University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Women Open Outdoor Track & Field Season Saturday at VCU Invitational
3/19/2016 1:50:00 AM | Track & Field - Outdoor
Wendy McFarlane-Smith, who will enter her eighth season at the helm, welcomes back a strong group of veterans and some talented newcomers as the Blue Hens get set to tackle a competitive spring that will include competition at 11 events, including Delaware's own Delaware Open on Apr. 9 and Delaware Classic on Apr. 23 at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium.
“I look forward to us having some dominating performances during the outdoor season,” said McFarlane-Smith, who led her team to the Colonial Athletic Association team title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2013. “We have gotten better as a team, but so have the other teams we compete against. We need to practice harder and want to win twice as much. One of my favorite saying is that 'you have to beat the best to be the best'. I think our ladies have what it takes to perform at a high level this season.”
Top hopefuls for the Blue Hens this season include sophomore Sarah Hillman in the shot put and discus, junior Jade Francis in the hammer, freshman Ashley Bailey in the pole vault and long jump, freshman Carly Pettipaw in the intermediate hurdles, sophomore Tyra Reid, juniors Tyler Jackson and Carolyn Darr, and seniors Michele Simmons and La'Tazah Coleman in the sprints and relays, and Liz McGroarty and Betsy Erlanger in the distance events.
Coleman and Jackson were part of an All-East 4 x 100 meter relay team a year ago with Coleman also earning All-East laurels with a seventh place finish in the 200 meters, an event she also won at the CAA championships. Coleman was also fifth in the 100 meters at the CAA meet.
Francis was second in the hammer while Hillman was third in the discus and fourth in the shot put and McGroarty was fifth in the 1,500 meters at the 2015 CAA Championships.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
“I look forward to us having some dominating performances during the outdoor season,” said McFarlane-Smith, who led her team to the Colonial Athletic Association team title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2013. “We have gotten better as a team, but so have the other teams we compete against. We need to practice harder and want to win twice as much. One of my favorite saying is that 'you have to beat the best to be the best'. I think our ladies have what it takes to perform at a high level this season.”
Top hopefuls for the Blue Hens this season include sophomore Sarah Hillman in the shot put and discus, junior Jade Francis in the hammer, freshman Ashley Bailey in the pole vault and long jump, freshman Carly Pettipaw in the intermediate hurdles, sophomore Tyra Reid, juniors Tyler Jackson and Carolyn Darr, and seniors Michele Simmons and La'Tazah Coleman in the sprints and relays, and Liz McGroarty and Betsy Erlanger in the distance events.
Coleman and Jackson were part of an All-East 4 x 100 meter relay team a year ago with Coleman also earning All-East laurels with a seventh place finish in the 200 meters, an event she also won at the CAA championships. Coleman was also fifth in the 100 meters at the CAA meet.
Francis was second in the hammer while Hillman was third in the discus and fourth in the shot put and McGroarty was fifth in the 1,500 meters at the 2015 CAA Championships.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field - Indoor
Sprints
/ Track & Field - Outdoor
Distance
/ Track & Field - Outdoor
Throws
/ Track & Field - Indoor
Throws
/ Track & Field - Indoor
Sprints
/ Track & Field - Outdoor
R
/ Women's Cross Country
Distance
/ Track & Field - Indoor
Sprints
/ Track & Field - Indoor
Sprints
/ Track & Field - OutdoorHighlight: T&F Home Meet - 4/28/23
Monday, May 01
Built To Win: NGWSD x Community
Tuesday, February 14
Feature: T&F - Black History Month -w/ Kenyetta Iyevbele
Monday, February 06
Delaware Blue Hens All-Sport Video 2021-22
Friday, December 09
