As the Ball State University women's track and field team gets set for their first test of the indoor season, they have a few major goals in mind for this year, including staying healthy.
While injuries ran rampant and inexperience was prevalent in nearly all events last year, the Cardinals are very optimistic this year. With major contenders at nearly all events, the team feels another Mid-American Conference Championship is not out of reach, nor is sending people to nationals.
The Cardinals have 18 returning varsity letter-winners and six seniors coming back from the team last year along with a lot more potential and experience coming from the underclassmen.
Goals for the team this year are about the same across the board and with the help of a bit of luck the Cardinals feel their chances of achieving these goals are very realistic.
"We really just want to stay a team and stay healthy," sophomore sprinter Voni Ferguson said. "We really feel that if we can do those things, winning conference is a big possibility."
The team gets its first test tonight when they compete in an inter-squad meet at 5 p.m. in the Field Sports Arena. The team will be broken up in a "red" team and a "white" team. The meet will only contain nine different events in all specialties, including throws, sprints, jumps and distance running.
The track and field team's first real meet comes right after Winter Break - it will take place on Jan. 13. Ball State will play host to their own Ball State Open. This meet will be followed by the Bowling Green Triangular, in Bowling Green, Ohio, and six more meets before wrapping up the indoor championships at the NCAA indoor Championships, March 10 and 11.
"We'd really like to spend our Spring Break in Arkansas," Ferguson said, referring to the site of the indoor national championships, which are held in Fayetteville, Ark.
Ferguson runs the 400 and has hopes of qualifying this year by hitting her goal time of 53 seconds.
Aside from aspirations of glory in big meets and championships, head coach Sue Parks, the eight-time MAC coach of the year in track and cross country, hopes just to stick together and stay healthy.
"We are a lot better now at this time that last year," Parks said. "Right now, the main goal is to stay focused and remain healthy."
All events this year have major competitors vying for success. In distance, junior Rose Lehe, coming off a very successful cross country season, is a huge contender. Along with Ferguson, senior Crystal Winfrey, junior Christina Poulson and sophomores Christina Whitt and Amber Williams are all expected to be major contenders in sprinting events.
Middle distance will be laden with experience with juniors Amanda Ponsot and Amanda Brewer, along with hurdles, where senior Bridgett Coleman and sophomore Amber Williams will lead a number of other underclassmen.
Juniors Terri Abraham and Amanda Barnhart will lead the way in long jump, along with freshmen Jessica Genovese and Lauren McNichols in the high jump. Freshman Cara Reedstrom will compete in the pole vault, and the throwers will be led by senior Tiffany Notarfranciso and juniors Cara Collins and Alison Zuidervliet.
All in all, however, the main focus is to stay healthy this year, stick together and take the season one step at a time, before focusing on the big meets to come.
"With experience we have now from the good juniors and seniors, it's time to step up to the plate," Parks said. "Excuses can only go so far, and I think if we can remain healthy, we can be in the thick of it."
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