Central Michigan University Athletics
Season Outlook (Part Three): Field Events/Multi's
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | MTF
Editor's note: Part three of the three-part season preview of the Central Michigan track and field program.
Jumps/Vault/Multi-events
The Chippewas boast plenty of talent in the field events, headlined by senior high jumper Erica Schroll. In 2009, Schroll was the MAC high jump champion at both the indoor and outdoor meets. The senior stacked up well against some of the athletes in the country as she narrowly missed qualifying for nationals as a junior. She also has some experience in the multi-events and the CMU staff may utilize her in that role at the MAC meets this season.
“Erica is doing a great job as expected,” Randolph said. “She loves the sport and will do whatever she can do get better. She’s getting stronger in her other events, ones that we didn’t think would be as strong. We’re trying to spread her out a little bit and we are seeing good results. She puts a lot of pressure on herself, and having her do multiple events can help an athlete like her.”
Joining Schroll is senior Tanisha Johnson, who scored outdoors with a seventh-place finish in the high jump. Johnson also saw time in the multi-events, scoring in the pentathlon indoors and heptathlon outdoors.
Another returning scorer for this unit is Katie McColly, who took sixth in the long jump at the MAC Indoor Championships.
The men have a pair of redshirt freshmen that have a chance to contribute points in Jacob McDonald and Kevin Bacon.
Other athletes who will see action in the jump events are Misha Lamphere, Aleisha Leeper and Megan Wilson for the women and William Burns and Andrew Kruskamp for the men.
Central’s pole vaulting unit has been among the best in the conference and this season should be no different. The men return three scorers from last year in seniors Marcus Breidinger and Mike McGregor and sophomore Joseph Jankowski. Breidinger also qualified for regionals for the third time in his career in 2009.
Other athletes who could contribute in the vault are Joshua Kettlewell, Jonathan Grinter, Nicholas Rainey and Ryan Staley.
The women’s vaulters are led by sophomore Ashley Esparza, who scored indoors with a seventh-place finish. Esparza has been impressive during offseason training and is primed for a breakout campaign.
Newcomer Christina Watson has also impressed in practice and could add vital depth to this unit for the women.
“The vault is looking really good,” Randolph said. “Marcus, Mike and Joseph should all be scorers for us. On the women’s side, Ashley Esparza is looking really good and working hard. She has a quiet work ethic about her. Christina Watson is also looking like a potential contributor as well in that area.”
The Chippewas return a pair of athletes who scored points in the multi-events competition last year. Tanisha Johnson scored for the women in the pentathlon indoors and heptathlon outdoors while Josh Kettlewell provided points for the men in the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon.
“The multi-events in the past has not been a strong area in our conference past the top two,” Randolph said. “Josh will have a supporting cast in the multi-events and may create a 1-2 punch on the men’s side. Tanisha is looking really good and we may be able to move her out of the multi-events and put her into the triple jump. We want to have two or three athletes plus an alternate for every event.”
Throws
CMU boasts several quality returners in the throw events, starting with senior Greg Pilling. In 2009, Pilling became the 33rd track and field athlete and first thrower since 1978 (Bruno Pauletto) to earn All-America honors. He won his first MAC championship, taking the discus at the MAC Outdoor Championships while finishing runner-up in the hammer throw. Pilling broke the school record in the discus with a toss of 197-7 at the NCAA Mideast Regional. The London, Ont., native also scored indoors with a sixth-place finish at the weight throw.
“Greg is a coach in his own right,” Randolph said. “You don’t have to do much with him, he and Coach Ridgway are getting along well. He had a longer season than anyone else in the program, but he’s looking good in training while getting ready for the season.”
After Pilling, the men feature a good amount of experience that scored at the MAC meets. Junior George Flanner scored in the shot put both indoors and outdoors, taking fifth in the event at the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Other returning scorers for the Maroon and Gold are Ryan McCullough, who took fifth in the hammer throw outdoors, Kevin Mays, who scored in the hammer throw and discus outdoors and John Calvert, who finished sixth in the shot put outdoors.
Another athlete to watch in this group is freshman Alex Rose. The newcomer was a state champion in the shot put and finished runner-up in the discus. He has also impressed the staff in offseason training.
“Ryan and George are coming along really well,” Randolph said. “Kevin is showing potential as well. Alex is a really strong freshman coming out of high school. He’s got good raw ability in all the throwing events.”
The staff believes a healthy Whitney Johnson will produce valuable points for the throwers on the women’s side. While she battled injuries in 2008, Johnson scored indoors in the weight throw in 2007.
Also returning to this unit is senior Charity Sunderman, who scored indoors in the weight throw last season.
Newcomer Molly Poel has a chance to make an immediate impact with this group. Poel, a transfer from Grand Valley State, scored at the GLIAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in multiple throwing events. She scored in the shot put and weight throw indoors while producing points in the hammer throw outdoors. She helped lead the Lakers to team conference titles indoors and outdoors and qualified for indoor nationals in the weight throw. She was part of a GVSU squad that finished Division II runner-up during the indoor season and fourth in the country outdoors.
“Whitney struggled through injuries in previous years, but she is doing fine right now,” Randolph said. “She will be able to contribute and is putting up good marks in practice. Charity is looking good in training as well. Molly looks like a contributor already. We have athletes that can step up and score points in multiple events.”
Other athletes who will see action in the throwing events are Andrew Grillo, Mychael King and Jacob Maloney for the men and Judea Archie-Walker, Chelsea Brazier, Kayla Brindley, Katelyn Christenson and Mykal Imbrock for the women.
