TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? After finishing sixth in both of the MVC Meets in 2006, the women's track and field team looks to rebound in 2007. New athletes in a number of event areas and healthy returnees will bolster the Sycamore team in 2007. ISU women's track and field teams have won a total of ten conference titles, either indoors or outdoors, since 1991. Most recently, the ISU women won outdoor titles in 1998 and 1999, and they won the MVC indoor title in 2001. Additionally, the women won two cross country conference titles in 1991 and 1993, bringing the women's program conference title total to 12 since 1991.

ISU's presence at the NCAA Meets continues to be one of the ISU team goals. Melyssa Reinhardt was the last ISU women's participant in the NCAA Meet when, in 2004, she finished 27th in the high jump. Current Sycamore assistant Angela Martin is the last women's track and field All-American. In 2000, she finished eighth in the NCAA Indoor 800. Jessica Crowder is ISU's only cross country All-American. In 2003, she finished as the 30th American in the NCAA Cross Country Meet to earn her All-American status. The ISU women boast many contenders for NCAA berths in 2007. Janae Bridges returns in her fifth year as a two-time NCAA Regional qualifier in the long jump. Her long jump best of 19-11 is very close to qualifying. Laura Engle came very close to qualifying for the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Meet, when she finished 24th in the Great Lakes Regional Meet. Santia Spight, a senior from Indianapolis, is also a two-time NCAA Regional qualifier in her specialty, the high jump. Her best jump is 5-8.75. Indiana State's women have finished as high as fifth and sixth in the NCAA Championships, the 1993 NCAA Indoor Meet and the 1994 NCAA Outdoor Meet. In 2004, the Sycamore women finished 28th of 84 teams at the regional meet.

Distance/Middle Distance: Laura Engle will again return as ISU's top distance runner. Engle, an MVC placer in the 1,500 for the past three years, has bests of 2:16.99, 4:33.53, 4:56.67, and 17:28.13. She was an All-MVC Cross Country runner in 2005 and 2006, with a fifth and ninth-place finish, respectively. Engle will be supported by a number of other outstanding veteran runners. Junior Heather Stembridge improved to 4:58.80 and 9:59.35 for the mile and 3,000, respectively, in 2006. Her season ended prematurely with a foot injury and subsequent surgery. She will redshirt cross country and return to track when she is healed. Dani Prince, a conference placer in 2005 in the 10,000, has had an outstanding career at ISU. In 2006, she improved her 5,000 to 17:35.72. Hannah Weide, a sophomore from Homestead High School, ran very well as a freshman in 2006. She was a conference finalist in the 800 indoors, improving her best to 2:15.67. Senior Leah Durr is third all time on ISU's steeplechase best list with an 11:19.14. She also improved her 5,000 best to 18:15.81 during the 2006 season. Julia Costello showed great promise in her freshman year when she ran 2:17.96 and 4:49.62. Emily Pugh (18:48.32), Sarah Engle (19:23.51), and Karla Negron (2:25.31) give the Sycamores veteran depth in the distance races. Katie Weber, an outstanding sophomore 400 runner, may also run full time in the middle distances in 2007. Two newcomers and local products should contribute right away. Adriane Wunderlich, a Terre Haute South graduate, ran 2:15.48 to place seventh in the state meet last spring. Terre Haute North's Kayla Alexander was one of the state's top long distance runners last spring when she ran 11:10.27 for 3,200 meters to finish 13th in the state meet.

Throws: The most challenging area for the ISU women's team in 2007 will be the throws. The throws area will not have a competitor who has scored in Missouri Valley competition. The top returning thrower will be Lisa Barrett, javelin thrower from Kokomo. She placed eighth in the 2006 MVC Outdoor Meet after improving her best to 124-2. Versatile Angel Canada threw well in 2006 after transferring from Anderson. She had a best of 151-4 in the hammer throw. The top two newcomers appear to be Erica Terry (40-10.75 in the shot) and Stephanie Smith (141-5 in the discus). Numerous other newcomers will try to supply depth in this area.

Hurdles: The hurdle event area for the Sycamores will be much improved in 2007 because of veteran returnees and one outstanding recruit. Senior Myra Bess had an excellent campaign in 2006, culminated by her MVC fourth and third place finishes in the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles, respectively. She improved to 14.25 and 1:01.85. Despite being injured most of the year, former All-State hurdler Amanda Jones still became an MVC 400 hurdle finalist in her freshman year. Combined eventers Chara Lane (15.09) and Jillian Yorn (1:05.40) also made big improvements in 2006. Newcomer Erica Moore was one of the top athletes in Indiana during her senior year. She finished third in the 2006 Indiana State Meet in the 300 hurdles running 43.55, and made the 100 hurdles state final, running a best of 14.74. She will contend for the top spot in both hurdle races when not preparing for the Combined Events.

Sprints: Indiana State's women made good progress in the sprint area in 2006. That should continue in 2007 with many key performers returning. In the short sprints, Valara Anderson and Janae Bridges ran well indoors and outdoors. Bridges, also ISU's top long jumper, ran 12.36 and 24.75 in 2006. Her 200 time just missed making the tough MVC Meet final. Anderson had bests of 12.19 and 24.84. They should give ISU a solid 1-2 in the short sprints. In addition to her 400 prowess, Mary Kate Conway has 12.2 and 25.49 speed. Heptathletes Erica Moore (24.95) and Dana Sander (8.52), and vaulters Diana Price (8.10, 12.7) Kylie Hutson (12.4, 26.60) and Crystal Winfrey, one of ISU's top sprinters in 2004-05 returning to the team after a redshirt year, could also supply depth in the short sprints.

Sophomore Mary Kate Conway showed great promise in 2006, running 56.46 and placing sixth in the Indoor MVC Meet. Hurdler Myra Bess (59.59), Samantha McClendon (58.74), Katie Weber (59.97), and Hannah Weide (58.29) give ISU solid returnees in the long sprint. Other newcomers give the Sycamores very good depth for the 4 x 400 relay: Lauren Martin (57.1), Erica Moore (57.06), Kylie Hutson (58.94), and Adriane Wunderlich (59.42). Additionally, others who have run well on 4 x 400 relays are Janae Bridges (57.3), Chara Lane (58.7), and Valara Anderson (58.8).

Jumps: The jumps should continue to be a very strong area for the Sycamore women. In 2006, Santia Spight pulled off a unique double in winning both the MVC Indoor and Outdoor high jump titles. Each time, she jumped 5-8.75. In her junior year, she was again an NCAA Regional Qualifier. Nikki Royer is the top returnee in the pole vault, but will redshirt the 2006-07 season after off season shoulder surgery. In 2006, she improved to 11-11.75. Her slot will be filled by two freshmen, Kylie Hutson and Diana Price. Hutson, who placed fifth in the state meet, has jumped 11-9, and Price, who placed 11th in the state meet, has jumped 10-8.

The long jump for the Sycamore women, is very deep. Senior Janae Bridges, the 2006 Outdoor MVC Champion, has jumped 19-11. Samantha McClendon, a junior from Columbus East, was the MVC runner-up indoors in 2006, and jumped 19-5.75. Providing depth in the long jump are the two outstanding freshmen athletes, Erica Moore and Kylie Hutson. Moore has jumped 18-4 and Hutson 18-3.25. Four other athletes claim best jumps over 17 feet. Freshman Lauren Martin will be ISU's top triple jumper. She has jumped 38-10.5 and has been a state meet finalist in Illinois the past two years in the event. Samantha McClendon learned the event in 2006 and improved to 36-9.75.

Heptathlon/Pentathlon: Indiana State will have five excellent athletes ready to compete in the Combined Events. Senior Chara Lane roared back from a disappointing indoor conference meet to finish 5th in the MVC Heptathlon, scoring a huge pr of 4,416 points. Senior Jillian Yorn has twice scored in the MVC in the combined events, most recently in the 2006 Pentathlon competition, where she finished sixth with 3,304 points. Dana Sander finished 11th in the indoor MVC Combined Events competition, scoring 2,937 points in her first try. Erica Moore has worked on the heptathlon in Junior Olympic summer competitions. In her junior year, she scored 4,328 points in her first try. She could contend for an All-MVC position in her freshman year. Vaulter/jumper Kylie Hutson may also be used here because of her athletic ability.