LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University men’s and women’s track & field team’s 2009 season will soon be in full swing and both teams are looking for big things during the upcoming season.
The Bald and Lady Eagles both turned in solid campaigns during 2008 and will look to continue their very solid run of success this season as The Haven has been atop the conference track and field standings over the last several years.
The Haven men will be looking for their fourth indoor conference title after winning in 2007. The LHU men won the first two indoor championships in 2002 and 2003. The women’s team also dominated the PSAC when the indoor championship was introduced, winning in ’02 and ’03. The Lady Eagles will be looking for their third PSAC Championship after taking second in 2007.
Last year the women’s team placed third at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Championships and the Lock Haven men finished sixth.
LHU has some tough competition, but as always, the goal will be to add another PSAC Championship banner and if the two teams can stay healthy they certainly have the talent to do just that.
Leading the way for the Lady Eagles will be senior and three-time All-American Chelsea Morse (Beaver Dams, N.Y./Campbell-Savona).
Morse, a high-jump specialist finished second at both the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championship and the PSAC Championships in the event last season.
At the last three NCAA Championship meets Morse has finished second in the high jump on attempts (2007 outdoor, 2008 indoor and 2008 outdoor).
Along with her second place finish in the high jump at the conference championships last season, Morse also took second in the long jump and will look to contend in both events this season.
Morse will also look to cap off her already remarkable career with that elusive National Championship in the high jump.
The Haven coaching staff certainly feels that goal is attainable for her as she continues to set the bar high, heading into the new season with lofty goals.
Staying with the jumping events, several other solid athletes return for The Haven.
Kristie Warren (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) and Cassie Snider (Dallas, Pa./Dallas) both return to add depth to the jumps. Warren will be counted on to score in the long and triple jump events while Snider will be the Lady Eagles workhorse. She’ll contend in both jumps while adding depth in all the sprint events and relays.
Freshman Lauren Edelman (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) will look to make an immediate impact on the jump events, competing in the long, triple and high.
Christina Ohmott (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham), a freshman will be an immediate factor in the women’s pole vault after already going 10-10.
Junior Larissa Gunn (Westfield, Pa./Cowanesque Valley) will be a threat in the multi events for LHU and should push to score in the pentathlon.
The Lady Eagle throwers could prove to be LHU’s biggest key if it is to make a run at a conference title.
Leading the way is senior JaKia Gumby (Middletown, Pa./Middletown), who returns after a sensational season a year ago.
Gumby, the returning PSAC shot put champion, holds the second best mark in school history and will be looking to defend her title.
Gumby, who will be a major contributor to The Haven’s success will also compete and add talent to the weight throw.
Along with Gumby, fellow senior Kristina Hamm (Roaring Springs, Pa./Central) returns looking to cap off her career in a big way. She’s going to be a team leader and solid contributor, focusing mainly on the weight throw, where she took fifth overall at PSAC’s a year ago.
Alaina Leonard (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) was sensational last year as a freshman and will look to continue that success this season as a sophomore. She’ll be a major factor in both throwing events. Lenorad was fourth in the weight throw at last year’s PSAC Championship meet.
Jenny Scheler (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) will be another important component of LHU’s potent throwing crew.
Redshirt-freshman Vanita Moses (Neshaminy, Pa./Langhorne) is excited to finally put on the crimson and white and should be an immediate factor for LHU, competing in the shot and weight.
Two true-freshmen will also look to make an immediate impact on the throwing events while giving LHU more depth in an already solid area. Karle Myers (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) and Rachel Hicks (Dubois, Pa./Dubois) will both look to quickly make their marks.
Along with Snider, the Lady Eagles should be solid in the sprints.
Leading the way will be Meagan Wolfe (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), who could be a threat in the in 200 and the 400. The 400 meter dash should be an event where she’ll look to score big points for LHU. She’s run the third fastest time in school history in the 400 (59.42) and holds the school record at 300 meters.
Caitlin Burke (State College, Pa./State College) will be a threat in the 60-meter hurdles, while Angela Pierce (Media, Pa./Penncrest) adds depth in the 200/400 and relays.
Freshman Colette Young (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) will look to make an immediate impact in the sprints for LHU.
The Lady Eagles mid-distance unit should be solid with seniors Shala Simms (Ardmore, Pa./Upper Darby) and Alyssa Douma (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) leading the way.
Simms, the school record holder at 800 meters (2:15.90) was a NCAA qualifier last year. She took 17th at the National Championship that should give her valuable experience for this year.
Douma adds depth in the 800 and mile while Melinda Liptak (Boyertown, Pa./Marywood Univ.) will also look to be a factor in the mile for LHU.
Leading the way in the distance events will be freshman Lindsey Lambert (Howell, N.J./Howell), who is coming off a tremendous rookie cross country campaign. She’ll compete in both the 3K and 5K events. She could also be a factor on the women’s distance medley relay, anchoring the mile leg.
Janelle Gobel (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) adds depth to the 3K/5K and will be a huge factor for the Lady Eagles.
Newcomer Beatrice Chebet (Nairobi, Kenya/AIC Litein Girls High School), a native of Kenya will look to be an immediate impact in the distance events.
On the men’s side, Dan Picarella (Selinsgrove, Pa./Mount Carmel) and Nick Paiva (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) return to lead the Bald Eagle jumping unit.
Both Picarella and Paiva will focus on the long and triple jumps.
Local-product Rodney Wheeler (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Moutain) will look to be an immediate contributor in the jump events for LHU and could be a major factor in the high jump.
LHU has a trio of men that could be big scorers in the pentathlon.
Leading the way in the multi-events will be Phillip LaBelle (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg), Zach Dicks (Susquenita) and Michael Phillips.
The Haven men’s throwing unit will be very solid this year and could be a spot, much like the women, where LHU scores a lot of team points.
Leading the way is junior Randy Sylvia (Johnstown, Pa./Richland), who was second in the weight throw at the PSAC Championships. He’ll be looking to pick up right where he left off last season and be a major factor at the conference championship this year in the weight throw as well as the shot.
Sylvia holds the school record in the weight throw with a mark of 57-9.5.
Also returning to lead LHU in the throws is junior Logan Wofe (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville), who will be a key in both throwing events. Wolfe holds the fourth-best weight throw in school history and the fifth-best shot put mark.
Chad Yurchick (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg) will also look to make his mark this year for LHU and will be a key factor.
Lock Haven also has a strong group of freshmen throwers including the duo Nathan Lipsi (North Penn) and Tyler Thomas (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore), who have already made an impact on the team.
The Bald Eagles have a solid group of sprinters that should help LHU make a run at the conference title.
Leading the way is junior Chris Edelman (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), who will be a major factor in the 400. He will also add depth to the 200, the 4x400 meter relay and competed at 800 meters for LHU, showing his tremendous range and athleticism.
The versatile sprinter, Edelman has the third fastest indoor 400 in school history (49.30) and holds the school record in the 500.
Edelman will be a threat to win the 400 at the conference meet.
Preston Faulkner (Trappe, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) and Greg Mock (Sicklerville, N.J./Timbercreek) both return to help lead the team in the spring events.
Faulkner and Moch both add depth at 55 and 200 meters.
Shawn Wilkinson (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) returns and adds depth and talent to the sprints and relay events.
A trio of freshmen could have immediate success on the track including Kevin Moore (Twin Valley), Steve Roberts (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) and Richard Smith (Danville, Pa./Danville).
Moore will focus on the 200/400, while Roberts has good sprinting range and could be a key for The Haven’s relays. Smith adds depth in the hurdles.
The LHU men’s mid-distance unit will be second to none and should help compliment The Haven’s other strong areas.
Leading the way will be Ben McConnell (Danville, Pa./Danville), Justin Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa./Lake-Lehman) and Josh Gainer (State College, Pa./Akron Univ.).
McConnell and Amy will be threats in the 800 and add tremendous talent to LHU’s always strong relay teams. Gainer adds depth in the 800 and mile.
McConnell was third (1:56.30) in the 800 at last year’s conference championship.
Brandon Pomerantz (Holland, Pa./Council Rock North) and Nick Hilton (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) add tremendous depth to the mile for LHU.
Pomerantz was third at PSAC Championship last year in the mile and holds the third fastest time in school history with a time of 4:14.52.
Hilton, a sophomore is coming off a sensational cross country season and is hoping that success can carry over to the indoor season. Hilton will focus on the mile and 3K.
Nathan Zondlo (Pittston Area) adds depth in the mile for LHU.
Lock Haven has some solid guys, who will all be front runners in the conference distance events.
Their success on the cross country course will certainly lead to success on the indoor oval as LHU has a number of guys who will be a major factor in the 3K/5K.
Tim Getz (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), AJ Johnson (Coventry, R.I./Coventry), Jed Yeatts (Mercersburg, Pa./James Buchanan), Chris Bell (Marysville, Pa./Susquenita) along with freshmen Mitch Miller (Morrisville, NY/Morrisville-Eaton) and Steven Miller (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg Area H.S.) all give LHU strength on the track.
According to the LHU coaching staff, both teams have a legimate shot at team titles in this season and they are excited to see the team get out there and compete.
The Bald and Lady Eagles hit the indoor oval and field for the first time in 2009 this weekend when they travel to Penn State University for the Penn State Relays (Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m.). The PSAC Championships are set for February 28-29 at East Stroudsburg and the NCAA Division II Championships will be held at the University of Houston and kick off on March 13.
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