Seattle University’s track and field teams begin their indoor season this weekend, opening at the UW Indoor Preview at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Dempsey Indoor.
“The first meet is the first opportunity for everybody to see if their fitness has carried over from the fall and if they are really ready to start competing,” said head coach Trisha Steidl. “The team seems stronger as a whole from an athletic standpoint, but their mindset is also focused and driven.”
Last season, multiple school records were broken on the men’s side during the indoor season. Returners Keenan Clinch (Sammamish, Wash.) claimed the record for the 600 meter run in 1:25.69 and Ty Jaros (Eugene, Ore.) posted a triple jump distance of 44’ 2.5” (13.47 meters), more than a foot longer than the previous record. Zach Stanfield (Adna, Wash.) will be competing in the sprints category before redshirting for the outdoor season.
Hans Heitzinger (Scottsdale, Ariz) set a record in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15.17.29, and a new record in the 3000 meter run was set for 8:32.30. The distance relay broke the previous record by almost three seconds with a time of 10:34.37. Erik Barkhaus (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), who placed third in the GWC Cross Country Championships, will also be returning to lead a strong distance team for the Redhawks.
In the field, newcomer Nick Bever (Seattle, Wash.) will join Jaros at the triple jump, and Brandan Haggarty (Missoula, Mont.) and Josh Walters will be participating in the weight throws.
Rachel Purcell (Mission Viego, Calif.) set a new record of 59.32 in the 400 meter dash, and Meeghan Bergman (Portland, Ore.), Clare Obradovich (Tigard, Ore.), Elena Collins (Eugene, Ore.) and Purcell recorded a time of 4:03.56 in the 4x400 relay to claim the school record for the women.
On the distance side, Cara Talty (Raritan, N.J.) will be coming into her first track season after a successful cross country season in the fall. Sarah Bolce (Sacramento, Calif.), who set the school record in outdoor track for the 1500 meter run, and Lauren Hammerle (Seattle, Wash.) will also make the transition after successful cross country campaigns.
Amanda Luna (Beavercreek, Ore.) and Becca Urbany (Damascus, Ore.) will head up the women’s attack at the triple jump, Ariel Johnson (Moscow, Idaho) will take on the pole vault, and Emee Mathew (Redmond, Wash.) will be returning to throw the shot put.
“There’s a lot of changes on the women’s side. We brought in a lot of women this year, and so have a lot of freshmen on the team. We also have quite a few new guys as well,” said Steidl.
The team will be going through the indoor season looking to qualify for the Great West Conference Championships in New York, N.Y. at the New York Armory, and to prepare for the upcoming outdoor season.
“It’s exciting, because we’re going to be at the New York Armory, and that’s an amazing place to be able to go compete, so that will help pump people up more to get a mark and be able to go to conference,” said Steidl.
“It’s not about seeing whether people are ready to go right now but to see if we are in the place we need to be at this point in the season so that come indoor conference and then outdoor conference, are we where we want to be for those,” said Steidl. “It is important for getting that qualifying time for conference. That starts now.”
Results from Saturday’s meet will be posted on GoSeattleU.com as soon as they are available.