Thursday, February 25, 2010

MORAVIAN WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD TEAM LOOKS TO DEFEND LANDMARK CONFERENCE INDOOR TITLE

MADISON, N.J. – After three months of competition that spanned two semesters six Landmark Conference indoor track & field teams will get its chance at a conference title when competition begins at the 2010 Landmark Indoor Track & and Field Championships Saturday Feb. 27 at the Garrett Sports Complex on the campus of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

The meet gets started with field events 11 a.m. on Saturday. Host Susquehanna will be defending its team championship on the men’s side while Moravian College will try and earn a third-straight team crown in women’s competition. Challenging that duo will be The Catholic University of America, Goucher College, Juniata College, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy as each team tries to earn the first Landmark Indoor Track & Field team Championships. Champions will also be crowned in 13 individual events and four relays for both the men and women.

In the men’s meet, Susquehanna earned the program’s first conference title last season, finishing 40 points ahead of the defending champs from Moravian. Senior Paul Thistle has had a dominant indoor season, breaking several Landmark records and will pace the Crusaders on the track, while last year’s Rookie of the Year Graham Huber also returns and could threaten for several titles in the jumps.

Moravian is the most likely challenger to the Crusaders and with a deep and versatile roster could be in position to reclaim its title. Eric Woodruff, pictured at left, holds the fastest time in three sprint events and is poised for a big meet, while Mike Blenk is a versatile performer who could score in a variety of events. T.J. Breya gives Juniata a threat to earn points in the long sprints and the hurdles as the Eagles try and move up the standings after consecutive third-place finishes. Catholic has twice placed fourth at the Landmark meet, and will look to get a boost from its throwing duo of Steve Prieur and Tom Breslin who each are highly ranked in their events.  Goucher put together a strong performance in its final meet before the Championships and could be poised to move up the standings and has freshman Will Evans III who has made a major impact in the sprints in his first collegiate season and should be a factor in those events. For USMMA the Mariners will head into the meet with the largest roster they’ve had through the first three Landmark seasons and will look for Cole Diaz to make in impact in the sprints and hurdles.

In the women’s competition Moravian looks to be in strong position to claim the title for the third time in as many seasons as the Greyhounds bring back the majority of the roster from the team that earned the title by 130 points last season. Reigning Field Athlete of Year Jessica Posimo, pictured at right, highlights a standout group of sprinters and jumpers who rank at the top of a variety of events. Also poised for a big meet is pole vaulter Anna Heim who has already provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships.

Susquehanna has finished as runners-up to the Greyhounds the previous two seasons and is in position to again challenge for the top spot. The distance pairing of Alycia Woodruff and Casey Hess have turned in some of the fastest times in the conference, while the team also has a deep roster of throwers. Juniata has claimed the third spot at the first two Landmark meets and also come in with strength in a variety of areas. Angela Shaffer is ranked high in the hurdles and the high jump, and could be a Rookie of the Year contender at her first Championship meet. Catholic’s strength looks to be in the long sprints and mid-distance races, with Remy Ball highlighting that group, while Kelly Carioto has already set a new Landmark record this year in the shot put. Goucher’s Abby Cooney is also highly ranked in the throws, and will try and help the Gophers move up from their fifth-place position of last season. USMMA has been bolstered by a strong freshman class, most notably Jessica Tyack in the jump events, while Gretchen Holoubek has produced some strong times in the mid-distance races.

After competing on Saturday Landmark competitors who have qualified may compete at the ECAC Championships March 5-6 at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. followed by the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships March 13-14 at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.

Release courtesy of Landmark Conference Office