Excitement abounds as Tiger track teams set to open season

Coming off the incredible success of its men and women’s track and field teams in 2007, the Cowley College track and field teams will open the 2008 indoor season Friday at the Arkansas Invite with high expectations.

The Lady Tiger track and field team placed third in the nation in the 2007 indoor and outdoor season, while the Tiger men placed fifth in the outdoor season and third in indoor.

Cowley will take partial squads to compete at the challenging Arkansas Invite Friday in Fayetteville, Ark.

“We are throwing them into the fire right off the bat,” Cowley head track and field coach Mark Phillips said. “They will get a chance to compete at one of the nicest facilities in the country.”

The Cowley men will look to make up for the loss of Daniel Maina and Stanley Mugo. Maina, who was the national champion in 11 events during his indoor and outdoor track career, and Mugo, who was an All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, recently signed with NCAA Division I schools.

However, Cowley returns Adam Wolkins, the outdoor national champion in the javelin as well as Jonathan Cherono, who placed fourth in the 10,000-meter run at last year’s outdoor national championships.

“Jonathan had a good cross country season and I think he will do some really good things for us in the track season,” Phillips said. “Adam will be the favorite to repeat as champion in the javelin.”

Larry Hill returns to the Tiger men’s team after redshirting last season. As a freshman Hill placed eighth in the 800-meter run at the indoor national championships. Hill will be counted on to provide valuable leadership to the squad.

Freshman Justin Viewins, who was the Oklahoma state champion in the 400 and 800-meter runs in high school, is thought to be the most talented 400 and 800-meter runner in school history.

Coming off earning all-conference and all-region honors in the cross country season, freshman Johnny Purvis will be expected to make an impact in the distance events as will freshman Nate Newland, who transferred to Cowley after a redshirt season at Oklahoma State University.

“Our men’s team on the track is as talented as they have ever been,” Phillips said.
As for the Cowley women, the Lady Tigers started the year with 30 women on its roster but have since had its roster dwindle to 15.

“We had some ladies decide this was too much work for them,” Phillips said. “We are still very talented on the women’s side, we just have a lot smaller numbers. Our goals will still stay the same.”

The goals for both the men and women’s team are to win conference, place in the top-three in the region and finish in the top-10 at nationals.

The Lady Tigers will be without two throwers from last year’s squad, but return Kelsey Poljansek, the outdoor national champion in the discus and shot put. For her efforts, Poljansek was named the Women's Field Athlete of the Meet.

Poljansek tied the meet record in the shot put (48-4) and broke Cowley’s school-record in the discus (154-2).

“Kelsey is doing some incredible things and will be a big-time contributor,” Phillips said.

Sophomore Jeniffer Cherono, who placed fourth in the 3,000-meetr steeplechase and seventh in the 5,000-meter run at last year’s outdoor national meet, will also be counted on to have a big year.

“Jeniffer is much more motivated, we are excited with where she is at,” Phillips said.
Freshman Jessica McLeod is a talented 800 and 1,500-meter runner that will challenge the school records in those events.

“Jessica will make people wonder where she came from,” Phillips said.

The Lady Tigers also have other talented freshmen that will be counted on to contribute.

“We are really young with both squads,” Phillips said.

Phillips and his assistant coach Vince DeGrado are looking forward to opening the track and field season.

“I am anxious to put them on the track and see what they can do and they are anxious to compete,” Phillips said.