The UAH track and field team heads into the 2003 season with a different makeup from the previous two seasons. In the program's first two seasons, the team relied heavily on the strength of its distance runners, as the sprints and field events had yet to develop. The team will be more balanced this spring. Coach David Cain has acquired more athletes in the sprints and field events than in the distance events.
"Our team is a better team this year," said Cain, who will in his third season of guiding the UAH women's track program. "Our sprints and jumps groups are much deeper and talented than before, and our distance group is stronger than ever. The ultimate goal for this season is to qualify as many team members as possible to the NCAA Championships. I would say that we have a handful of them with a legitimate shot at qualifying for nationals." The Lady Chargers have already had two individuals, Aytree Blalock (2001) and Amy Phillips last season.
The group of sprinters look to be vastly improved from a year ago, with top returning specialists LaMardra Moore and Easter Grant leading the way. With the addition of high school track standouts Govonna Maddox, Julianne Jordan, along with up and coming sprinter Crystal Harris, UAH records in the 100m, 200m, 400m and both relay events could fall this season. The 100m hurdles also looks to be a bright spot for the Chargers. Maddox and Kristen Nevue will headline this event with Nevue also contributing in the triple jump.
The jumping event that boasts tremendous depth this year is the high jump. The team returns Lindsay Dunham and Lauren Bussey, both current school record holders from last season. In addition, the team adds Bethany Holder and Emily Miller, both UAH freshman volleyball players who were standouts in high school in the high jump. Moore looks to add to her school record in the long jump, and the triple jump will be anchored by Bussey. The pole vault will be handled by Laura Hinke, and newcomer Sarah Cain.
The throwing events are led by junior Bristol Hartlage who specializes in the discus and javelin. She looks to be a big contributor this season. Also in the javelin, Bussey and Cain should bring some additional depth. Holly Coggins rounds out the throwing squad in the shot put, discus, and hammer.
The 800m, 1500m, and 3000m races which make up the middle distance events, will be led by cross country standouts Lesley Davis, Megan Fairclough, Natalie Fahey, and Melinda Phillips. Phillips and Davis will also contribute to the 4x400m relay at times throughout the season as well.
The 3000m Steeplechase is in a category all its own. It is in this event that UAH was represented at the NCAA DII Track and Field Championship in San Angelo, TX last season by Amy Phillips. Phillips steeplechase time of 11:10 was not only the school record, but it also ranked as the 11th fastest time in the country in Division II. Phillips returns this season as a junior, and she has her sight set on making All-American in the event in 2003.
The longer distance events, 5000m and 10,000m, have a very deep group of runners made up by Brooke McDaniel, Courtney Hurst, Linda Scavarda, and senior Candace Chambers. Chambers ran the second fastest 5k in school history last year, and went on to shatter the school record in the 10k with a time of 37:29, which was a provisional qualifying time for nationals. She missed going to nationals by two spots and returns this season determined to get to the national championship.
Cain has also added some help on his coaching staff. Assistant Coach Bobby Luffman joined the Charger program in the fall. "I believe the sprints and jumps have greatly benefited from the addition of Coach Luffman to the coaching staff," said Cain. "His fall conditioning program has produced big improvements."
In its third season, the Lady Chargers have a chance to not only qualify for the outdoor nationals, but for the first time, Coach Cain's group can qualify for indoor nationals as well. "I am really excited about the opportunity the team has to compete in our first official indoor track season, with the chance to qualify for indoor nationals," Cain concluded.
2003 Track and Field Schedule
