Michigan State University Athletics
2000 Women's Track Preview
1/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Jan. 24, 2000
The Michigan State women's track and field team is gaining the confidence it needs in order to hold a prominent position in the Big Ten Conference.
After scoring zero points in the Indoor Big Ten Championships and only four points in the Outdoor Big Ten's in 1999, head coach Angela Goodman said the team has something to prove.
"I feel it is very important to show that Michigan State is on an upward swing and that the program is about to move up to the next level," Goodman said.
To make that move, Goodman has recruited an extremely large group of talented freshmen in addition to a stellar group of veterans.
"It was our first year last year," Goodman said about moving to the head coaching position at MSU.
"We did everything we had to do to get a team," Goodman said. "We will continue to build on taking our program to the next level with the recruiting playing a major part."
With recruiting playing the major role in the race for success, the key for the Spartans will be to gain experience in the events across the board now that they have a full roster.
The biggest challenge Goodman faces this season is preparing the freshmen to compete at this level.
"It's also bringing the cross country group and the track group together to form a team with one common goal," Goodman said.
Middle Distance /Distance
The distance events will continue to be the strength of the 2000 Spartans. Coming off a solid cross country season, freshman Cindy Durocher and sophomore Ann Somerville will be top competitors for the Spartans.
"They'll come in with even more confidence," said Goodman about the cross country team's success.
Durocher will run the 3,000 meters while Somerville will compete in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters.
Others leading the way are seniors Jen Denkins and Leah Nilsson.
Denkins, a 1999 NCAA provisional qualifier in the 10,000m, placed sixth in the 10,000 meters and eighth in the 5,000 meters at the 1999 Big Ten Outdoor Championships. Nilsson finished ninth in the 10,000 meters at the outdoor championships.
Seniors Sarah Parbel and Christie Achenbach will also be competitiors. Parbel finished 12th in the 3,000 meters at the 1999 Big Ten Outdoors.
Junior Shannon Houseman, a transfer from Arizona State, will also contribute in the distance events.
With the loss of two consistent senior runners, the Spartans will be looking to senior Gabriela Dorsch to step up and make an impact in the mile. Dorsch competed in the 1,500 meter exclusively in outdoor competition last season.
The Green and White will also look to freshman Sarah Pepera to come out strong.
Sprints/Jumps
After another year of experience under her belt, the Michigan State squad will rely heavily on the leadership of senior sprinter Shante Burke. Burke competed in the 1998 Big Ten indoor preliminaries.
Freshman Denotra Benford will come in and be a leader for the Green and White in the short sprint events.
Also competing in the sprints, sophomore Shanna Ashley returns for another year after competing exclusively in the 400-meter events last year.
The Spartan team will also be looking to incoming freshmen Kiesha Spight, Akilah Washington and Sherita Williams to contribute to MSU's climb to the top.
"Sherita is an unbelievable talent," Goodman said. "She can long jump, triple jump, hurdles and high jump - we'll be looking for her to help us out in the multi-events this year."
Sophomore Nadia Ricketts will also make an impact in the long jump. Ricketts competed in that event at both the Big Ten Indoors and Outdoors last year.
Goodman said Ricketts is among the group of veterans she has seen mature over the past year.
Sophomore Maia Knox, a transfer from Eastern Michigan University, will help the Spartans out in the high jump events.
Freshman Vekessa Malveaux will take to the track in the hurdles for the Spartans.
Field Events
The Spartans are now able to field more events due to the incoming freshman class, but it will take some time in the preseason to prepare them for new events.
Freshmen Nina Mailliard and LaTanya Parker will throw shot put, discus, and learn the hammer as well as the 20-pound weight events.
Freshman Lynlee Phillips, nationally ranked in the javelin in high school, will also look to be competitive in those events.
Freshman Shiloh Wint will compete in the pole vault.
