Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Women Kick Off Indoor Season
2/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Jan. 10, 2000
THE TEAM-- The Central Michigan University women's track and field team kicks off the 2000 indoor season by hosting the Chippewa Open on Friday, Jan. 14, in the Jack Skoog Indoor Track beginning at 5 p.m. The meet marks the first indoor meet hosted by the Chippewas since 1985.
THE COACHING STAFF--The CMU women's track and field program is headed up by head coach Kathleen Raske Sparrey and assistant coaches Karen Lutzke and Larry Levine. Raske Sparrey led the Chippewas to a fifth-place finish at the 1999 indoor Mid-American Conference track and field championships and a fourth-place finish at the MAC outdoor finals. Lutzke was the head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Michigan State (1990-98) and the head women's and men's cross country and women's track and field coach at Olivet (1998-99) while Levine, who is in his third year, works with the throwers and directs CMU's strength and conditioning program for the throwing events.
SPARREY ON OPENING THE SEASON--"We're excited to be competing at home in our new facility. We're expecting to do well in our meet and get a little experience under our belts. The Red Simmons meet next week will be competitive so the Chippewa Open will be a good way for us to get some experience and step up our intensity."
2000 OUTLOOK--The Chippewas go into the new season looking to build upon last year's improvement. Central set seven school records, had an NCAA championships qualifier, took fifth place at the MAC championships and had six All-MAC performers in 1999. Suzy Bozin (Washington/So.) competed in the NCAA championships as a freshman in the high jump and was the top American freshman in the high jump rankings during the season.
NEW HOME--The 2000 indoor season marks the first for the Chippewa track and field program in the new Jack Skoog Indoor Track. The facility, which is housed in the Indoor Athletic Complex, is a 200-meter track with six running and eight sprinting lanes. It also features dual pole vault and long jump/triple jump runways, bleacher seating for 650, a 1,000 square foot lockerroom and a visitor lockerroom. An automatic timing system with an instant scoreboard display is also included. The Chippewas previously competed in Finch Fieldhouse.
RECORD SETTING RETURNEES--Seven athletes who set school records in 1999 return for the Chippewas. Andrea Baker (Ft. Wayne, IN/Sr.) set the 60m hurdles mark (8.63), Jen Brown (Laingsburg/Sr.) the 20-pound throw (57-4 1/4), Bozin the high jump (5-10 3/4), Melissa Brousseau (Alpena/Jr.) the shot put (48-5 1/4) and the 4x400m relay team (3:50.48) of Shree Jones (Detroit/Sr.), Kari Karhoff (Durand/Jr.) and Deanna Vogel (Tecumseh/So.).
UPCOMING--The Chippewas travel to the Red Simmons Invitational on Jan. 22 at the University of Michigan.
