Four-Time Defending Champions Begin Indoor Track Season

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee will open the 2004-05 Indoor Track season at the 16th Kickoff Classic at Arkansas State Saturday looking to build toward doing what it has accomplished each of the last four seasons since joining the Sun Belt - win the league championship. Middle Tennessee veteran track coach Dean Hayes will have to replace the top point producer from his men's and women's teams for the 2004-05 Indoor season, but you won't find any coach in the Sun Belt feeling sorry for him. After all, 10 total team championships - Indoor and Outdoor combined - six Coach of the Year honors, three most outstanding performers and the Male Athlete of the Year have a way of making people lose their sympathy. Especially since all these accolades have taken place since Middle Tennessee joined the Sun Belt in 2001. Actually, the Lady Raiders won the first Sun Belt championship in school history when they won the outdoor title in 2000 after being invited to participate just weeks after competing in their final meet as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. While Sun Belt coaches won't offer sorrow for Hayes' losses - which include the graduation of six-time All-American and Sun Belt Athlete of the Year Mardy Scales and steady point producer Rosemary Okafor - because they probably realize the 25 men's team championships and 13 women's team titles are proof Middle Tennessee doesn't rebuild, it reloads. "On the women's side we have picked up a number of newcomers I believe will help us," Hayes said. "We have a good percentage of our points back with the women, and with the additions, I think we should be pretty good." The same can be said for the Blue Raiders. "I think we can have a good team," Hayes said. "It looks pretty good and we plan on bringing in a number of people for the start of next semester. We will add some new ones next semester, and I believe they will be able to step in and contribute right away." While there are key losses for the Blue Raiders, such as Scales, Xavier Darden, Tim Hicks and Garland Martin, there also are strong returners. Middle Tennessee should be improved in the long jump with the addition of transfer Jakeith Hairston and the return of sophomore J.J. Sturm, who broke through with a tremendous freshman campaign that ended with All-American honors at the NCAA National Meet. Sturm also will be expected to provide points in the triple jump, along with Greg Jones. Sean Waller's renewed focus and dedication could help him make a return to the form of his freshman season. Waller has won three of four Sun Belt titles in the 400 in his first two years. He will also add to Middle Tennessee's depth and strength in the long jump. "Sean kind of slacked off last winter and spring and he got beat," Hayes said. "He has worked hard and realized it's time for him to get down to business." Hurdles again should be in good shape with the return of Linnie Yarbrough and Pedro Holiday, who was second in the 55-meter Indoor last year. He also does a good job in the 200 and anchored the 4X100 All-American relay team in 2003. Steady competitor Wesley Dupar-Scott participates in several events and is highly-competitive in all of them. Dupar-Scott can run the 100, 200, 400 and both relays. Another area of improvement will be the high jump. The Blue Raiders have added freshman Alex Pruitt, who has jumped 6-11. Transfer Julius Defour has been 6-8, and Pierre Ingram, who battled injuries last season, is back. Middle Tennessee also should be much improved for distance events. The Blue Raiders were second at the Sun Belt Cross Country Championships. Newcomers Derek Dell and Jonathan Guillou were very steady in cross country, as was Steve Safstrom. Tony Carufe and Carlos Gonzalez provide quality depth. The Lady Raiders also should be able to count on points in the distance events for the first time in the Sun Belt. Newcomers Sara Lunning, Miranda Galloway and Marjorie Gombert figure to become big additions. "I do believe the biggest set of additions is the distance runners," Hayes said. "We have not had an entry in distance events the last several years, but we should be much improved there." Kishara George has been a strong contributor to the track program in her career and she has participated in the NCAA Championships in intermediate hurdles. She's also been steady in the 400, which she won last year at the SBC Indoor Championships, and she also runs the 200. The Lady Raiders also welcome the return of Meaghan Byrd, Kiki Deckard, Kelley Enoch, Laetitia Florimond, Tiffany Owens, Candice Robertson, Jessica Anderson, Kerry Barrow, Latoya Brown, and Contrena Brown so leadership isn't a concern. Middle Tennessee also has added Antrnette Stringer, Lasean Bell, and Sierra Douglas.

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

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