Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Track And Field Prepares For 2006
1/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
The Michigan State track and field team is preparing for a challenging upcoming season with a "new-day, new-way" attitude.
Interim head coach Walt Drenth will lead the distance runners, while Randy Huntington and Chris Campbell will continue to build on the team's jumping and throwing talents, respectively, in their first seasons at MSU.
Along with an expectation to improve on last year's ninth and 10th place finishes at the Indoor and Outdoor Big Ten meets, the team is looking forward to hosting this year's Big Ten Outdoor Championships on May 12-14 at the Ralph Young Track and Field Facility. The Spartans plan to use this opportunity to fuel their competitive spirit and demonstrate to the rest of the conference and the MSU community what the future holds for the Spartan track and field program.
Distance
The Spartans are looking to return to their old form in the distance events. MSU has a storied past in the mid-distance and distance events, including multiple cross country national championships and vital contributions to Spartan Big Ten track and field championship teams.
During the 2005 campaign, the Spartans red-shirted the entire freshman class, along with sophomores Stephan Shay and Dustin Voss. Shay and Voss both ran on the 2004 NCAA qualifying cross country team. In addition to big expectations from Shay and Voss, Gatson is looking for senior leadership from Nate Egger and continued improvement from Matt Bartlebaugh, who provisionally qualified for the NCAA championship in the 10K last outdoor season.
 Stephan Shay  | |
In the mid-distance events, the coaches anticipate big efforts from Phil Marlatt in the 800 meters and Jim Pancoast in the 800, mile and 3,000 meters. Marlatt qualified for the outdoor regional championships last season and ran the 800-meter leg of the Distance Medley Relay (DMR). Meanwhile, Pancoast nearly qualified for the 1500-meter outdoor regional championship. Marlatt and Pancoast teamed on the 2005 DMR relay which provisionally qualified for the National Indoor Championships. Drenth said it's crucial to the Spartans' progress that the younger athletes become more competitive.
"We are building a very solid foundation of young athletes who will eventually have a big impact on our success at Big Ten Championships," Drenth said. "I'm looking forward to seeing us mature, improve and gain a thorough understanding of what is necessary to contribute to a competitive Big Ten track and field program."
Throws
The top two throwers from the 2005 campaign return to the Spartan squad in 2006. Junior Jason Brown and senior Derek Strittmatter look to improve on last year's performances.
Brown placed 11th at the Big Ten Outdoor Championship last year, missing a scoring position by less than 24 inches in the shot put. Coach Campbell, who comes to Michigan State after successful six-year tenure at Fresno State, is looking forward to the opportunity to help build the Spartans into a national caliber program in the throwing events.
"The throwers worked hard in the off-season on their physical condition, throwing technique, and on developing strength and explosiveness in the weight room," Campbell said. "As their disciplined training continues in the spring semester, their performance marks should vastly improve."
Jumps
First-year coach Randy Huntington anticipates a successful year with a talented group of Spartan jumpers. Prior to joining MSU's coaching staff, Huntington served as the USA Track and Field Sports Science Technical Coordinator and coached at the ARCO Olympic Training Center. He is eager to help the jumps group reach their potential. Long and triple jumper Julien Williams will be working under Coach Huntington. Williams was the 11th- ranked long jumper headed into the NCAA championships last year. While an injury prevented him from advancing to the NCAA finals, Williams finished as the Big Ten runner-up in the long jump.
A talented group of pole vaulters will also be working under Huntington's direction. During last year's Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championship, MSU pole vaulters placed first, second, fifth, and tied for eighth. NCAA outdoor championship qualifier Mark Langlois and Big Ten Champion Brad Gebauer will lead the group. With the experience of past successes and the goal of scoring at the NCAA Track & Field Championships, the Spartan vaulters and jumpers are sure to complete the work necessary to stay dominate in the Big Ten.
 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jeremy Orr | |
Sprints / Hurdles
The hurdles and sprints are led by junior captain John Childress and sophomore Jeremy Orr. Childress and Orr helped MSU clinch seventh place in the 4x100 meter relay in the outdoor Big Ten Championship last year. Orr also earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades, and placed fourth in the 100 and 200 meter dash. Their efforts will be complemented in the sprint events by Dewayne Lewis, a transfer from Mesa Community College, along with a talented group of young runners.
