2003 Track Season Outlook

A bevy of talented newcomers and returnees, track facility upgrades and new assistant coaches have Vanderbilt women's track and field head coach Lori Shepard looking for increased success in 2003.

The excitement surrounding Vanderbilt track and field is based on the return of several key athletes, a large number of newcomers, two new highly regarded assistant coaches, and a state-of-the-art Mondo track surface that opens this spring. Shepard believes the changes will result in a stronger showing in the demanding Southeastern Conference.

"I'm excited about the upcoming season. We have a nice mix of enthusiastic veterans and promising newcomers," Coach Shepard said. "If the season comes together like our staff hopes, this could be a fun year for Vanderbilt women's track and field."

100/200/400 Meters
Junior Andrea Andrews and senior Caressa Liggins are the top returnees at 100 and 200 meters. They are likely to be complimented by a number of promising freshmen, including talented Amanda Mullins-Hall.

In the 400 meters, senior Cicely Campbell and two juniors, Farrah Kohorst and Vanessa Lagios, return after the Commodores lost three of their top five quarter milers. Campbell, one of the team's most versatile runners, should be a key addition to the Commodore squad this spring after missing the 2002 outdoor season due to an injury.

A pair of freshmen prospects, Latisha Bryant and Garnetta Holloway, have the talent to challenge the returning trio at 400 meters.

800/1,500 Meters
Due to the return of a key 1,500-meter runner and quality depth at 800 meters, the Commodores should be improved at the middle distances, according to Shepard.

The Commodores appear solid at 800 meters. During off-season training, 400-800 specialists Cicely Campbell and Joy Parker have been pushed by freshman Latisha Bryant. The trio should benefit from a competitive practice environment. Each possesses the skill to become Vanderbilt's first NCAA 800-meter participant since Michelle Baskin in 1999.

In the 1,500, Vanderbilt welcomes the return of graduate student Colleen Byrne, who sat out the 2002 outdoor season to improve her endurance and speed. With an excellent conditioning base, Byrne should enjoy success this season and appears ready to lower her personal best of 4:29. Caitlin Shannon, a top 50 high school runner last year, should provide quality depth at 1,500 meters, as will junior Jocelyn Theriault and sophomore Nadiyah Humber.

5,000/10,000 Meters
In the distance events, the Commodores are talented, though young and inexperienced. In the 5,000, the team is likely to rely on true freshman Erika Schneble, who enters track off a sterling cross country campaign under the guidance of distance coach Jim Spivey. She finished cross country as Vanderbilt's No. 1 runner, missing the NCAA Cross Country Championships by just two seconds. Two other promising freshmen, Ray Rogers and Brittany Sizer, could provide solid depth.

Spivey has the added benefit of a core of successful cross country participants, including sophomore Angeline Cione, freshman Courtney Shaughnessy and freshman Jackie Wachsman.

Hurdles/Steeplechase
The Commodores are thin at the hurdle events, but have a potential standout in freshman Amanda Mullins-Hall. Ranked among the top 10 prep hurdlers as a senior in 2002, the sleek Mullins-Hall will compete in the 100-meter high hurdles and could ultimately play a major SEC role in the 400-meter hurdles. She also gives the Commodores added depth at several sprint distances.

Junior Mary Baldwin is the top returning hurdler at the 400-meter distance. Fellow junior teammates Farrah Kohorst and Vanessa Lagios will challenge Baldwin at the distance.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Vanderbilt must fill its biggest hole left by graduation, 2002 SEC individual champion Kylene Kownurko. The Commodores will attempt to fill the void with junior Marlena Justak, a two-time letter winner.

High Jump/Long Jump/Triple Jump
The Commodores likely are improved before the season starts, with the addition of assistant coach and former Texas A&M All-American Yolanda Taylor Belin. She is working with the Vanderbilt long and triple jumpers.

Junior sprinter Andrea Andrews returns as the Commodores' top long jumper candidate. Sophomore Shawnette Adams and two juniors, Katrina Brewer and Michelle Young, should improve Commodore hopes in the triple jump. Brewer and Young, though new to the event, have shown true potential.

Sophomore Josie Hahn is the top returnee in the high jump. Hahn, one of the SEC's finest heptathletes, set a Vanderbilt outdoor school record at the prestigious USATF Junior National Championships last summer. Another talented multi-event performer, fifth-year senior Kyshia Ewing, also is a valuable returnee in the high jump.

Pole Vault
The Commodore vaulters appear poised for their best season ever under the direction of assistant Frank Gladu.

Shepard expects the school record to fall from a trio of solid vaulters, led by sophomore letter winner Paige Roberts. A pair of true freshman prospects, Meghan Ford and Laura Miller, are expected to push Roberts.

Throws
The squad coached by Fran Hoogestraat is thin in numbers, but should be vastly improved. Based on an excellent off-season training regiment, Vanderbilt has two talented throwers in junior Vensherrie Campbell and senior Kyshia Ewing.

Campbell could be a major force in four events: shot put, discus, indoor weight and hammer. A superb discus thrower in 2002, Campbell appears ready to blossom this season after working extensively to improve both strength and technique. An appearance this spring in the SEC Championships is within range for the junior.

The versatile Ewing is a school record holder and provides excellent support, but is expected to split her time between throwing events and the heptathlon. Ewing should earn valuable team points in the two events she holds school records in, hammer and indoor weight throw.

Heptathlon
The Commodores have two of the Southeastern Conference's finest hepthletes in sophomore Josie Hahn and fifth-year senior Kyshia Ewing, Shepard said.

Hahn is arguably one of the team's finest athletes, and comes off a third place finish and personal best 5,259-total in the 2002 U.S. National Junior Heptathlon. With an impressive off-season conditioning program and fully healthy, Hahn is expected to contend for the SEC title this spring. An accomplished thrower, Ewing sat out the 2002 outdoor season, and spent a year of multi-event training aimed at sharpening her heptathlon skill.

Relays
With the return of Cicely Campbell this spring, the 4x400-meter relay should be vastly improved. A foursome coming from the group of Campbell, Kohorst, Bryant, Holloway, Baldwin, Joy Parker, Mullins-Hall and Lagios, gives Vanderbilt solid depth at the distance.

The Commodores should field a strong distance medley squad, despite the indoor-season absence of Byrne. Stepping up this year will be Theriault and the team's other quality runners at the sprint, middle distance and distance events.