TicketsMarch 24, 2010
Each week of competition, University of Cincinnati head women's track and field coach Susan Seaton and head men's track and field coach Bill Schnier take a look back at the performances from the previous week. Coach Seaton comments about the women's team, while coach Schnier talks about the men's squad in their weekly Beartracks. This past week, both teams opened their outdoor seasons at Gettler Stadium with the Early Bird Relays. Here is Seaton's and Schnier's reactions to the season-opening meet.
Women's Beartracks
On a nice and sunny day our 2010 outdoor season kicked off with the Early Bird Relays at home. It's been one month since we finished the indoor season at the BIG EAST Championships in New York and we needed that month to make big improvements in order to better our finish at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships six weeks from now. The meet gave all of us a great opportunity to show if we used the last month well. Adding "new" outdoor-only events should help our team to improve our depth and overall scoring ability. With that said, it was a bit disappointing that we finished second behind Dayton. It shows that we have a lot of work to do and that we need to make improvements fast. We did achieve 15 Big East marks by 13 athletes, we recorded seven event winners, and six event relay victories for the Lady Bearcats.
Jenna Heaton started her outdoor campaign in the same fashion she finished her indoor season, running a huge PR in the 800meters and winning the race by a big margin. Her time ranks as the eighth-fastest in school history and le's us hope for big things to come from this sophomore. Our triple event winner was Natasha Burse with victories in the 100m and 200m dashes and as anchor of the 4x 400m relay. Natasha proved that she is still the best short sprinter in the area and got her outdoor season off to a great start. The surprise in the short sprints came from 400m runner Aricka Rhodes, who dropped down to run the 100m and 200m in this meet. She achieved big PR's in both events to back up Natasha quite well in the relay meet. Aricka's mark of 24.58 in the 200m moved her to No. 5 on UC's all-time list. This new found speed will certainly bode her well in her main event, the 400. Kathy Klump ran a rare open 400 meters to work on her speed and easily won the one-lap event. Kathy is back from illness and ready to attack this outdoor season at full strength.
Winners in the field events for the Lady Bearcats were Kayla Dunn in the pole vault and Chelsea Gerken in the javelin. Kayla did not jump outdoors last year because of an ankle injury and looks to be ready to go this year. Her event-winning mark of 12' 3.5" ranks fifth on our all-time list and is a huge outdoor PR for her. Chelsea started off the season with a big "W" and put together a nice series of throws that shows promise for bigger marks in the near future. In the triple jump, Anastasia Tarpeh proved that her hard work over the last month has paid off with a PR and first-place finish. Her mark puts her third on our all-time list and within scoring position in the BIG EAST. Fellow triple jumper Shanay Portis seems to have found her event, recording big jumps but fouling them by just a hair.
With this meet being a relay scored meet with the top two athletes for each team combining their points to fight for the event victory, the Lady Bearcats earned wins in the 100m dash (Natasha Burse + Aricka Rhodes), 100 hurdles (Brianna Patton + Hauna Dawkins), 200m dash (Natasha Burse + Aricka Rhodes), 800m run (Jenna Heaton + Jenny Harsh), 1500m run (Lilian Jelimo + Courtney Staruch) and the javelin (Chelsea Gerken + Jessica Cobb). Since we are looking for improvement over last year, it was nice to see that Catherine Earl and Deanna Rippy started of their season with PR's in the hammer throw.
Next up for the Lady Cats is a trip down south to the Carolinas for the Weems Baskin Invitational at Columbia, South Carolina and the Raleigh Relays at Raleigh, North Carolina. With finals behind us and a calm spring break week giving all some well deserved rest we should be ready to improve our marks and capitalize on good southern weather and good competition. Go Lady Bearcats!
Men's Beartracks
At a meet traditionally known for its cold and rainy weather, this edition of the Early Bird Relays was contested under perfect conditions on the first day of spring. This meet has also been rather small in size but unlike its predecessors, the 2010 EBR had 15 men's teams and 19 teams in all. What remained consistent was the relay scoring of two-man teams for individual events. Upon completion we won again even though the University of Indianapolis gave us quite a scare. One of our greatest flaws was exposed, our lack of depth in some field events.
By far the highlight of the meet was Brian Zimmerman's huge school record in the javelin, contested at Coy Field when the running events were winding down at Gettler Stadium. Breaking a school record is always significant, even if that record is your own. However, breaking the record by 22' shows dominance of all those Bearcats in the past as well as dominance of your former self. Brian's mark is now ranked second in the US, a mark which would have placed eighth in last year's NCAA Championships. What a start, Brian! Making this all the more satisfying is that Brian set the previous school record his freshman year, but was forced to sit out last year due to elbow surgery. His rehab efforts together with those of our training staff were difficult yet effective, a model for others to emulate.
We had seven individual winners (800, 5000, 400 hurdles, 4 x 400 relay, high jump, pole vault and javelin). We also had six relay winners (100, 800, 400 hurdles, 4 x 400 relay, high jump and pole vault). Typical of UC teams, the winners came from the sprints, distances, jumps and throws. Although we need to rejoice with those winners, we also need to be aware that most years we have done better, a problem which can be traced to those who did not compete, among them two school-record holders and others with the potential to make a big difference.
In addition to Brian Zimmerman in the javelin, the individual winner yet no relay points, other individual winners came from the expected to the unexpected. Eric Finan proved he could win either from behind or the lead, this time choosing to come from way behind for the victory in the 5,000m (14:30.42). It was also no surprise to see Brandon Fitch and Ryan Beltz both high jump 6' 8", with first place going to Brandon. Michael Rutherford won the 800m as expected in a very nice opening meet time of 1:52.04. But the surprises tended to be more rewarding. After three years of many injuries and many missed meets, Allen Moore erupted with a terrific 400m hurdle victory (54.91), nosing out Jermel Kindred of Indianapolis who had exactly the same time. Allen's family and his teammates were so happy for that victory after way too many setbacks. Despite missing three sure-fire relay men, our 4 x 400 relay still pulled out the victory with a nice first-meet time (3:17.64), making it appear as if all were present. Only two pole vaulters cleared a height, somewhat typical of the first outdoor meet, but fortunately one of them was Elliot Vocke, the winner at 15' 5". His confidence is sky high, as are his results. Many former role players are now becoming standouts.
Two events stood out for quality and depth. Our 800m runners had the winner, three of the top four and seven of the top 14. This group has been raising awareness within our team for some time now, so it was really great to see them get some credit for their efforts. Seniors Jason Berling (3rd, 1:55.21) and Jon McClelland (4th, 1:55.40) opened up very well. Ryan Wynn led the freshmen, our "half-milers in training" as he ran 1:57.60, followed closely by Tony Williamson who won the second section in 1:59.22. The 100m crew included the runner-up as well as six of the top 12. Dayo Igeleke (10.93) narrowly lost to Indianapolis's fine sprinter, Frederick Helm. Anthony Chandler (4th, 11.02) and Mario Cannon (5th, 11.04) were close behind. The hurdlers also showed quality depth. Mario (2nd, 14.92) and Brandon Smith (5th, 15.83) combined for a relay victory in the 110m hurdles. The 400m hurdles provided a more interesting race as seniors Allen Moore (1st, 54.91) and Chase Petzinger (3rd, 55.34) led the charge. Ethan Freet made his first college mark a good one (5th, 56.43). By year's end all will be major players.
Other placers included the following: Brendon Lyshe (5th, 400 M.), Oliver Book (4th, 1,500 M.), Ricky Lupp (7th, 5,000 M.), Mike Foley (T-3rd, high jump), Chris Littleton (3rd, shot put) (8th, hammer), Jake Haseman (5th, discus) and Anthony Chandler, Cameron Hermiller, Chase VanCura and Dayo Igeleke (2nd, 4 x 100 relay).
Special mention goes to those winter co-ops who did so well on Saturday: Eric Finan, Ricky Lupp, Jake Haseman and Chase Petzinger.
Next week we divide the team, some going to Columbia, SC and other to Raleigh, NC.