SFA Out to Defend Titles at SLC Indoors
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Feb. 16, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin men's and women's track and field teams will head to the Southland Conference Indoor Championships this weekend, looking to repeat their sweep of the 2005 team titles. The two-day meet at the University of Houston's Yeoman Field House begins Friday morning and will wrap up Saturday.
Following last year's unprecedented success - the women's title was the first SLC indoor crown in the program's history, and the Lumberjacks' title was their first SLC championship of any sort - the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks have high expectations coming into the 2006 meet.
"On the men's side, we didn't lose many people from last year," sixth-year head coach Phil Olson said. "I think this year, we should be a solid Top 3 team, and it could go any direction from there. I think the teams to beat are Texas-San Antonio, Sam Houston and us. On the women's side, it's UTSA, Sam, Texas State and us."
At last year's meet, both SFA squads led after the first day, then held on to capture the titles on Day 2. Olson would like a similar distribution of points from his teams this time around.
"On both teams, we're going to be evenly balanced from Day 1 to Day 2," the coach said. "That's what we're looking for. If we can put up 50 points on Day 1 and get enough people through to the finals for Day 2, we'll be in pretty good shape."
The Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks will enter the meet already in pretty good shape, considering the returning talent on each squad. The women's team brings back six All-Southland Conference performers from last year, including an individual champion. Senior Crystal Chang won the pentathlon at last year's meet. She leads a group of returning All-SLC athletes that includes senior Stevina Wyatt, juniors Ashley Monteau and Leah Matthews, and sophomores Meghan Denman and Kristina Windham. On the men's side, SFA returns the athletes responsible for two championship performances and five All-SLC showings. Junior Reggie Lazenby won the long jump and finished third in the 60-meter hurdles. The distance medley relay team of senior Chance Edwards and sophomores Robert Smith, Erik Powell and Cole Hollingsworth returns in tact after winning the event last year. The Lumberjacks also got All-SLC performances from Edwards in the mile and junior Kenneth McKinley in the shot put.
"If we got everybody in a room and asked, by a show of hands, who had a ring on their finger, about 80 percent of our athletes would be able to raise their hands," Olson said. "That's a good number.
"They know going in the stressors that are involved in chasing a team title, and that can be big. I know in the past, there have been other teams in the conference that didn't perform up to expectations, maybe because they just didn't have that experience. We're in a unique position because of our experience and because of the success we've had at the conference level recently."
In addition to his team's championship experience, Olson is encouraged by the way the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks have performed so far in the indoor season.
"We usually have three meets under our belt going into the indoor championships," he said. "In the past, we've usually had a downer somewhere in there that has caused concern for us. This year, we've been a very solid team each and every week. This could be the weekend where we raise our performance standards to a much higher level."
So far this season, the Lumberjacks have recorded 22 performances that rank in the Top 10 among Southland Conference athletes. That number includes seven Top 3 showings and four conference-leading marks. Senior Marc Farris holds the conference's best time in the 5,000 meters, while Lazenby has recorded the best distance so far in the long jump. McKinley leads all SLC athletes in the shot put, and sophomore Darwin Johnson holds the top spot in the weight throw.
On the women's side, SFA has posted 20 marks that rank in the Top 10. Thirteen of those are Top 5 showings, including seven Top 3 marks and one league-leading performance. Sophomore Audrey Azu holds to conference's top height in the high jump, while Denman currently stands third in that event. Two Ladyjacks have also squeezed into the Top 3 in the pole vault, where freshman Ashley Dickeson ranks second and Windham is tied for third. Chang has recorded the second-best score in the pentathlon, so far this season.
"I'm really excited, and our coaches are really excited about this weekend and what can happen," Olson said. "We want our athletes to be excited, too, and to really enjoy this experience."
NOTE: For updated results during the meet, click on the "Results" link under the "2006 SLC Indoor Championships" heading in the side bar on the track and field home page.
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