Cedarville College
Yellow Jackets
1999 Women's Track & Field
Season Outlook
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| Sandy Swales |
The Cedarville College women's track and field team may be pressed to keep their string of National Christian College Athletic Association championships going, but that doesn't mean they don't expect to be quite competitive. The Lady Jackets own an unprecedented five straight NCCAA banners and they're the reigning conference champions thanks to a wealth of depth in the past. That quality will have to be rebuilt beginning this spring.
"We have a fairly balanced team if we can stay healthy," remarked head coach Paul Orchard. "We don't have the depth like we've had in recent years, but a good freshmen class is joining us. We hope to challenge in the NCCAA Nationals and in the conference meet."
One thing that has made the Lady Jackets successful is their depth in the distance events. While they may not have the numbers there this season, they still have one of the best runners the school has ever had in senior Becky Jordan. She was an NAIA All-American last year in the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters and she won the same event at the NCCAA.
Orchard is counting on Jordan's classmate, Jill Breckenfeld, to provide support in the distance events. She placed eighth in the NAIA marathon as a junior.
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| Becky Jordan |
Christy Taylor, another senior, should provide some leadership in the middle distances and relays. Another athlete to watch for in the 800 and 1,500 is sophomore Sarah Pollock while classmate Jenifer Heidenreich is the defending conference 400 meter hurdle champion.
Heading up the group in the field events is junior Sandy Swales. She has NAIA national meet experience and will compete in all of the throwing events. Others to watch are Jodi Quint, a former conference champion in the javelin, as well as newcomers Kate Beatty in the high jump, Julie Hardin in the pole vault, and Rebekah Millet in the long jump.
Four other seniors will see significant action in 1999. That quartet includes Kelly Ford (sprints), Jori Forward (distance), Alison Huizinga (throws), and Lindsey Mitchell, won the conference high jump and long jump events last year.
The Yellow Jackets host their own invitational on March 27. Cedarville will also be the site of the first-ever American Mideast Conference championship meet on April 17.
