Jan. 13, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
In his seventh season with the Terrapins, head coach Andrew Valmon hopes the women will continue to mark up the record books and seek solid performances and improvements from all event areas on the women's track and field team in 2010.
The women's team is led by junior Kiani Profit, who will contribute in hurdles, jumps and multi-event areas. Valmon is hoping for another berth to the NCAA meet and a repeat stance on the podium at the ACC Championships for Profit.
The overarching objectives of both track and field programs are to improve their standings at the ACC Indoor Championships and to maintain a presence at the NCAA Indoor Nationals. In order to reach these goals, a team of experienced student-athletes has been blended with a group of eager newcomers.
"The ACC is going to be extremely competitive this year," said Valmon. "We are continuing to groom our athletes for this experience and to give them the mentality necessary to be successful in this environment. This year's conference meet may prove to be one of the most competitive yet, and we will be prepared."
SPRINTS
Coming off a great outdoor track season, Alexis Booker will cap her senior year with a solid showing in the short-sprint events. At the 2009 Maryland Twilight outdoors, Booker finished second in the 100-meter dash with a season-best time of 12.04, the Terps' 10th-best mark ever.
Senior Melony McKay will use her last indoor season to knock down her previous times and make a name for herself as a prominent 400-meter runner. McKay will also be a viable member of the 4x400m relay squad. Natalie Goodman and Tolulope Olugbemi will look to make a strong closing to their senior year in the 400.
Sophomore DeAnna Brown will be expected to contribute in the sprint events as well as assist with the 4x400m relay. Sophomore D'Ambour Lewis hopes to improve her times in the short sprints after placing first in the 100 at the 2009 Maryland Twilight and Maryland Invitational with marks of 11.97 and 11.99 respectively. Junior Heidi Paul and freshmen Arielle Statham and Raven Wingate will also add depth to the Terps' short-sprint and relay crews this year.
MIDDLE DISTANCE
Kelley Pry will return for her final season as an asset to the middle-distance group. Pry has scored in the 800 in the past and will look for a repeat performance in 2010. Taylor Bumpas, a freshman standout from Spring House, Pa., will look to make a strong college debut at 800 meters.
While senior Christina Nelson looks to be a key player with the mile as her primary event, she also returns as one of the top 800-meter athletes. Nelson will be a dependable participant in these events and on the relays.
Sophomore Ashley Cromartie and freshman Julie Fricke will be strong additions to the mile and 800-meter squads. Ashlyn Sinclair, Owoade Ayorinde, Nicole Banker and Christy Goldmann will assist with the middle-distance events.
DISTANCE
Coming off of a solid cross country season, the distance squad should be able to continue to make an impact heading into the indoor season. Seniors Kristin Reed and Erin Matyus will be called upon for events ranging from the mile through the 3,000. Reed owns the school record for the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 10:41.7 and placed first in the event at the Maryland Invitational last spring. Matyus will be leaned on to help the team scoring in the distance medley relay at the ACC Indoor Championships, an event the Terrapins won at the 2009 Maryland Invitational.
Returning upperclassmen Ashley Campbell, Angeli Sivaraman and Andrea Rothschild will be joined by newcomer Halsey Sinclair to help the program in the 3,000 and 5,000 this season. Senior Danielle Karagannis will look to contribute in the mile and 3.000 along with freshman Anna Roth. Freshman Kerry Nisson will make her debut as a collegiate athlete in this group.
JUMPS
The team looks to showcase some strong performances in the jumps this season. Sophomore Ashley Hendrix leads this group in the long jump after just missing the finals at the ACC Championships last year. Hendrix hopes to make bigger leaps in 2010 along with Profit, who placed first at the 2009 ECAC 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.16, giving her the second-fastest time in Terps' history. Profit is joined by freshmen Betsy Dempsey, Lucile Cancre and sophomore Camilla Nichols in the high jump.
Senior Ashley Carbray will look to finish her senior year with good progress in the long and triple jumps. Freshman Arielle Statham, a local athlete from Burtonsville, Md., will be leaned on in the triple jump as well as the sprints and relays. Coming off an injury, senior Tiffani Long seeks to finish her tenure at Maryland on the right foot with solid contributions in the jumps.
THROWS
The women's program hopes to continue its success in the throws. Junior Kristin Batts leads this group along with sophomore Jessie Echard and freshman Moriah Young. Sophomores Alex Georgiou and Tara Miluszewski look forward to the outdoor javelin throw, with Miluszewski having cracked the all-time top 10 in the javelin last spring.
COMBINED EVENTS
Kiani Profit will look to remain tough in multi-event competition this year. Profit has proven her skills in many event areas, making her a prime force for the multi-event. After placing second in the outdoor multi-event in 2009, Profit looks to get back on the podium in 2010.
