When the powers that be invented track and field, they had a hard time coaxing athletes to compete in sub-freezing temperatures with snow on the ground. That is why people invented buildings. It is indoor track season once again.
Ball State's men and women will take to the track for the first time this weekend. The teams each have their own looks, but the goals are the same.
The women's indoor team is coming off one of its most successful years ever. After earning Mid-American Conference titles in both indoor and outdoor track in 2001, the 2002 team will have no easy route to a repeat. The Cardinals lost seven seniors to graduation.
"We have a lot of good athletes coming in, but it is hard to replace seniors with freshmen," said Sue Parks, last year's outdoor MAC Coach of the Year.
The team takes the first step Saturday at the Purdue Open. Athletes to watch this season include Tambra Stewart, a senior sprinter, Patricia Soman, a junior sprinter, and Katie Nowak and Stacy Ritz, both junior distance runners.
Nowak won three events in last year's outdoor MAC Championship. Ritz placed seventh at the NCAA cross-country meet in 2001.
"Most people would call this a rebuilding year for the team, but we want to see what we have first," Parks said.
The men's team, on the other hand, went through a rebuilding year last season. They come back loaded for the 2002 season. The opening gun will be fired for its season Saturday here at Ball State. The Ball State Open is a meet that showcases the talents of some high school athletes, collegians and some post-collegiate athletes.
"These guys have been training since August, and I think they will be ready to test themselves on the track," head coach Jim Sprecher said.
The team made some sacrifices last year by red-shirting some athletes in order to bring back a tough team this year. Three fifth-year seniors lead the way for the Cardinals. Corey Eloms is a sprinter and a jumper. Chad Asprooth is another sprinting force and Matt Bliss is Ball State's top distance threat.
"Those names have been around here for a while," Sprecher said. "We are ready for a big year."
Field events will begin at noon Saturday with running events starting at 2 p.m. in the Field Sports Building.
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