expressed her confidence in being able to turn things around in time for the conference meet next weekend.
The men were equally impressive, including freshmen Victor Whitelock and Brett Beaugureau, who finished first and second in the 800-meter run with times of 1:59.31 and 2:00.97, respectively, and Joshua Ward, who placed second in the 5000-meter run with a time of 16:00.92. Coach Lanese noted great expectations for Whitelock. "Victor Whitelock…will be a great promise for the future," said Lanese. "He has proved himself in high school as one of the top 800-meters in the state and I know he has more to prove in the UAA. I believe he is an underdog [in the UAA] as very few coaches from other teams will expect much from him."
On the field side of competition, continuing his quest for the decathlon, Obinna Nwanna placed first in a pivotal event of the decathlon, the high jump, with a mark of 1.91 meters. The Greater Cleveland Championships at Baldwin- Wallace and the Kent State Tune-Up were a great test for the Spartan track and field teams this weekend. Having faced tough competition, the Spartans are aware of the challenges they face next weekend in the University Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships, which will be hosted by Case. Coach Steve Rubin is looking forward to a competitive meet next weekend.
"I want them to be confident, aggressive,and poised, and in that way I want them to challenge the other teams and competitors," explained Rubin.
The advancement of teammates is always on the mind of many of the track and field members. Coach Lanese noted that senior captain Esther Erb has had a great deal of influence on her teammates, despite being so far ahead of most of her teammates in competition. "I give her a tremendous amount of credit, as Esther must be self-driven and understanding of the tailored training I must prepare for her," said Lanese. However, she noted that when Erb has an easy running day in her schedule she almost always runs with one of her teammates.
Confident that the team is well prepared for competition, Rubin expressed his pride in his team's fortitude this season. "If people want to beat us, they're going to have to work to do it because we will absolutely not back down and we will make them pay for every inch they get."
