TicketsJan. 19, 2007
Meet Notes
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FOR STARTERS:
The indoor track & field team will open its 2007 season at the Bowling Green Invitational on Friday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. in BGSU's Perry Fieldhouse.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC enters its second season of competition in the BIG EAST Conference in 2007 after finishing 14th at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships last season. The conference features 16 women's indoor track & field teams, constituting the largest league in the nation. The 2007 BIG EAST Championships will be held on March 9-10 at the 's Athletics Fieldhouse.
Seniors Shintara Carpenter (triple jump), Renee Hein (high jump), junior Brittany Klima (pole vault) and senior Ashley Wilhelm (60 meter hurdles, pentathlon) are returning indoor school record-holders.
Head coach Jim Schnur is in his 23rd year at and his sixth as head women's coach. Former Bearcats All-American Chris Wineberg is in his first year as assistant women's coach.
2007 SEASON PREVIEW:
SPRINTS/HURDLES
After struggling throughout the 2006 season, the women's sprint teams will be better prepared for the challenges that await in 2007. Juniors Dominique Davis and Jasmine Smith and sophomores Dennale Speakman and Camron Turner have a year's worth of BIG EAST experience under their belt and all have a shot at scoring in the BIG EAST Championships. Freshman Ashley Arnold is expected to be a consistent contributor. Junior Monica Hundley is primed for a breakout year in the hurdles. Cory Huber and Danielle Erwin are consistent contributors and freshman Sharika Thompson will make a splash.
MIDDLE DISTANCE
After losing Jocelyn Gibson to graduation, the Bearcats have a big void to fill in the 800 and 1,500. They will rely heavily on transfer Betsy Jacobs.
DISTANCE
The women's team features standouts senior Cristy Doll, junior Nichole Leslie and sophomore Megan Knapp, each of whom have the potential to qualify for the BIG EAST Championships. Juniors Jennifer Hannen and Amy Schoenfeld provide quality depth, while newcomers Lilian Jelimo and Kayla Phelps give the Bearcats a solid group upon which to build.
JUMPS
The jumping events should also be a strong suit for the women, as Renee Hein (high jump), Ashley Wilhelm (long jump), Shintara Carpenter (triple jump), Brittany Klima (pole vault) and Tara Meier (pole vault) each return as UC record-holders. Hein, who competed in the NCAA Championships in 2005 and 2006, is joined in the high jump by Klima. Wilhelm and Ije Obiorah will score in the long jump, while Carpenter and Obiorah are expected to solidify the triple jump. Meier and Klima each have the ability to meet NCAA qualifying marks in the pole vault and should place in the BIG EAST Championships.
THROWS
Sophomore Lisa Klotz was superb in the indoor season in 2006, ranking 10th in the BIG EAST in the shot put, before missing the outdoor season due to injury. She returns in 2007 as UC's top thrower. Senior Jenni Schmitmeyer returns to solidify the discus. Freshmen Emily Taylor, the state runner-up in the shotput, Krystal Barnhill, state shot put champ, and Meagan Williams will contribute as well.
MULTI-EVENTS
Senior Ashley Wilhelm, who provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2005 in the heptathlon, is the top returner to the women's team. She returns as the school record holder in both the pentathlon and heptathlon and will be a force in 2007. Freshman Jasmine Cotten will make an immediate impact in both the pentathlon and heptathlon.
RELAYS
The women's relays will be led by Dominique Davis, Dennale Speakman, and Jasmine Cotten. Danielle Erwin and Wilhelm will also contribute in the relay events.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats will make the first of back-to-back trips to Bloomington, Ind. for the Gladstein Invitational, hosted by Indiana, on Fri.-Sat. Jan. 26-27.