Track Hosting Terrapin Invitational
1/19/2012 7:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Jan. 19, 2012
Save Our Sports Campaign - Men's Track & Field
LANDOVER, Md. - The University of Maryland will be one of 23 collegiate teams competing Saturday in the annual Terrapin Invitational indoor track and field meet held at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex.
The meet is set to begin at 9 a.m. with the opening events on both the track and in the field. The final running event is tentatively scheduled to get the gun at 5 p.m.
"It's always a great opportunity for our student-athletes to compete locally, where we can fill the stands with their peers, fellow alumni and our community supporters," said head coach Andrew Valmon, who will also be men's head coach of Team USA at this summer's London Olympics. "We look forward to this chance each year to invite many of the talented local schools out to the P.G. Sports Complex."
The Terrapins had solid performances at the indoor season-opener last weekend at Penn State. Maryland had 14 performances at the Nittany Lion Challenge that stand as qualifiers for the ECAC / IC4A Indoor Championships in early March.
"On the track, many athletes will be moving either up or down in their event areas based on what they need at this point in training," said Valmon. "We will look to have many athletes run in secondary events and also compete on relays to build strength early in the season.
"In the field, athletes will focus on their primary events and we will look to dominate in this area. Our goal is to build on the performances at Penn State and continue to come together collectively as a team with each competition."
Among those to watch on Saturday for Maryland are senior Zack Ray, junior Moriah Young and freshman Thea LaFond.
Ray missed all of last season with an injury, but returned last weekend to post IC4A marks in the 60-meter hurdles and the long jump.
Young got ECAC-qualifying performances in both the shot put and the weight throw, while LaFond hit qualifying standards in the high jump and triple jump, becoming one of only four Terrapin women ever to surpass 40 feet in the triple jump.
Maryland's women's squad is also laden with veteran talent, as seniors DeAnna Brown, Ashley Cromartie and Jessie Echard all hit ECAC marks. The Terrapin women also have depth in the high jump, with a Maryland quartet finishing 1-2-4-5 at Penn State last week, led by sophomore Amina Smith (5-9.25).
The Terrapin Invitational is Maryland's lone indoor meet at home. The Terps will also host the Maryland Invitational outdoor meet on March 31 and the Kehoe Twilight Meet on May 3.
TEAMS SCHEDULED TO COMPETE
American, Bowie State, Catholic, Coppin State, Delaware, UDC, Essex CC, Fairleigh Dickinson, Hampton, Howard Univ., Howard CC, Johns Hopkins, Johnson C. Smith, Livingstone, Mary Washington, Maryland, Methodist, Morgan State, St. Francis, N.Y., Stevenson, Temple, UMBC, York (Pa.)
- Terps -
