1999-2000 Preview
With a blend of experience and solid youth, the Ferris State women's track and field team has high expectations for the indoor and outdoor seasons. Those two attributes along with depth and maturity could translate into the Bulldogs surprising a lot of their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes and opponents around the country.
Last season was a building block for the program as Ferris placed third at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and fourth at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships. With that, fourth-year head coach Jeff Kavalunas believes FSU can improve on what the Bulldogs did a season ago.
"We have the ability to move up in the conference this year, but we will have to work hard at it," said Kavalunas, who was honored as the GLIAC Women's Indoor Track Coach-of-the-Year for the second straight time. "Our depth is probably the best it's been since I've been here and we have more competition on the team for positions as well. We have the desire to compete so we should be right in the thick of things."
Sprints/Hurdles
Senior Kiesha Jones will lead a strong group of sprinters after turning in a noteworthy performance in 1998-99. During the indoor season, she dominated her competition in the 400 meters by garnering top individual honors at four of five meets, including a first-place finish at the GLIAC Indoor Championships with a school-record time of 57.14. Jones rose to the occasion at the NCAA-II Nationals with a school-record 56.58 time in the 400 meters to place ninth overall. She totaled five first-place individual finishes during the indoor campaign and one in the outdoor en route to being selected Ferris' Most Outstanding Track performer. Sophomore Jakisha Sharps is developing into a contributor after placing runner-up in the 55-meter dash at the conference indoor meet and then a fifth-place showing in the 100 meters at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships. Another sophomore, Richelle Robinson, placed fourth in the 400 meters at the conference indoor meet.
In the hurdles, junior Jill Newberry is the top returnee after leading the Bulldogs in the 55, 100 and 400-meter hurdles last season. She garnered a fourth-place effort in the 55 meters at the league indoor meet and had the same finish in the 400 at the outdoor championships. Melissa Braxton hopes to make the most of her senior year following a productive season in the 55-meter event, highlighted by a third-place effort at the GLIAC indoor meet.
Distance/Middle Distance
This group hopes to surprise everyone in the GLIAC with extra effort from all the runners to make an impact in scoring. Junior Mackenzie Woodring is focused upon raising her level of productivity and will receive support from juniors Pam Preston and Char Smith along with sophomore April Smith, all members of the FSU cross country team. Sophomore Katie Klaver has the tools to contribute as illustrated by her sixth-place effort in the mile at the GLIAC Indoor Championships last year.
Junior Michelle Terry is the team's top performer in the middle distance events, which are a concern to Kavalunas because of insufficient depth. Terry, who sat out the indoor season, was Ferris' leading runner in the 800 and 1,500 meters. Junior Sara Watson emerged as a contributor last year after placing sixth in the 800 at the conference indoor meet. Assistance may also be provided by sophomore Katie Chapman, a transfer from Bethel College (Ind.) who was a 1996 high school cross country all-stater and a 1997 800-meter state champion.
Throws
This is one of FSU's strengths, especially with junior Farrah Sewell leading the way. A NCAA-II provisional qualifier in the 20-pound weight throw, Sewell placed ninth overall at the national indoor championships after becoming the school's record holder (53-01) in that event at an earlier meet. Sewell, who was Ferris' Most Outstanding Field Events performer last season, also finished second in the GLIAC indoor meet while placing in the top four in three throwing events at the outdoor meet. She is joined by fellow juniors Tianna Kirkland and Carla Buechler, the recipient of the team's Most Improved Award. Kirkland, a member of the women's basketball team, is beginning to make a name for herself in the shot put and discus. In the outdoor campaign, she placed sixth in the shot and seventh in the discus at the conference meet. Buechler displayed her versatility by competing in all four throwing events with her best performance being a third-place effort in the javelin at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships.
Jumps
Although short on athletes, the Bulldogs will be strong on ability as senior Jamie Sollose will lead Ferris in the long and triple jump again this season. She finished second in the long jump at the 1998 GLIAC Outdoor Championships after notching a third-place performance at the conference's indoor meet. Sollose was also a capable triple jumper as she placed among the top five in both the league indoor and outdoor championships. Farrah Sewell will be out to improve upon her sixth-place high jump effort at the conference outdoor championships and Melissa Braxton also returns after setting a school record (36-6.5) in the triple jump at the league outdoor meet.
Pole Vault
Jill Newberry, the team's top vaulter, returns with the opportunity to contend for the conference title. A season ago, she set school records in both the indoor and outdoor season while placing no lower than fifth at the two conference meets. The Bulldogs should receive more scoring in this area as Newberry will be joined by newcomers Kristyn Buck and Samantha Masters, two of the top prep pole vaulters in the state last year. Jamie Sollose was an outdoor meet champion in this event by clearing the bar at 8-3, which tied a school mark held by Newberry.
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