Women's Track & Field | January 07, 2017
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan track and field team opens its 2017 indoor season hosting Ball State on Saturday at Read Fieldhouse at 2 p.m.
The Broncos, who were picked to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference Coaches' Poll, head into 2017 with a balanced group of youngsters and veterans. WMU is under the direction of head coach Kelly Lycan for the 17th season and the sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers that he oversees may be the deepest on the squad.
WMU returns all three of its indoor MAC Champions from last season, led bay junior Ayiana Gaines. Gaines has yet to lose a 400-meter dash at a MAC Championship in her career, holding two indoor and two outdoor MAC titles in the event. She also helped, along with Naomi Dulaney, Sarita Dotson and Jordan Anderson claim the 4x400-meter relay title at the Indoor MAC Championship. Anderson, a senior, will only compete outdoors this year. Dotson broke the school record and won the 200-meter dash last indoor season to claim her first career individual MAC title and Dulaney is a veteran sprinter that has scored at the MAC Championships before. Â Sprinter Davonne Bolden heads into her junior season after a solid sophomore campaign, while Freshmen Madison Meredith, Jasmine McLemore and Alexandria Bryant also add talent to an already deep group.
"I'm really excited about our depth," said Lycan. "In the past few years we just weren't deep enough in the sprints, hurdles and jumps and we'd only have one or two scorers in those events. I think this group is our deepest in years."
The jumpers are led by seniors Jade McKnight and Lindsey Hufnagel. McKnight also competes in the sprints, while Hufnagel also stars in the hurdles along with her sister Allison and senior Keyera Lige. Freshman Erika DePierre brings talent to the high jump, while fellow newcomer Erica Sheahan starred at Ithaca High School in the long jump. Sophomore Diana Holsey continually improved last season and capped it off by scoring at the Outdoor MAC Championship in the heptathlon.
WMU's distance crew is a young one and its two top runners, senior Claire Gilbert and junior Maria McDaniel are both recovering from injuries. Freshman Holly Blowers emerged late during the cross country season.
"Holly showed a lot of promise at the end of the cross country season," said associate head coach Taryn Sheahan, who coaches the distance runners. "She's someone that is very young, but has a lot of potential."
"Right now we are looking for good and competitive efforts on Saturday to see where we are at coming off of our winter break," added Sheahan.
The throwers are an improved group from last season. Senior Samantha Howard has seen steady growth over her career, while Brittany Casey and Savannah Dugan both head into their junior years with momentum off of improved sophomore campaigns. Sophomores Riley Wilhelm and Sarah Bailey look to improve from their first collegiate seasons.
