2012 William Penn Women’s Track and Field Preview
William Penn Women's Athletics
With a strong incoming recruiting class leading the way, the Lady Statesmen track and field team looks to improve greatly within the conference as it enters the 2012 season.
Head Coach Allen Friesen has brought in quality and quantity to help the navy and gold move up the league ladder after finishing last at both the indoor and outdoor championships last year.
“Due to lack of numbers, we struggled last year and did not finish as well as we would have liked,” Friesen said. “We also graduated our two best point-scorers, so we have had some big shoes to fill and our offseason was very important to getting this program back on track.”
Many strong student-athletes have entered, representing several events, giving Friesen reason to believe his squad will make grand improvements this year.
“I thought the recruiting class for the women went better than even I was expecting,” Friesen said. “We have brought in a number of quality athletes who will help us finish much higher in the conference.”
Sprints
Michaela Beck (So., Onawa, West Monona HS) stands as the lone returner in the sprints, but will have great complements in the way of newcomers Alexis Swinney (Fr., McKinney, Texas, McKinney HS), Shaniece Dishmon (Fr., Harvey, Ill., Thornton Township HS), and Megan McDonough (Fr., Ottumwa, Eddvyille-Blakesburg HS).
Beck ran the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.96 seconds, while her top 200 time was 27.42 seconds.
“With these solid new faces, I expect us to place in several sprints at conference, something this program has not done in quite a while,” Friesen said.
Middle Distance
A multi-event star, McDonough will be asked to run some mid-distance races as well. Joining her in the middle distances will be fellow newcomers Fatoumata Samura (Fr., Bronx, N.Y., Dewitt Clinton HS), Sade Myers (So., Honolulu, Hawaii, Radford HS), who redshirted last year, and Amanda Wakelin (Fr., Ottumwa, Davis County HS)
“We were very short in numbers in the middle distances, but we added some great new ladies who will help us get some points,” Friesen said.
Distance
The coaching staff was unfortunately not able to make big strides in the distance events and therefore the squad will have a very 2011 feel to it. That is not to say the navy and gold will not be successful in the long races, especially with cross country all-conference performer Kyra English (So., Draper, Utah, Alta HS) leading the way.
English and Morgan Avery (Sr., Minot., S.D., Iowa Western CC) will guide William Penn in the sport’s longest events.
Avery posted a season-best 3,000-meter indoor time of 14:08.52 and 5,000-meter outdoor time of 22:34.16, while English, who only competed in the indoor season, concluded the one-mile run in 6:07.65, and 5,000 in 21:06.68.
Hurdles
The Lady Statesmen enter this year with no returning experience in the hurdles, but Friesen is confident that newcomers Audre Harris (So., Johnson City, Kan., Allen CC) and Lindsey Kimler (Fr., Dugway, Utah, Dugway HS) will be in the mix for conference points this spring.
Jumps
McDonough will not only be utilized in running events, but also in the jumps.
“Megan is a very versatile athlete who has the potential to help us in a lot of different ways,” Friesen said.
Throws
Laura Gentry (So., Fruitland, Idaho, Fruitland HS) returns to anchor the throwing events. She had outdoor season bests of 33-4 in the shot put (36-7.75 indoor) and 129-1 in the discus.
Karin Stewart (Jr., Des Moines, Carlisle HS) and Brenay Fonseca (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Chaffey CC) are projected to help out in the throws as well.
Schedule
William Penn begins its indoor season Friday by competing in the Iowa State Holiday Preview, while the indoor slate ends with NAIA Nationals in early March.
The outdoor campaign will open March 31 at the Central Invitational and will culminate with nationals in late May.
The Midwest Collegiate Conference Indoor Championships are to be held February 11 with the outdoor meet on May 4-5.
“We are going to a couple different places than we have in the past, which will help us compare ourselves to schools we do not normally see,” Friesen said.
Conference
Defending MCC indoor and outdoor champion Grand View is expected to retain its stronghold on the top, while Mount Mercy, St. Ambrose and Ashford will battle hard as well.
“I am excited to get this year underway,” Friesen said. “We are deeper with more quality athletes than last year, so I see us quickly moving ourselves back up the conference standings beginning this season.”
