Women's Track

2008 Outdoor Track Preview

For Immediate Release:
March 28, 2008

RICHMOND, Ind. — Recovering from several injuries is a priority for the Earlham College women’s track team as the Quakers begin the outdoor season at the Hanover College Invitational on Saturday.

“We’ve had some strange things happen as well as the more conventional hamstrings and back spasms,” Earlham Head Coach Nick Johnson said of his entire program.

The injury list for both the men and women’s team is pretty long. “We’re hoping everyone is healthy so we can put together a squad that can improve from week to week,” Johnson said as the team prepares for the Hanover meet that starts at 11:30 a.m. “That’s the most pressing issue right now. Having so many key injuries depleted our resources during the indoor season.”

Heading lining the group of injured student-athletes for the women is senior Sara Bohall, who fell and broke a hand during the 55-meter hurdles at the North Coast Athletic Conference meet this winter. “Falling definitely motivated Sara during the 400 meters at the NCAC meet and it has carried over in preparations for the outdoor season.”

After the fall and subsequent disqualification, Bohall responded in the next event on the track with a school record in the 400-meter dash. She erased her own mark set earlier this season with a time of 1:00.10 to finish second in the race and earn a spot on the all-conference team.

Bohall has the potential to compete nationally in the 400-meter hurdles. “Sara is the best shape of her career,” Johnson said. “She ran cross country last fall to help with her stamina base and that has assisted in her training.”

Johnson expects to have Bohall concentrate on the hurdles, but she could do 400 meters and be a part of the 1,600-meter relay depending on how some other people recover from their injuries.  

Junior Jessica Kane (Milladore, WI/Auburndale) and sophomore Erin Witham (Arrowsic, ME/North Yarmouth) both had physical problems this winter. “They are definitely a key to our 400-meter and 1,600-meter relays,” Johnson said.

Sprints and Hurdles

Sara Bohall is the top performer in the hurdles for the Quakers and she will have some help this season from first-year Rachel Dana (Columbus, IN/North).

First-years Emily Bohall (Columbus, IN/Columbus East), Ramona Hemmings (Cleveland, OH/Shaw) and Alison McEmber (Newtown, CT/Newtown) will take care of most of the sprint duties.

Distance

Seniors Megan Carter (Lewis, IN/Terre Haute South Vigo), Anna Chatfield (Doylestown, OH/Chippewa), Brittany Smith (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL/Paideia, GA) and Rebecca Tolmach (Atlanta, GA/Henry W. Grady) are expected to pace the distance group.

Juniors Michelle Crane (Mansfield, OH/Saint Peter’s), Molly Kistin (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque Academy), Laura Nitti (Portland, OR/Lincoln) and Mary Rowley (Evanston, IL/North Shore Country Day) are expected to add depth, while sophomore Eirinn Cooper (Franklin, IN/International) will also contribute. The only first-year distance runner is Caryn Wixom (St. Louis, MO/Rosati-Kain).

Field Events

Kane and Hemmings will participate in the jumping events as will first-year Cristyn Wenn (Fairmount, IN/Madison Grant).

Juniors L.J. James (Greencastle, IN/Greencastle) and Kathleen Parker (Brooklyn, NY/Northfield Mt. Hermon, MA) and first-year Melissa Barnes (Montego Bay, Jamaica/Montego Bay) are the throwers for the Quakers. Senior Emma Abernathy (Atlanta, GA/Lakeside) and junior Allison Blaetz (Palantine, IL/William Fremd) compete in the pole vault.

After visiting Hanover, the Quakers will participate in the Anderson University Invitational (April 5) and the Indiana Intercollegiate Championships at IUPUI (April 11-12). The Earlham Invitational at Darrell Beane Stadium is set for April 19. The NCAC Championships at Ohio Wesleyan University on May 1-2.

— EC —

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don