While it is early in the season to judge the men's and women's indoor track programs, so far both teams have looked talented and capable. The Big Green started off well at the Dartmouth Relays this past weekend, and the teams hope to build on that performance throughout the season and at the Heptagonals, the Ivy League championship for track, at the end of February in New York City.
Both the men's and women's teams have well-rounded athletes in every event, talented freshman classes and strong veteran leadership, all of which are crucial ingredients for success in indoor track.
The men's team welcomes a large group of freshmen this year. In the distance events, Alex Hall '10, Mike Font '10, John Schroeder '10 and Kevin Treadway '10 lead a group of talented newcomers. Pete Piderman '10 is an impressive hurdler who was on the football team in 2006, and had a strong showing at the Dartmouth Relays. In the field, pole vaulter Ken DiCairano '10 along with jumpers Ted Lesher '10 and Mike Poppler '10 could make their presence felt early.
In the sprinting events, Brian Evans '08, also a member of the Big Green football team, will be leading the way in the short sprints. Captain Ricky Cedrone '07 will be a major factor in the hurdles throughout the season and Charlie Stoebe '08 will be a key runner in the long sprints.
Dartmouth has had a long tradition of outstanding distance runners, and this year is no different. The cross-country team was ranked as high as 23rd in the nation, and the runners will look to carry the momentum into the indoor season.
There are many veterans leading this portion of the team, including Harry Norton '08, Mike Carmody '08, Trevor Middleton '09 and captain Alec Wall '07. Carmody is the reigning 800-meter champion at the Indoor Heptagonal meet, and Wall was runner-up in the 5,000.
In the field, captain and academic all-Ivy selection Rob Kerris '07 will be looking to make an impact in the shot put, while Randy McKnight '08 will be looking to score in the jumping events.
Although the team is well-balanced, the one area in which the team is particularly strong is the multi-events. Tim Wunderlich '09 and Tyler Koskenoja '07 got off to a good start this weekend at the Dartmouth Relays and are two of the strongest multi-event athletes in the Ivy League.
Head Coach Barry Harwick '77, who will be leading this talented squad, mentioned the importance of having a team that is well-rounded and unified.
"There are programs out there who only concentrate on one section of the team like the distance team, but in order to do well at a big meet like the Heps, it's important that a team has athletes capable of scoring in a range of events, and that's something that we have," Harwick said. "Also, as the season goes on it will be important to have a unified team and build upon our performances."
The women's program also boasts a talented freshman class. Some freshmen to watch for include Kat Eidmann '10 and Ali Smrcina '10 in distance events, Natalie Stoll '10 in long sprints and Sarah Klassen '10 in high jump.
Women's head coach Sandy Ford-Centonze expects the freshmen to eventually make an impact, but emphasized the importance of being patient with them.
"The '10s are ready to do well, but putting them into a pressure situation doesn't always work. Between high school and college track, there are so many adjustments that have to be made in terms of training, so I like to surround the newcomers with veterans so that they feel comfortable and get in the groove," Ford-Centonze said. "Eventually I expect them to make an impact, but it's important to let the athletes adjust,"
The Big Green will be returning many experienced veterans. Jamila Smith '06, last year's runner-up at the Heps in the shot put, will lead the way in the throws and Victoria Michelotti '08 looks to make a strong showing in the hurdles.
In the multi-events, Tara McNerney '09 and Jadah Chatterton-Richmond '07 will continue Dartmouth's strong tradition in the multi-events. In distance, Caitlin Cunningham '09 will look to build on her successful cross-country season. Natalie Todd-Zebell '09, a pole-vaulter in addition to being a middle-distance runner, will focus more on the pole vault in the indoor season.
Ford-Centonze, echoing Harwick's words, stressed the importance of working hard and peaking towards the Heptagonal championships.
"The main thing we want to do is to create a strong and united team that will perform to the best of their ability in every single event at the Heptagonal championships, because that's something that I've talked about since September," Ford-Centonze said. "Obviously, our ultimate goal is to win the Heptagonal meet, but I think getting into the top half of the Ivy League would be big for us,"
Both Dartmouth teams will be competing for the next month and a half, starting with an all-day dual meet with the University of Vermont and the University of New Hampshire in Hanover on Saturday, Jan. 13.
