2002 Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field Preview
1/8/2002 2:44:26 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
The combination of top performers returning from 2001 and highly-touted newcomers will impact how the teams finish at the BIG EAST Championship.
"For the men we are looking for individual performances to make more of a difference and become a foundation for the future,? Roberts said. ?The upper classmen have maintained their technical proficiencey in the off-season and will only improve this year."
The Orangewomen could have a breakout season given the number of top-performing returners from 2001 and the additon of four high school and junior college All-Americans.
"The overall team performance will be improved by the increased depth?dramatically so," Roberts said.
Roberts expects the throws to be the strength of the men's team this season. A pair of juniors, Tim Adrian and Steve Bedard, return to lead SU.
"Tim and Steve will be our go-to guys in terms of consistent performance at a high level," Roberts said.
Bedard and Adrian are considered contenders for every BIG EAST throwing title, both indoors and outdoors. Adrian is the reigning BIG EAST discus champion, was the runner-up at the IC4A Championship and was fourth at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship in the shot put.
"Tim is shooting to become an All-American performer and that is the type of effort I look for from him," Roberts said.
While two veterans will lead the Orangemen throwers, the women are looking to a pair of freshmen, Johvonne Hernandez and Nicole Kendrick, to make an impact.
Hernandez was the Texas state 3A champion in the discus and shot put her senior year and was an All-American as a junior in the shot put. Kendrick is a two-time Ohio All-State selection and a three-time All-American in the shot put.
"With Johvonne and Nicole it is difficult to say who will be better. They will push each other along and before they graduate, they will be All-Americans," Roberts said.
Juniors Richard Polidore and Samuel Prescod will specialize in the field events. Polidore is a long jumper and Prescod will throw the javelin and compete in the high jump.
Concentrating on two events shouldn't be a problem for Prescod, who competed in the decathalon last year. Polidore has come close to having breakout seasons in his first two years in the sprints and jumping events, but should make his mark this year.
"Richard has a world of potential," Roberts said. "He has the kind of ability to be competitive at the NCAA level and possibly greater things three or four years down the road."
Another junior, pole vaulter Joel Carusone, has been one of the most consistent performers in the field over the last two years. Last year Carusone placed second in the pole vault indoors and third outdoors at the BIG EAST Championship.
"I expect no less from Joel this season," Roberts said. "There is no doubt he will be a competitor and win us points at the BIG EAST Championships."
The throwing events are not the only strengths for the women?s team. Freshman high jumper Jenna Grimaldi garnered All-America honors after clearing the bar at 6' as a senior. That mark would have won and set the BIG EAST record at the 2001 Championship meet.
"If she can hit personal best levels, or perform at the level she did in high school, she will make a huge difference," Roberts said.
Another newcomer, freshman jumper Tatiana Warren, comes to SU with an impressive resume and will provide depth. Warren was the nation?s eighth-ranked triple-jumper as a senior.
Senior jumper Aprelle Watkins returns and is expected to lead the Orangewomen on the runways. Watkins has performed the last two years with a nagging foot injury, but is now healthy and ready to compete. Despite the setbacks she faced, Watkins still finished fourth at the ECAC indoor championship in the triple jump. Junior sprinter Sean Burnett should contribute at the BIG EAST level. He had four of the five top 60-meter times in 2001.
Senior hurdler Opal Jones should also be a key contributor and is someone who has improved and matured each year she has been at Syracuse, according to Roberts.
"Opal has the capability to run NCAA times," Roberts said. "It is up to her to if she wants to do that. She was able to contribute consistently at a high level last year.?
That includes a pair of third-place finishes in the 60-meter hurdles at the ECAC and BIG EAST Indoor Championships, as well as second-place finishes in the 100-meter high hurdles at the outdoor championships.
When sophomore LaNae Walker was a freshman, it was her work ethic and technical proficiency in the hurdles that grabbed Roberts? attention. But her performances this year should open everyone?s eyes, Roberts said.
"LaNae is going to have a breakout year. She is going to be a big surprise to a lot of people," Roberts said.
Senior Kawanna Skinner will complete the triple threat at hurdles, complementing the anticipated performances of Walker and Jones.
Providing depth in the sprints is graduate student Alicia Crowd, who qualified for the ECAC Indoor Championship in the 400-meters in 2001 before a season-ending injury kept her from spring competition.
"I am excited about Alicia's return and there is no doubt she can contribute," Roberts said.
Senior Stacey Ann Dwyer, who transferred into the program last year, was a finalist at the ECAC and BIG EAST in the 400-meter hurdles. Freshman Valerie Boling will help in 400 and 1600-meter relays and could make an impact in the 200-meter dash.
Rookie Patrice Harvey will compete in the heptathalon for the women. Harvey specialized in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles in high school. She was a four-time all-state selection and the Arizona Athlete of the Year in 1998.
Anchoring the distance runners for the men will be sophomore John Bitok and freshman Tim Scarpinato. Bitok is the top returning distance runner from 2001 and had the top three 5,000-meter times. Scarpinato comes from an extremely competitive high school program.
The Orangewomen distance group will be characterized by increased depth in 2002. Junior college transfer Zelma Jackson was an All-American performer at Barton County Community College in the mile.
Joining Jackson in the distance corps is junior Aleccia Boland, who is SU?s top returning 800-meter and mile runner. The addition of freshman Leah Folmsbee will make an immediate impact, Roberts said. Folmsbee comes from a nationally-ranked high school program and will compete in the 3,000 and 5,000-meters.
Roberts is also expecting junior Jenn Moreau to return to the form she showed as a freshman when she was the top miler and 1500-meter runner indoors and outdoors.
The 2001-02 track & field season is filled with promise and has the right caliber of student-athletes to make an impact at the BIG EAST and national levels. Roberts believes that the experience and youthful potential of this year's squad could be the beginning of something special at Syracuse.
"We've always had great individual performers who can score points at Syracuse. The problem was depth as a team. That is beginning to change and it will make a tremendous difference," Roberts said.
