KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan track and field team opens the 2016 indoor season at the Bowling Green Invitational on Saturday morning.
The Broncos, led by long-time head coach Kelly Lycan, made strides last season with the help of fantastic freshmen Ayiana Gaines and Maria McDaniel. But Lycan expects the continued improvement this season.
"I thought lat year was better than the year before and I think this year will be better than last year," said Lycan, who begins his 15th season at the helm. "We had some precocious freshmen last year with Maria and Ayiana. Now they're both a year older, a year stronger, and a year better. Hopefully we will build upon their successes from last year."
Gaines, only a sophomore, helps lead a strong group in the sprints, jumps, and hurdles. She returns as the reigning indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash Mid-American Conference Champion. But according to Lycan, it shouldn't be hard to keep her hungry for more.
"She still has a lot to prove," explained Lycan. "Last year was a stepping stone. As an athlete, you have steps on the ladder you want to climb. First you want to be one of the best on your team, then you want to be THE best on the team, then one of the best in your conference, then THE best in your conference, and then regional and country. She took a step, she was the best in the conference last season. Now she needs to keep that and make it to the regional and final levels."
Gaines primarily ran the 400 and was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team last season, but is expected to add some jumps to her repertoire this season.
Senior Artia Gunn is coming off a career-best season that saw her eventually score at the Outdoor MAC Championship in the 4x100-meter relay. Indoors Gunn runs the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles, and 200-meter dash.
A pair of juniors in Sarita Dotson and Naoimi Dulaney are looking to come out of the gates hard, as injuries slowed their success last season.
"I think Sarita and Naiomi are going to have excellent years," added Lycan. "They should have had excellent years last season but they were both derailed by hamstring injuries at inopportune times. Right now they are the two best sprinters in the MAC that nobody knows about. They both had really good fall training cycles and they are both the fastest and strongest they have ever been."
Despite battling the injuries both contributed as scorers at the Indoor and Outdoor MAC Championships.
Junior Jade McKnight returns as one of the Broncos top jumpers. McKnight scored in the long jump and the triple jump at the Indoor MAC Championship last season.
Freshmen Kayden Fosler, Allison Hufnagel, Kaniya Weatherspoon and Diana Holsey will add depth to the sprint, jumps and hurdles group. Fosler specializes in the high jump. Hufnagel, younger sister of senior Lindsey Hufnagel, is an all-around athlete much like her sister. Weatherspoon is a state champion in the long jump, winning it her junior year at Napoleon High School in nearby Napoleon, Mich. Hosley will add depth to the long jump, triple jump and 60-meter hurdles.
After another spectacular cross country season McDaniel leads a young group into the indoor season. Last indoor season she finished second at the MAC Championship in the 3,000-meter run and later won the 5,000-meter run at the Outdoor MAC Championships. McDaniel is helped by veterans Amy Littlefield, Raychel Figurski and Daya Wagh, along with youngsters Claire Gilbert, Makenzie Evers and Hanne Christensen. Freshmen Emily Davis and Sarah Anderson, along with transfer Allison Wilson add depth coming off quality cross country seasons.
Senior Jordan Anderson is reaching her prime as a middle distance runner at Western Michigan after a breakout season last year. Anderson was WMU's top 800-meter runner and nearly scored at the Indoor MAC Championship as part of the distance medley relay team.
"Last year was the first time she was truly healthy." said Lycan. "And with that she had her best year ever. Jordan has worked through all this stuff for for years and finally was able to show us what she can do."
Alex Ferguson leads a really young group of throwers in 2016. She is joined by junior Samantha Howard and sophomores Brittany Casey and Savannah Dugan. Freshman Riley Wilhelm also adds depth to a growing class under first-year throws coach Pat Tracy.
The Broncos are also expected to be strong once again in the 4x400-meter relay. Heading into the Bowling Green Opener the squad will consist of Jordan Anderson, Dulaney, Dotson and Gaines.
Field events at Perry Fieldhouse begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by running events at 1 p.m.
