KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The 2009 Cross Country season was completed less than two weeks ago and attention has now turned to the Indoor Track & Field season which begins this Friday with what was supposed to be a dual meet between the Sycamores and Eastern Illinois University Panthers in Charleston Friday afternoon.
The EIU Early Bird will be scored as dual meets featuring NCAA Division I teams Indiana State, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Butler, DePaul and the women's team from Northern Illinois. Also in competition will be Vincennes University. Action begins at 5 p.m. (ET) at Lantz Gymnasium on the campus of Eastern Illinois.
“We have more quality this year but not as much depth,” Coach John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “But that depth will develop as the season progresses.”
The Sycamore men will be led by two returning provisional qualifiers from a year ago including sophomore Major Clay in the high jump and sophomore Brandon Pounds in the weight throw.
“Both of these athletes have the ability to become the best that we have ever had at Indiana State in their respective events,” McNichols said.
Seniors Josh Williams and Julius Smith are back for their final year of eligibility in indoor track along with senior Lyle Nolcox who is eligible for both indoor and outdoor track this season, giving ISU a very good lineup in the weight throw and shot put.
“We are going to be expecting a lot out of some athletes who did not do much last year but that was because of the depth of last year's team,” McNichols said. “And we also look forward to the contributions from some who are eligible this year but were not last year.”
Senior Daryl Truitt is expected to lead this year's corps of sprinters along with junior Michael Roberts and senior Patrick Mendenhall in the hurdles. Junior Steven Swinford will also be counted on in the sprints and in the pole vault with sophomore Tra Wilson seeing his first competition in the sprints.
Other individuals to watch for in this first meet will be junior David Bell in the horizontal jumps as well as the high jump, sophomore Jeremiah Vaughan in the mile, freshman Brandon Query in the 1,000 meters along with junior Andrew Lepkowski, and sophomore Ernest Rollings in the triple jump.
The Indiana State women's team has the potential to challenge for the Missouri Valley Conference championship this season according to John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach.
“We are going to be very, very competitive,” Gartland said. “We will use a lot of people in a lot of events. We have the potential to have a very good start to the season.”
The Sycamores are led by All-American and two-time NCAA Champion Kylie Hutson. The senior won the NCAA indoor pole vault title and the NCAA outdoor pole vault title last season. The senior class also includes Lauren Martin in triple jump, an All-American in the triple jump a year ago, and Erica Moore, who competed at both the indoor and outdoor national championships.
“Most of the team has worked very hard to get to a point of being fit at the start of the season,” Gartland said. “This translated into a very competitive performance trial a week ago and should translate into a very good season.”
Sophomore Kelsey Hanley, who also competed at the NCAA Indoor Championships last year, returns to compete in the weight throws for the Sycamores along with sophomore Felicia Johnson.
“Both have been working very hard and have a chance to provisionally qualify this weekend,” Gartland said.
Moore will be competing in four events for Indiana State Friday as she is entered in the 800 meters, 60 meter hurdles, high jump, and will be the anchor on ISU's 4x400 meter relay.
Others to watch include freshman Kylee Thacker and Hanna Mercer in the 3,000 meters, senior Adrianne Wunderlich and sophomore Kristy Twitchell in the 1,000 meters, and junior Rachel Posey in the 600 meters.
“We have a lot of young talent that will be seeing their first action,” Gartland said. “That combined with the experience of our senior class will make us a very competitive team this season.”
After Friday, the Sycamores will have nearly a month off before they resume action on Jan. 13 when they travel to Illinois State for a dual meet.
