Women's Track & Field Season Preview/Review

The four-time defending NWAACC Track and Field Team Champions return in stellar form for 2008.  With a combination of experience and depth in the sophomore class and one of the top recruiting classes in school history, the Sasquatch are poised to claim their NWAACC record fifth straight team title in 2008. 

Leading the 2008 track and field team will be one of the most outstanding group of women throwers in school and conference history.  Returning NWAACC Champions Cortney Zappe (46'7", 129'3") and Corissa Hutchinson (43'7", 150'11") return to defend their individual titles in the shot put and discus, respectively.   Other sophomores to watch are Sarah Brown (42'9") the 2006 NWAACC runner-up and University of Alabama transfer Rachel Garcia (47'6", 136'0", 157'0").  Leading the strong freshman class are North Idaho transfer Lynnea Braun (140'5") and Ashlee Michelson (41'0", 133'0"), the 2006 Washington State Champion in the shot put and discus.  Ashlee Hutchinson (43'8", 129'7") was the Washington State Champion in the shot put in 2007 and Chelsea Wordell (122'10") will also bring depth to the team.

In the sprinting events, returning sophomores Stephanie Hill (12.42, 25.37), Beth Philips (13.07), and Ren Mallory (13.03) all were NWAACC championship meet finalists in the 100.  Freshman standout, Chanel James (11.81, 24.53) was the 2007 Washington 4A State Champion in the 100 and 200.  Idaho Small School State Champion in the 200 (25.9) and 400 (59.0), Nicole Nida will be force to reckon with and local standout Taylor Cook (12.56, 26.3) and Angela Shearer (12.7, 26.1) will contend for top honors as well.  In the hurdles, freshmen Brynn DeLong (14.95 100h, 44.63 300h) and Arica Johnson (16.04, 45.59) will bring talent to the squad as well.  Johnson was runner-up at the Idaho State Championships and DeLong was a 300 meter hurdles 4A Washington finalist. 

Returning in both the long and triple jumps is the multi-talented sophomore Ren Mallory (16'5", 33'5").  Other jumpers to watch are freshmen Chanel James (18'8"), Taylor Cook (17'3"), and Eleaya Schuerch (17'8", 37'2").  In the high jump, freshman Washington State Champion Kristle Moss has a personal best of 5'7"and ought to contend for top NWAACC honors along with Rosanna Lincecum (5'0") who hopes to vault as well.  Rounding out the jumps are vaulters Melissa Harless (10'6") and Collette Kirby (9'6"). 

The distances will be well represented in 2008.  Fresh off of their second consecutive women’s NWAACC cross country title last fall are several talented sophomores.  Amy Durrance (2:24, 4:59, 19:05), Christine Eckstein (2:23, 4:51, 18:42), Jill Frederick (2:23) and Larsen Agee (4:59, 11:22, 18:42) both will be top contenders in several races.  Agee is the defending NWAACC Champion and record holder in the 3000 steeplechase.  Eckstein was the 2007 runner-up in the 1500.  Freshman Brittnee Sanchez (2:18, 5:07, 19:06), after winning the individual NWAACC cross country title last fall, will be one to watch in both the 800 and 1500 races.  Sisters, Katie (19:06) and Karen Owens (2:24, 19:19) should add depth to the Steeplechase, 5000 and 10000 meter races.