Women's Indoor Track Season Begins This Weekend
1/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track
MALIBU, California " Track season begins this weekend for Pepperdine as the women's program begins its third-ever indoor season with a meet in New Mexico.
The Waves are competing at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico, on Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque. The other indoor meet is February 2-3 at Boise State.
"This is going to be a great learning opportunity," Pepperdine Coach Robert Radnoti said. "We're taking 17 young women and all but two of them might be freshmen. We've got some strong runners going and I suspect we'll break some of our indoor school records."
Nearly all of the indoor record-holders have graduated or moved on, with the exception of sophomore Samantha Maness in the 5,000 meters and sophomore Emma Engelland in the 60-meter hurdles, though Engelland (who also holds the outdoor 100-meter hurdles record) is studying abroad this semester.
Radnoti expects a number of freshmen who were standouts during the fall cross country season to do the same this spring, led by Abbey Meck, Caroline Archer and Lindsay Sanger.
The Waves lost their top sprinters to graduation, in particular Izzy Connell, who was an Academic All-American that left with nine school records (six as an individual and three relays). Catie Barilla, a junior, is the most experienced member of the team and a team captain. She holds the outdoor record in the 400-meter hurdles. Radnoti believes freshmen Sydney Orr and Sheridan Davis are also runners to watch.
A month from now, the men's track team will get going when the outdoor season begins on February 17 with the usual season-opening meet at Westmont, with UC Santa Barbara also in attendance.
"The guys are going to be ready," Radnoti said. "Each of our returners has been getting stronger and training well. Our young freshmen have come in and are pushing them and making them better."
Nick Heath, a junior, holds the school records in the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Treet Allison set records in the 400, 800 and 1,500 last season as a freshman. Kevin Maeda ranks among the program's top five 5,000-meter runners.
Radnoti also touts the likes of freshmen Kyle Johnson, Justin Touhey, Brandon Davis, Preston Gromer and Kieran Halewyn to have an impact, as well as sophomore Jalen Frantal.
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