Track to regain conference crown

by R. Anthony Thurman
Staff Writer

Even though last Saturday's relay invitational did not count a great deal on paper, the University of La Verne track and field team handled the meet as if it was a conference tie-breaker.

The Leopards showed great promise at the Carl Rossi Relays last Saturday, which was held at Fritz B. Burns Stadium in Claremont.

Pat Widolff, head cross country and track coach, was pleased with most of his athlete's performances but was expecting a little more from others.

In spite of this, the team as a whole gave him something to look forward to in the weeks to come.

"Every meet has its good things and its bad things," said Widolff. "It isn't like football, it's not as easy as winning and losing.

I was pleased with some performances and not with others, but it is still early in the season and as time goes on, we'll get better."

In the women's 100-meter dash; Dejuana Satchell took first place overall with a winning time of 12.27 seconds.

Amber Clayton, Liz Lucsko, and Eje Ash took seventh, ninth, and 15th respectively.

The women's 4x200-meter relay team finished in third place out of the entire meets, with only USC and Claremont having faster times. The women's 4x400 meter relay team finished eighth overall.

Eric Thomas, who took second place with a time of 10.90 seconds, led the men's 100-meter dash event.

Will Lawson, finished fifth with a time of 11.06 seconds, and Dimitri Watson, who capped off his day with a time of 11.44 and a ninth place finish.

The men's 4x100-meter relay surprised competition by taking second place.

While the 4x200 meter relay, led by John Horton, Watson, Brandon Jones, and Rasheed Ivey, took fourth place.

"This meet answered a lot of questions people had about our team," said junior and men's team captain, Horton. "Several talented freshmen delivered promising marks and many returners also had breakthrough performances."

Sprinters weren't the only ones displaying their athleticism on this afternoon. Field events were also held for those who compete through jumping or throwing rather than running.

In the field events, the women had an outstanding 10 athletes who consumed the top ten, while the men had nine top ten athletes.

The single most complimentary aspect about the 2002 Leopards track and field squad is that the men and women are well balanced.

Both teams are equally competitive in all areas. According to head coach Widolff, the men and women teams are equally matched.

"Both the men's team and women's team are strong," said Widolff. "There are no events which one is stronger than the other, they are [both] pretty strong in all.

Last year the men tied for first place [in conference] and the women took second, and that is what we are shooting for this year."

Equipped with an arsenal of athletic firepower the Leopards have a great chance to repeat the success of last season.

Returning for women's track this season are juniors Satchell, Clayton, Lucsko and sophomore Ash. Coming back for women's field events will be sophomore Lori Waters and senior Adriana Ramirez.

Last year Waters earned All-American status and finished in fourth for Division III shot-put.

Newcomers Crystal Marks and Lakia Sims will complement the women's squad nicely.

Marks, a junior college transfer, will be looking to make her mark in the SCIAC this season in the women's pole vault.

Sims, a freshman from Mayfair High School in Lakewood, Calif., will be competing in the women's 100-meter low hurdles and the triple jump.

Coming back for the men this season are junior, Eric Thomas, senior Lawson and sophomore, Brandon Jones. junior and men's team captain, Horton, will be returning to defend his SCIAC title in the triple jump as well as Brandon Tedrow, who will lead the way for the team this season.

Tedrow represented the Leopards in NCAA competition last spring in the decathlon.

The newest addition to the men's track and field squad is junior college transfer, Dimitri Watson and freshmen Rasheed Ivey and cousin, Dedrick Smith.

Coach Widolff and very pleased with his team's unity and endeavor.

"I'm real excited about our team," said Widolff. "We got about 50 people out there and their effort in practice has been great."

Helping out coach Widolff is sprint coach Will Darity.

His knowledge for the sport and precise coaching style will be key ingredients in the Leopard's success this season.

"He has done a phenomenal job," said Widolff about Darity. "He is a great assistant coach."

The Leopards will get their opportunity to showcase their talent this upcoming-weekend in their first scoring meet against Caltech in Pasadena.

The track and field team will be a something to watch this year.

With strong recruits and record-breaking returners the Leopard's are destined to take the SCIAC.