Track & Field Resumes Indoor Season Saturday

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State Track & Field returns from the holiday break for the Wolverine Invitational Saturday, Jan. 12 at the U-M Indoor Track Building in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Field and running events both get underway at 11 a.m. and continue through the afternoon.

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MSU will be joined by Michigan, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Guelph, Kent State, Toledo and Western (Ontario) at Saturday's meet.

"We've come back and probably have fewer people than ever that didn't do their work over the break; it looks good," Director of Track & Field Walt Drenth said. "That stretch is huge for us, and we'll know more in competition, but I feel like we've had really good energy at practice and a lot of people have been doing great things. It will be early for us, as we don't take any special training trips and a lot of kids go home for the break, but it'll be good for us to get off the mark. Many of them are ready."

It will be the first action for the Spartans since the Grand Valley State Holiday Open on Dec. 7, where MSU posted some strong early-season marks. Sophomores Rebecca Mammel and Jerimiah Evans led the throwers, taking first in the women's weight throw and men's shot put, respectively. Mammel tossed the weight 19.98 meters, while Evans threw 17.42 meters.

Senior Asya Reynolds took second place in the long jump with a mark of 5.99 meters and freshman Peirre Brown posted a time of 21.96 in the 200-meter dash, also taking second-place. The rookie finished fourth in the 60-meter dash at 6.85 seconds.

Saturday's meet marks the first step towards the Big Ten Indoor Championships, also held at the U-M Indoor Track Building, Feb. 22-23.

"We have really four, maybe five steps to the conference meet," Drenth said. "People who are returning really have a pretty high level of success. I think of Justine (Kiprotich) on the track, Ellen (DiPietro) in the high jump, Sophia (Franklin) in the pole vault and Nick (Guerrant) in the multi; they have a high level of success."

The Spartans are relying on some of those veterans who have competed for conference championships, and participated in NCAA championships to provide leadership for their more inexperienced teammates heading into their first season of competition. Kiprotich and Guerrant have both become leaders as they have gained experience, while senior Taylor Mullins has set an example for the sprinters to follow.

"I feel like our upperclassmen have really done a good job of setting the tone," Drenth said. It's about getting ourselves better as the season goes on, especially for the young group. If we can manage ourselves, that will be a really good first step; to see some of the young sprinters, young throwers get out there and do their best, regardless of the competition. If we can do that, I think we'll take a big step forward in a hurry."

Results will be posted to msuspartans.com following the conclusion of the meet.

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Players Mentioned

Peirre Brown

Jerimiah Evans

Rebecca Mammel

Taylor Mullins

Asya Reynolds