Indoor Track and Field Championship Preview

Feb. 21, 2007

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2007 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships

The University of Michigan Indoor Track Building will host the 2007 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships, starting Saturday, Feb. 24.  The competition continues through Sunday, Feb. 25 as teams attempt to dethrone UW-Milwaukee after the Panthers swept the team championship last year.

UW-Milwaukee returns several athletes who garnered individual victories at the 2006 League championship.  Darren Cole won both the high jump and the triple jump, while teammates Nick Gretz (shot put) and Justin Bohler (heptathlon) will also be back to defend their titles, as well.

The Panther women also return a strong contingent, led by returning champions Joy VanLannen (pole vault and long jump) and Timeka Walker (60 meters and 200 meters).  Angie Huebner (5,000 meters) and Jenni Saarinen (Heptathlon) are back to defend their titles.

Youngstown State claimed both team runner-up finishes in 2006, but the Penguin men do not have any individual winners returning to the League Championships.  Bethany Anderson will lead the way for the Youngstown State women as she looks to return to the podium for her efforts in the shot put and weight throw.

Highlights of the Championship can be seen free on the Horizon League Network and will become available as soon as possible.

Championship Schedule

Saturday, February 24th

9:00 a.m.   Pentathlon

10:35 a.m. Heptathlon

3:30 p.m.   Pole Vault Final

                  Long Jump Final

                  Weight Throw Final

4:30 p.m.   60 Meter Dash Trial

TBD            60 Meter Hurdle Trial

TBD            Women's 5,000 Meters Final

TBD            800 Meters Trial

TBD            Men's 5,000 Meters Final

TBD            400 Meters Trial

TBD            1,000 Meters Trial

TBD            200 Meter Trial

TBD            Distance Medley Relay Final

Sunday, February 25th

9:00 a.m.   Heptathlon

12:00 p.m. Triple Jump Final

                  High Jump Final

                  Shot Put Final

1:00 p.m.   60 Meter Dash Final

1:10 p.m.   1 Mile Final

1:40 p.m.   60 Meter Hurdle Final

1:55 p.m.   400 Meters Final

2:10 p.m.   1,000 Meters Final

2:25 p.m.   200 Meter Final

2:40 p.m.   800 Meters Final

2:55 p.m.   3,000 Meters Final

3:35 p.m.   4X400 Meter Relay Final

4:15 p.m.   Awards

Male Athlete of the Week

Jeremy Majors

UW-Milwaukee

Sr., Jonesboro, Ga.

Majors won two events for UW-Milwaukee at the UWM Double Dual last weekend, breaking the school and Klotsche Center record in the 400 meters and topping the field in the 200 meters. In the 400m, Majors crossed the line in :47.93 to break the 23-year old fieldhouse mark and the school-record clocking of :48.58 set in 2003. He also ran a time of :22.33 in the 200m, posting the fifth-best time in school history. His 400m time leads the League, while his 200m time is second.

Female Athlete of the Week

Bethany Anderson

Youngstown State

Jr., Jamestown, N.Y.

Anderson provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship in the weight throw and set YSU's record for the third consecutive week at the Kent State Tune-Up on Saturday. She posted a distance of 19.38 meters to become the first YSU female thrower to hit the qualifying mark. According to trackshark.com, she currently ranks 23rd in all of Division I. Anderson tops the Horizon League chart by nearly 13 feet.

Other Men's Top Performers for the Week

Jamar Johnson

Loyola

Fr., Chicago, Ill.

Johnson took first place in the long jump at the UW-Milwaukee Double Dual, posting a personal-best mark of 6.85 meters.

Andy Wall

UIC

Fr., Peoria, Ill.

Wall enjoyed a strong all-around meet in his final tune-up before the Horizon League Indoor Championships, winning the title in the high jump while notching two other top-three finishes at the UWM Double Dual on Friday. Wall won the high jump by clearing the bar at 1.93 meters. He then took third in the 60-meter hurdles in :08.62 and placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 12.80 meters.

Harold Jones

Youngstown State

So., Cincinnati, Ohio

Jones was the top YSU finisher at the Zips Open Saturday with a second-place time of 1:55.03 in the 800-meters. His time was a personal best and ranks him third in the Horizon League.

Tom Grant

Detroit

Sr., Farmington Hills, Mich.

Grant finished second in the long jump at the Silverston Invitational with a mark of 6.7 meters.

Other Women's Top Performers for the Week

Kicha Cary

UW-Milwaukee

So., Fond du Lac, Wis.

Cary competed in one event at the UWM Double Dual last weekend, winning the long jump in historic fashion. She leapt a personal-best 5.88 meters to win the event and move up to second in school history. She missed the record mark by just 1.75 inches, and put herself atop the League in the event.

Pam Staton

Loyola

So., Ingleside, Ill.

Staton placed first in the 800-meter dash at the UWM Double Dual in 2:20.16.

Amesha Baker

UIC

Fr., Mundelein, Ill.

Baker continued her strong rookie season on Friday at the UWM Double Dual by winning the triple jump. Baker posted a distance of 11.77 meters, which was more than a meter better than second-place finisher teammate Sarah Morrison.

Genni Gardner

Butler

Jr., Bramley, U.K.

Gardner won the women's 3,000 meter run at the Hoosier Hills Invitational, host by Indiana University.  She crossed the finish line in a season-best 9:57.15.  It was the best time in the Horizon League this season.