University of Richmond Athletics
2001 Track and Field Outdoor Outlook
02/26/2001 | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 26, 2001
RICHMOND, Va. - If the 2000-2001 indoor season is any indication, the University of Richmond men's and women's track and field teams are headed toward one of the most successful spring campaigns in recent history.
"If our indoor success carries to the outdoor season we will have a great spring," said head coach Rick Wagenaar.
The program is coming off a record-setting winter that saw eight athletes set school records in nine events and cruised through numerous meets in winning form. Nine athletes that scored in the 2000 Colonial Athletic Association championships return to competition this year when the Spiders head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for their first meet at the Coastal Carolina Invitational March 9 and 10.
Wagenaar said this year's results would set the tempo for the transition into the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2001-2002 school year. "Our outdoor goal is to produce as many CAA scorers as possible, which will translate into A10 scorers next year," he said.
The women's team developed into a well-rounded unit during the past two years and the Spiders now pose equal threats on the track as well as in the field events. "While our men's program will emphasize distance events, our women's program has a goal of scoring in every A10 event next spring," Wagenaar said.
Senior Tamika Williams (Southampton, Bermuda) leads the middle-distance runners after a breakthrough final indoor season. Williams set Richmond records in the 400 meters (57.78 seconds) and 500 meters (1:13.58) with wins at the Christopher Newport Indoor Frolic and the George Mason Collegiate Invitational. She also narrowly missed an NCAA provisional qualifier with a third-place finish in the 800 (2:10.02) at the Prince George's Invitational Feb. 24. Williams placed eighth in the 400 at the CAA meet as a junior.
Sophomore Sherry Sikora (Succasunna, N.J.) placed seventh in the 2000 CAA 1,500 (4:44.93) and will lead a young corps of distance runners. Sikora set the school 5,000 record of 17:55.65 at Christopher Newport and followed with a personal-best 10:19.18 in the 3,000 a week later. Classmate Sarah Taylor (Orono, Maine) finished eighth at the CAA meet in the 5,000 and shows promise after setting personal bests at shorter distances this winter.
Freshmen headlined Richmond's record-setting jumps and throws venue. Diane Schreiber (Johnsonburg, Pa.) increased the 20-pound weight throw standard each meet she competed and finished with a heave of 46 feet, 10.25 inches. Julee Wilson (Chester Springs, Pa.) won the long jump at the Navy Invitational in 19-2 just eight months after placing second at the Penn Relays as a prep senior.
Cortney Henschke's 8-6 clearance in the pole vault in December is a Richmond best. Henschke, a freshman from Rye, N.H., also competes in the high jump along with sophomore Cathleen Campbell (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.), the indoor and outdoor record holder and CAA third place finisher.
Sophomore Rachel Shrewsbury (Dearborn, Mich.) and junior Kess Mughelli (Charleston, S.C.) placed second and eighth, respectively, in the shot put at the conference championships. Shrewsbury also owns Richmond-best throws indoors and outdoors.Senior Sarah Mergenthaler (Colts Neck, N.J.) was the Spiders' sole CAA champion last year, in the javelin throw.
With a limited amount of CAA scorers returning, some recent additions from the football team will bolster Richmond in outdoor competition. Senior Josh Fralick (Sarasota, Fla.) placed sixth in the javelin as a freshman. LeGrand closed the indoor season by placing sixth in the 5,000 at the Prince George's Invitational in 15:11.90.
Senior Tyronne Turner (Clinton, Md.), junior Ryan Tolhurst (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore Justin McElfish (Woodbridge, Va.) carried their gridiron success to the Richmond track and field program this winter. Tolhurst lowered the Spiders' indoor 200 record four times in five races and finished with a season-best 22.55 at the Prince George's Invitational.
McElfish finished no worse than fourth in the shot put throughout his debut season for Richmond and capped the winter with a throw of 50-7.25 to win the George Mason Invitaional. Turner holds the school record in the 60 (7.11). He teamed up with junior Mike Finn (Corona del Mar, Calif.) and sophomore Matt Beck (Kennett Square, Pa.) to place sixth in the 2000 CAA championship 400 relay.
Senior Jeff Crook (Shrewsbury, N.J.) leads a potent middle distance squad. Crook returned from injury to run 2:32.74 in the 1,000 at the Rams-Spiders Invitational Feb. 21.
Junior David Blanchard (Richmond, Va.) and freshman Zach Davis (Midlothian, Va.) add local flavor to the distance squad, accounting for the last three Central Virginia Regional 800 prep titles. Davis ranked seventh in the United States in the 500 (1:05.38) as a senior in high school and he ran his collegiate-best 1:05.79 at the Penn State National Open Jan. 27. Blanchard closed the 2000 outdoor season with a 1:55.78 in the 800 and was a member of the distance medley relay team that ran 10:10 at the Duke Invitational, the fastest Richmond performance in 16 years. Crook and Finn also return from that team.
Both teams will compete in a full slate of invitationals outdoors before heading to their CAA finale April 20 and 21. The Spiders are scheduled to send select athletes to the Penn Ralays the following weekend as well as other meets in May.
