Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Track And Field Season Outlook
1/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Jan. 12, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - The Central Michigan University women's track and field squad will be looking for a return to the top of the Mid-American Conference in 2006 after a pair of fifth-place finishes at both the MAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2005. While the team may have dropped a few places in the standings after claiming both titles in 2004, it was still a strong year for the squad, which broke 13 school records over the course of the season.
The highlight of 2005 was that a relatively young squad gained valuable experience, which means that expectations for this season will be high once again. Senior Tamera Thomas, who was CMU's only MAC champion in 2005, returns, as do 12 other athletes who scored at either the MAC Indoor or Outdoor Championships in 2005. A large group of incoming freshman also adds to what should be a deep and talented team in 2006.
However, CMU will have to overcome the loss of six seniors from last season, all of whom scored for the Chippewas at the MAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
"I'm excited about our prospects for the 2006 season," head coach Karen Lutzke said. "We have several returning athletes that have performed at a high level for us in the past, and they've only been getting better during the offseason. I like what I've seen out of our newcomers, and I believe that several of them can contribute to our team right away. This is a deep team that I am confident can challenge for the Mid-American Conference championship."
Sprints
A position of strength over the last few years should remain so for CMU in 2006. Leslie Johnson (Eaton, Ohio/Sr.), who scored in the 400m outdoors, returns and should pace a deep group of sprinters. Jenaie Edwards (Detroit, Mich./So.) and Najah Floyd (Southfield, Mich./Jr.) both ran a leg on the school-record 4x400m relay squad in 2005 and are expected to contribute individually as well in 2006. Edwards set the school record in the 600m last year as a freshman.
Ariss Seals (Detroit, Mich./Jr.), who is coming off injuries that slowed her in 2005, is getting healthy and hopes to be able to compete for a MAC title in both the 60m and the 100m. Sophomores Tempestt Stanford (Columbus, Ohio) and Marcia Smith (Detroit, Mich.) got their first taste of collegiate track and field last year and should be better this year. Incoming freshman Stephanie Staubus (Grand Ledge, Mich.) could also contribute this season.
Senior Tamera Thomas was a national qualifer in the 60m hurdles indoors in 2005.  | |
Tamera Thomas (Lansing, Mich./Sr.) was a national qualifier in the 60m hurdles and an All-MAC performer in both the 60m and 100m hurdles in 2005, and she's looking for even bigger and better things in 2006. Thomas will be expected to lead the way for the hurdlers this season.
Kate Maxwell (Commerce, Mich./Jr.) competed in the 400m hurdles at the MAC Outdoor Championships last year and will look to build on the experience of that this season. Incoming freshman Michelle Elliott (Goodrich, Mich.) has a chance to contribute immediately in the hurdle events.
Jumps
Four-time All-MAC performer Jackie Smart (Blue Island, Ill./Sr.) and Thomas will anchor the jumping events for CMU. Smart, the school-record holder in the triple jump, has finished second in the event at the last four MAC Championship meets. She was a regional qualifier in each of the last two years. Thomas was an All-MAC performer in the high jump outdoors and scored at both the indoor and outdoor championships in the long and high jumps.
Tomea Peebles (Chicago, Ill./Jr.) has made big improvements from last year and has potential to be a scorer for CMU in the jumps. Taylor Washington (Southfield, Mich./Sr.) and Jodi Matsko (Fairport Harbor, Ohio/Fr.) will also compete in 2006.
Colleen Johnson (Highland, Mich./Jr.) scored at both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2004, but injuries slowed her significantly in 2005. She enters this season healthy and has been practicing well.
Throws
This should be a strong area for CMU in 2006. The Chippewas return two scorers from a year ago in Mary Raney (Vassar, Mich./Jr.) and Kari Taylor (Chelsea, Mich./Sr.). Raney scored both indoors and outdoors in the shot put, while Taylor scored in the hammer throw. Both will compete in multiple throwing events.
CMU will look to several incoming freshmen to contribute this season. Michaela Danhoff (Willard, Ohio) will compete with Raney in the shot, Allison Jakubowski (Anchor Bay, Mich.) is an excellent javelin thrower, and Charity Sunderman (Jackson, Mich.) is very good in the discus.
Middle Distance/Distance
The Chippewas return four scorers from a season ago and add two freshmen who paced the cross country squad in the fall.
Jenaie Edwards, Lisa Krueger (Rockford, Mich./Jr.), and Connie Mallinson (Highland, Mich./Sr.) all scored in the 800m in 2005. Krueger scored at both the indoor and outdoor championships, while Edwards pointed indoors and Mallinson did so outdoors. Amanda Lyon dealt with injuries last year but is healthy and anxious to contribute this year.
Senior Teresa Bongiovanni scored at the MAC Outdoor Championships in the 10,000m last season. | |
Ashley Anderson (Rochester Hills, Mich./Jr.) finished ninth in the mile run indoors and scored as part of the distance medley relay squad, but was injured and unable to compete during the outdoor season.
Multi-Events
Tamera Thomas, the indoor champion in the pentathlon last season, should be even better in 2006. She is expected to compete in that event again, and may participate in the heptathlon outdoors. Shanna Tamminga (Delton, Mich./So.) gained valuable experience during the indoor season a year ago and should be much improved this season. Incoming freshmen Michelle Elliott and Allison Jakubowski will also get the chance to compete in the multi-events.
Schedule
CMU will challenge itself with a competitive schedule in 2006. They will host a pair of indoor meets, including the Jack Skoog Open on Feb. 17, which serves as the final tune-up before the conference meet. The two big indoor meets on the CMU schedule are the Michigan Intercollegiates at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 28, and the Sykes-Sabok Challenge Cup at Penn State on Feb. 10-11. CMU will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for the MAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 24-25. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Ark. on March 10-11.
The outdoor season will also feature two big meets. CMU will travel to compete at the prestigious Sea Ray Relays held at the University of Tennessee on April 14-15 and participate in the Hillsdale Relays on April 28-29. The MAC Outdoor Championships will take place at the University of Toledo May 11-13. The NCAA Mideast Regionals follow two weeks later on May 26-27 at the University of Tennessee, with the NCAA Championships being held June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif.
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