Women's track team looks for surprise performance at MACs
The CMU women's track team travels this weekend with the intent to surprise some people at the Mid-American Conference Championships.
The championships start at 10 a.m. today and again at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kent State.
The two-day event is the Chippewas final indoor meet of the season and head coach Karen Lutzke said that it is what the team has been working for all season long.
"Our team has really formed some great team chemistry over the season which has been vital to our success," Lutzke said. "The goal is not to peak in January, but to be running at our best come the end of February."
Junior high jumper Erika Schroll, who will be competing in a five event pentathlon this weekend, said that people do not realize what a team of fierce competitors the Chippewas are.
Schroll has won the high jump four times this season and holds the MAC's top height for the high jump.
"Our times have definitely improved over the season, especially two weeks ago at the Grand Valley meet which was our strongest performance so far," said Erin Dillon, a junior middle distance runner. "Aside from the times, jumps, and throws we have grown as a team and have learned to compete at a high level. Yes we have an inexperienced team, but we are going to be just fine at the MAC meet."
Sophomore Jordan Dunn will compete in the 60-meter dash and has won the event three times this season. Sophomore Shanaye Carr has will compete in the 60m hurdles, an event she has won twice this season. Freshman sprinter Dierra Riley is also expected to run the 60m dash, an event she has won twice this season.
The pair of Dunn and Riley had a one-two finish in the 60m dash at the CMU Quadrangler MAC Meet and at the Michigan Intercollegiates, making them a pair that is expected to lead the team in the event.
"We have learned to compete at any level of competition, whether it is high or low," Carr said. "I just want to improve in all of my events and compete to the best of my abilities; I know that our team is ready."
Freshman pole vaulter Ashley Esparza won the pole vault last weekend clearing a new personal best with a vault of 3.49m. Last season Esparza suffered an injury and had to take a medical redshirt. Esparza is expected to compete in the pole vault.
Sophomore Aleisha Leeper will lead the way for the Chippewas in the triple jump, and freshman Katie McColly, who won the long jump last weekend, is expected to compete in the long jump this weekend.
The Chippewas are expected to have many runners in the 1-mile run with junior Sarah Squires, sophomore Kylee Kubacki, sophomores Danielle Dakroub and Brittany Dixon leading the way.
Junior Stephanie Byrne is expected to be competing in the 400m dash along with freshman Stephanie Hurley. Junior Cara Dukes will compete in the 200m dash. Near the beginning of the indoor track season, coach Lutzke said one of the key elements to this team was Cara Dukes, who has won the event twice this year.
Team captain Dillon and freshman Charnele Lyons is expected to compete in the 600m or 800m run as she has competed in both all season long.
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