Bowling Green State University Athletics
MAC Championship Preview
May 12, 2004 | Women's Track and Field
May 12, 2004
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2004 Women's Outdoor Track and Field Mid-American Conference Championship is set to begin Thursday on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. All 13 schools will participate in the three-day event, as defending champion Eastern Michigan highlights a competitive field.
The 2003 championship was extremely entertaining, as five teams scored 83 points or more, as EMU held of Miami by a margin of 11 1/2 points. This year's championship should be more of the same as six champions return, in eight overall events, including All-Americans Kira Sims from Akron, and Miami's Andrea Kremer.
In the 100-meters, last year's champion Patricia Soman (BSU) has graduated, thus leaving the field wide open. The top competitors to claim the crown this year are EMU's Patrice Beasley (11.65) and Akron's Deanna Caldwell (11.74). The duo are the only competitors this year in the MAC to finish in a time under 11.80.
Soman was also the champion in the 200-meters, meaning that a new champion will be crowned this year as well. On the year, three student-athletes have ran times of under 24 seconds, and look to be the most likely to take home the gold. EMU's Eboni Jenkins leads the way with a time of 23.82, though Bowling Green's Alicia Taylor (23.84) and Beasley (23.84) are very close on her heels.
Western Michigan's Krisy Mahome returns in the 400-meters ready to defend her title, However, she will face stiff competition from three individuals that have all run faster times than the Bronco this year. Leading the way is Ball State's Crystal Winfrey (54.65) and EMU's Bria Woods (54.93). Also in the hunt is Miami's Erika Hunter (55.16).
Akron's Beata Rudzinska is back seeking another title at the 800-meters, though she enters having run second-fast time in the conference this year (2:07.92). The fastest time this year at 800-meters belongs to Buffalo's Allison Laske, who blazed to a time of 2:04.81 at Palo Alto in late April.
Rudzinska is also the defending champions in the 1,500-meters, but unlike the 800-meters, enters as the favorite. She has run the fastest time this year, with a time of 4:23.25. That time tops the next closest competitor by nearly four seconds, as Laske's best mark is 4:27.15. Also in the mix is Toledo's Briana Shook, who is the only other student-athlete to post a time of under 4:30, as she ran a 4:28.65.
In the 5,000-meters, Miami's Kremer is back to defend her crown, but will not enter this year's championship as the favorite. That distinction belongs to Shook, who has posted the fastest time this year in the nation with a time of 16:20.57. It appears to be a two person race, as the next closest competitor, Jill Scully of Ball State, sits almost 15 seconds behind Kremer's time of 16:35.39.
The 10,000 meters in 2004 will crown a new champion, as Toledo's Sara Vergote has graduated. Shook again appears to be the favorite, with her league-leading time of 35:01.74 being nearly 25 seconds faster than teammate Ebba Stenbeck (36:26.31). Close behind Stenbeck is Ball State's Sarah Huddleston, who has ran a time of 36:42.21. The trio are the only MAC athletes to run a time under 37:00.
Miami's Erin Connolly is back to fend of all challengers for the 100-meter hurdles crown, as she looks to defend her title. It should be a very competitive race, as EMU's Lela Nelson leads the way with a time of 13.69. Connolly trails Nelson, with a time of 13.75, while Ohio's Foli James (13.81) and Western Michigan's Chelsea Humprey (13.88) could also challenge.
In the steeplechase, Kremer returns as the champion, but Shook is the runner to catch. Shook is the only MAC athlete this year to turn in a time under ten minutes (9:52.31). Kremer sits in second-place (10:23.34). It appears to again be a two person race, as the next closest competitor is nearly 20 seconds off of that mark.
The high jump will crown a new MAC champion this year, as Alex Church of Kent State will not be back to defend her title. Akron's Natalie Sako is the only MAC athlete this year to clear 5-9, as she jumped 5-9 1/4 on May 9. Looking to deny Sako the crown will be Central Michigan's Jackie Bozin, who has cleared a height of 5-8 3/4. No other athlete has cleared above 5-8, though Akron's Lisa Ravn, Ball State's Ashley Gillies, CMU's Rachel Tarvudd and Miami's Lindsay Haven all have cleared 5-8 even.
Buffalo's Laura Olson is back to defend in the pole vault, but will not be the favorite for the gold. That honor belongs to Akron's Sims, who rewrote the MAC recordbooks over the weekend as she cleared 14-00. It was the first time in league history that a female pole vaulter has ever cleared 14-00.
BSU's Soman was the long jump champion in 2003, which means a new champion will be named in 2004. There are three individuals who have jumped for over 20 feet on the year, with Miami's Lashonda Davis leading the way (20-7.7. Close behind are Nelson (20-3/4) and BSU's Amanda Barnharrt (20-1).
Like the long jump, Soman claimed the triple jump title a year ago, so a new champion will be crowned. CMU's Jackie Smart (41-8 1/2), EMUs Kemba Johnson (41-8 1/2) and KSU's Colleen Ramharak (41-8) are the leading candidates, though the field appears to wide open as Miami's Bernitta Johnson has also jumped more than 41 feet (41-2)
In the shot put, Lauren Collins of Miami returns to defend her crown though she is not the favorite. Four individuals have posted longer throws on the year, with Kent State's Breann Smith (50-4) leading the way. Other challengers to Collins' crown are Bowling Green's Kerri McClung (48-9), Buffalo's Sarah Vance (49-5 1/2) and CMU's Katie Davis (48-3 1/2).
Marshall's Erin Compton has graduated, leaving the discus competition wide open. KSU's Smith has the inside track to the gold, as she is the only MAC athlete this year to top the 160 foot barrier, with a toss of 162-4 on the year. Looking to knock Smith out of the role of champion will be Bowling Green's Liz Honeger(152-5), Akron's Liz Mangen (151-11) and Jenna Strouse (151-02). The trio are the only other individuals besides Smith this year to toss more than 150 feet.
The javelin will also crown a new champion this year, as EMU's Brit Klanert has exhausted her eligibility. The top candidate to succeed Klanert as MAC champion is Akron's Ashley Kaufman, who is the only person this year to throw over 150 feet (152-5). Other contenders include CMU's Tasha Reynolds (149-11), KSU's Julie Ward (149-3) and KSU's Smith (145-11).
In the hammer throw, Collins is the returning champion, though Western Michigan's Kristi Ford has had the longest throw on the year, with a distance of 187-03. That distance clips Collins (183-9). The duo are the only two on the MAC to surpass the 180 foot mark this year.
For complete results of the three day outdoor track and field championships, visit either www.muredhawks.com or www.mac-sports.com.
