SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Susquehanna University men's and women's track and field head coaches Jim Taylor and Craig Penney remain remarkably upbeat about their teams' outdoor prospects this spring — a season which begins next weekend at the Washington & Lee Invitational in Lexington, Va.
Their optimism comes just one week after Taylor's men finished third and some 119 points behind team champion Widener, while Penney's women were at the bottom of the team standings at the Middle Atlantic Conference Indoor Championships. Throw in the fact that each team is dealing with a rash of injuries and the difficulty of not having a training facility this season since old Amos Alonzo Stagg Field was demolished and the new Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium/Amos Alonzo Stagg Field is being constructed, and it makes the optimisim hard to fathom.
"We have them right where we want them," mused Taylor.
If anyone would know, it would probably be Taylor and Penney.
The venerable Taylor is now in his 22nd year with the Crusader men's program and has guided his teams to 10 MAC outdoor championships while coaching 31 NCAA Division III All-Americans and six national champions. His team had won the MAC outdoor championship in both 1997 and '98 before finishing second to Widener last season.
Penney, meanwhile, is in his first season with the Susquehanna women's program — making him the fourth different head coach in the last four years. But prior to Susquehanna, he has 18 years of experience as a track and cross country coach. He guided previous teams to 14 conference championships while coaching 30 All-Americans at four different NCAA Division III schools, most recently at Dickinson College for the past three years. Penney directed the Dickinson women's track and field team to both the Centennial Conference indoor and outdoor championships last season, earning United States Track Coaches Association 1999 Indoors Regional Coach of the Year honors in the process.
Maybe the optimism is because the injuries meant both teams were missing some key scorers at the recent indoor championships, or maybe it's because some of their best events aren't run indoors, or maybe the coaches are just going a little crazy from having to practice without their own training facility.
Whatever the reason, Taylor and Penney both have high hopes of great improvement for their teams by the time the MAC Outdoor Championships roll around on Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, at Widener.
MEN'S PREVIEW
"We're starting to pick up on them now — we've picked up on the intensity. We went pretty easy so far because I knew what was going to happen running on that road out there all the time (injuries and boredom), when before we were able to run on a track," said Taylor. "You're dealt a hand and you've got to play that hand. We're not going to dwell on it (lack of facilities and injuries), so therefore we're not going to have a problem with it. We're not going to use that as an excuse."
One of the reasons Taylor has to be excited about the season is senior tri-captain and sprinting and jumping standout Matt Fenstermacher (Watsontown/Warrior Run H.S.). Fenstermacher repeated as champion in the long jump, finished second in three other events, and was fourth in yet another as he led the team at the recent indoor championships — accounting for 38 of its 77 team points. He captured the long jump with a leap of 21-5½, was second in the triple jump (43-4½) and 200-meter dash (:24.23), fourth in the 55-meter dash (:06.85), and also ran lead-off on the second-place 800-meter relay (1:37.07).
At MAC Outdoor Championships last season, Fenstermacher finished second in the triple jump and made the NCAA Division III Championships with a leap of 46-8¾. He also placed third in both the 100-meter dash (:11.27) and in the long jump (21-10), and ran the anchor leg on the second-place 400-meter relay team (:42.55). Fenstermacher also outdistanced his own long jump record during the regular season (22-11½, 1998) while winning the event at the prestigious Colonial Relays.
"Matt's a competitor and a kid you want in the trenches with you. Yet he's also a real loose guy who just knows when it's time to turn it on," said Taylor.
Fenstermacher leads another formidable team of Crusader jumpers, who took four of the top five spots in the long jump indoors.
Senior Adam Ressler (Robesonia/Conrad Weiser H.S.) won the 1999 MAC indoor high jump championship and was second a week ago (6-2). He qualified for outdoor nationals in 1998 as he tied the school record with a leap of 6-9, and was third in the conference outdoors last year (6-3). Ressler also will try and score points in the other two jumping events, and will throw the javelin this spring. He is expected to also try and qualify for nationals in the decathlon – attempting to do so last season in a meet.
Like Ressler, junior John Green (Reading/Governor Mifflin H.S.) just rejoined the track and field team after the basketball season and is also a former MAC champion – winning the 1998 outdoor long jump title (21-8). He was third indoors (20-8¾) and fourth in the triple (42-9) a week ago, finishing seventh in the long (20-7½) outdoors last year. Green might also do some sprinting and could find a spot on the 400-meter relay.
Another Green who also played basketball and has great scoring potential in both the jumps and the sprints is sophomore Corey Green (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Catholic H.S.). While he didn't score at MAC's indoors, Green was second in the high jump outdoors last season (6-7) and also ran a leg on the second-place 400-meter relay team.
Sophomore Ryan Hollis (Mifflin/Juniata H.S.) had been the team's best jumper, next to Fenstermacher, during the indoor season — and was fifth in the long (20-3½) indoors.
A pair of freshmen also scored at the conference indoor meet as Matt Lowe (Liverpool/Newport H.S.) was second in the long jump (20-9), while Tim Pelc (Bethlehem/Salisbury H.S.) was fifth in the triple (41-1½). Pelc is also a sprinter.
Like the jumpers, the sprinters are deep and talented. In addition to Fenstermacher, both Greens and Pelc, senior tri-captain Jerry Evangelista (Steppton/Hazleton Area H.S.) and sophomores Beau Heeps (Allentown/Parkland H.S.) and Jason Ward (Avondale/Avon Grove H.S.) will be key contributors.
Evangelista made MAC's in the 100-meter dash last season, but did not make the finals in the event – finishing fifth in his heat with a time of :11.90. He made the finals in the 100 at two meets prior to MAC's, finishing sixth in the event at both the Messiah (:11.60) and Mason-Dixon (:11.31) Invitationals. A two-time returning MAC All-Academic selection both indoors and outdoors, Evangelista was part of the recent second-place 800-meter relay indoors and will also be fighting for a spot on the 400-meter relay.
Heeps was also on that 800-meter indoor relay and finished fifth in the 200 (:24.41). A qualifier in both the 200 and 400 outdoors last season, he was part of the third-place 1,600-meter relay team (3:25.68). Taylor is very pleased with his development.
The Crusader coach also believes Ward could be a key figure if his team is to contend this spring, also just rejoining the team following basketball. He did not run the open 200 or 400 at the indoor championships, but anchored both the second-place 800 and 1,600 (3:38.11) relays. Last season outdoors, Ward was third in the 400-meter dash (:50.56) and also ran on both placewinning relays.
The Crusaders participated in the indoor championships without any hurdlers due to injuries. That won't be the case outdoors as sophomore Trever Fike (Millerstown/Greenwood H.S.) and junior Nick Hoffman (Boiling Springs/Boiling Springs H.S.) join freshmen Dan Kiss (Windber/Windber Area H.S.) and Aaron Fairbanks (Colebrook, Conn./Northwestern Regional #7) for a formidable group of hurdlers.
Of that group, Fike is the leader after finishing second at MAC's outdoors last season in the 110-meter high hurdles (:15.68) by just a scant .04. Unfortunately, he missed most of the last outdoor season with an ankle sprain and has been bothered by a hamstring pull recently.
The Crusaders may also surprise some in the middle distance events where senior tri-captain Jamie Yoder (Turbotville/Warrior Run H.S.) and senior Joe Palmieri (New Wales/LaSalle College H.S.) join sophomore Jake Trevino (Danville/Danville H.S.) and freshman Luke Peterson (Huntingdon Valley/Lower Moreland H.S.).
Yoder was fifth in the conference in the 800-meter run (2:00.58) outdoors last year, and also ran the lead-off leg on the third-place 1,600-meter relay team. He didn't run the open 800 indoors this season, although he did participate on both the team's distance relays.
Palmieri didn't run indoors this winter, but has returned for the outdoor season and was fourth in the MAC 1,500-meter run last season (4:10.12).
Trevino had the team's best times indoors in both the 800 (2:06.03) and mile (4:41.46), while Peterson may be their top middle distance recruit and is just returning to track shape after becoming one of the first two MAC swimming champions in school history — winning the 100-yard backstroke with a new school record time (:55.07).
Sophomore Mike Lehtonen (Laurens, N.Y./Morris Central H.S.) and senior Ryan Neumyer (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley H.S.) lead the distance runners. Lehtonen just missed scoring in the 5,000 at the conference indoor meet (16:28.79) and was sixth (16:14.26) outdoors last season. Neumyer, meanwhile, was unable to participate indoors because of academic commitments.
Senior Matt Woolley (Branchville, N.J./Pope John XXIII) is in his second year running the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Taylor is optimistic that he'll get points there this season.
Elsewhere on the field, Taylor and throwing coach Cris Delbaugh are optimistic that they'll do well outdoors — particularly in the javelin where they've had qualifiers for nationals in each of the last three years.
Heading that contingent is freshman Matt Deamer (Lewistown/Indian Valley H.S.), who was ranked first in the nation in prep javelin for much of last spring prior to suffering an injury.
Joining him will be improving senior Erik Benson (West Reading/Wyomissing H.S.), and healthier sophomores Steve Turzanski (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia H.S.) and Josh Zimmerman (Wellsboro/Wellsboro Area H.S.).
Sophomore Mike Thomas (Sparta, N.J./New Hartford, N.Y., H.S.) will join freshmen Xavier Gomez (San Antonio, Texas/Burbank H.S.), Chris Hand (Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain H.S.) and Ben Tillman (Asbury, N.J./George School) in the discus, with Gomez and Hand also throwing the shot.
Sophomore Frank Dumbreski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Regional H.S.) rounds out the leaders on the field in the pole vault. Dumbreski recently finished fourth in the MAC Indoor Championships (11-8) after being sixth outdoors (12-6) last year. He cleared his collegiate best of 13-6 to win the Susquehanna Invitational last spring.
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
"I think, we're going to find a way to get everyone to contribute at MAC Championships. We're going to move people around a little bit and find out where they can be successful for themselves, as well as help this team," said Penney.
"Because we don't have the numbers, we're focusing more on the individual goals this season, so we want to continue to improve the performances individually. If each athlete improves five to 10 percent, we'll also improve as a collective."
Unfortunately for Penney, gone from his potential scoring arsenal this year are four-time MAC outdoor jumping champion (three times triple jump, once long jump) and senior Karyn Kern (Brodheadsville/Pleasant Valley H.S.), and 1998 Division III and MAC javelin national champion and junior Janee Shaner (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.) — by way of injury and transfer respectively.
The good news is that 1999 MAC 400-meter dash indoor champion (1:01.67) and senior co-captain Jen Becker (Simsbury, Conn/Simsbury H.S.) is set to return from a pair of leg stress fractures which ended her outdoor season prematurely a year ago. Becker and Penney decided it would be best for her to skip the indoor season this year to keep herself healthy for the spring. During a healthier 1998 campaign, she was fifth in the 400-meter dash (1:01.67) and sixth in the 200 (:27.81), also anchoring the second-place 1,600-meter relay team (4:06.91) in 1998 — setting a school record in the 400-meter dash (1:00.41) that season.
Becker's demise last season led to the emergence of sophomore Charlotte Gould (Yardley/Pennsbury H.S.) as the team's top sprinter by season's end. Gould was third at the conference meet in the 200-meter dash (:27.02) and fifth in the 400 (1:01.40), also running a leg on both Susquehanna's winning 1,600-meter relay team — which set a school record with its time of 4:06.64 — and fifth-place 400-meter relay (:51.89). Gould didn't run the open 200 at indoor championships this season, but was a part of Susquehanna's third-place 1,600-meter relay team (4:27.18).
The top sprinter during the indoor season is also the team's top hurdler in junior Emily Dugan (Athens/Athens H.S.). Dugan was fifth in the MAC in the 200-meter dash (:29.08) indoors, and also ran on the successful 4x4 relay. She ran legs on both the MAC champion 1,600-meter relay and fifth-place sprint relay outdoors last season, also finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles (1:07.59) and fifth in the 100 hurdles (:17.05). Dugan has made the MAC All-Academic indoor and outdoor track and field teams throughout her career.
Freshman Katrina Emery (Easton/Wilson H.S.) ran lead-off on the 4x4 relay indoors and is also a hurdler and 800-meter runner.
Sophomore Megan Marquette (Trevorton/Line Mountain H.S.) anchored the 1,600-meter relay indoors, and tops the middle distance runners. A standout basketball player before suffering a pair of knee injuries over the past three years, Marquette missed the final month last outdoor season when the knee injury flaired up again. Prior to that injury, she was fourth in the 800 (2:33.9) at the Franklin & Marshall Invitational.
Freshman Angela Luino (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills H.S.) had a good rookie cross country season last fall and Penney is hoping she can build on that confidence in outdoor track this spring. She will also run the middle distance events and might take some time to develop after deciding not to run during the indoor season.
While she's in her first season of track, don't be surprised if freshman phenom Katie McKeever (Worcester/Methacton H.S.) also doesn't figure in the scoring in either the sprinting or middle distance events come MAC's. McKeever has already displayed her speed and athleticism by finishing as the second-leading scorer on the nationally-ranked field hockey team, and then placing second in the conference in the two breaststroke events, and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly — setting school records in all three this winter.
Senior co-captain Sarah Costello (Palmyra/Palmyra H.S.) and freshman Erin Colwell (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) traded back-and-fourth as the cross country team's top runner last fall, and could do the same in the distance events this spring.
Colwell finished with the upper hand during the indoor season, placing fifth at MAC's in the 5,000-meter run (19:53.98) — posting a season best time of 19:08.63 in the event during the winter.
Costello finished fourth in the conference outdoors last spring in the 10,000 (42:04.56) and was eighth in the 5,000 (20:21.19). She broke her own school records in both the 5,000 and 10,000 last season – running 41:21.53 for the new record in the 10,000, and 19:45.40 for the record in the 5,000. She also has the school record in the 3,000-meter run at 11:22.09 in 1998.
The field events are where Penney's team is extremely thin. Junior Anne Williams (New Holland/Garden Spot H.S.) and freshman Marie Maredeo (Nesquehoning/Panther Valley H.S.) both cleared 4-6 in the high-jump this winter and Penney thinks they have potential to go higher. Freshman Jess Ladd (Wyomissing/Tulpehocken H.S.) also appears to be a quick study in her first year as a thrower.
