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2001 Outdoor Season Outlook Cedarville University expects to be even more competitive during the 2001 women's track & field season. This comes from a program that was the NCCAA and American Mideast Conference runner-up last spring, and won an unprecedented five straight NCCAA banners from 1994 through 1998. "We have a stronger team this spring with the women," stated head coach Paul Orchard. "We have more depth in a vast majority of events. Cedarville has been traditionally strong in the distance events and we're solid in the 800 meters on up." Heading up the field events is junior Kate Beatty, a two-time NAIA All-American in the outdoor high jump. She was the NCCAA national champion in the 100 meter hurdles and is the reigning AMC title holder in the hurdles and high jump.
Leading a strong contingent of distance runners is sophomore Erin Nehus. She is a two-time NAIA All-American in cross country. She will compete in the 1,500, the 3,000, and 5,000 meter runs on the track. Nehus was the AMC champion in the 1,500 as a freshman. Another returning NAIA All-American is Katie Rulapaugh, who specializes in the 3K race walk. She placed second indoors as a freshman and was eighth this past winter. The senior class includes Jenifer Heidenreich, who is the defending NCCAA and AMC triple jump champion. She has the fourth-longest triple jump ever in the NCCAA trailing the top three efforts of former Lady Jacket standout Stephanie Sherman. Distance runner Corrie Grigorenko and hurdler/high jumper Kristen Nichols, two other seniors, earned NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors last year. Classmate Sarah Pollock will specialize in the 800 meter run.
A number of other athletes could step to the forefront including rookie distance runner Sarah Roberts, who was the #2 performer on CU's nationally-ranked cross country squad. Sharon Wright, a sophomore who holds the school record in the 200 meters, and junior Rebekah Millet will both take part in the sprints and long jump. Mary Rose Hocevar in the sprints and hurdles as well as Michaela Cernetic in the hammer are two other freshmen who could make an impression this spring. The Jackets don't shy away from the competition as they participate in NCAA Division I hosted events at Florida State, Bowling Green, and Miami of Ohio. They will host the Cedarville University Open on March 31 and the NCCAA Nationals on May 3-5. | ||||||||
