University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Indoor Track & Field Opens 2016 Season Friday at Villanova Invitational
1/7/2016 5:42:00 PM | Track & Field - Indoor
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The University of Delaware women's indoor track & field team will begin its 37th season Friday when the Blue Hens take part in the Villanova Invitational at the brand new Ocean Breeze Park Athletics Complex.
The meet will begin at 12 noon and will include competition in 17 men's and women's events.
The newest venue to open in the New York metropolitan area, Ocean Breeze is a 135,000 square-foot facility that features a 200 meter Mondo track with eight lanes, six of which can be hydraulically banked up to a 4.5 foot incline for elite competition. Additional field space is designated for two long jump pits, one pole vault, a high jump, and two weight throwing areas. The complex can seat 2,500 spectators.
The Villanova Invitational will be the first of nine meets that the Blue Hens will take part in this season for eighth-year head coach Wendy McFarlane.
“We are very excited for our season opener,” said McFarlane, whose squad numbers 59 student-athletes. “Everyone has been working extremely hard and I am ready for a few surprises from our walk-on athletes who are looking very good in practices. We have to be realistic that not everyone is going to have peak performances on Friday, but we are expecting that everyone will give their best effort and will be gratified with the work that they have put in this early in the season. Our goal this year is to qualify as many athletes to the ECAC Championships as possible, ultimately winning the CAA Championship (in the spring) and continuing on to the NCAA Championships.”
Delaware returns a solid group of veterans led by senior jumper and co-captain Amira Idris, sophomore shot putter Sarah Hillman, junior weight thrower Jade Francis, 400 meter standouts in sophomore Tyra Reid and junior co-captain Carolyn Darr, and sophomore Liz McGroarty in the 1,000 meters.
Idris, a fifth-year senior, captured the ECAC triple jump championship last winter and earned All-East honors with a second place finish in the long jump. She is a two-time Colonial Athletic Association outdoor meet Outstanding Field Performer. Hillman was an All-East performer as a freshman in 2015 when she placed sixth in the shot put at the ECAC Championships and won the event at three meets during the season.
The Blue Hens' roster will feature 22 freshmen who will be competing for the first time at Villanova. Newcomers to watch include Carly Pettipaw and Jeanette Bendolph in the 800 meters, Ashley Bailey in the pole vault, Olivia Goncerz in the jumps, Nadia Khoury in high jump, Isis Pinkney in the sprints, and Lauren Zodl, Emily Paolucci, and Leanza Lopez in the 3,000 meters.
Following the Villanova Invitational, Delaware will compete Jan. 16 at the Albany Great Dane Classic at Ocean Breeze; Jan. 23 at the Tiger Open at Princeton; Jan. 30 at the Maryland Terrapin Invitational at the Prince George's (Md.) Complex; Feb. 5-6 at the Armory Invitational at the New York City Armory; Feb. 6 at the Villanova Invitational at Ocean Breeze; Feb. 21 at the Princeton Invitational; Feb. 28 at the George Mason Last Chance Meet; and March 4-6 at the ECAC Championships at Boston University. The NCAA Championships will be hosted by Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. on March 11-12.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
Players Mentioned
