The student news site of Linfield University

The Linfield Review

The student news site of Linfield University

The Linfield Review

The student news site of Linfield University

The Linfield Review

Track and Field poised for run at title repeat

Matt Jonathan

For the Review

Though last year’s season was brilliant for the Linfield track and field team, this year should be even brighter.

After winning their first Northwest Conference Championship in 10 years, the Wildcat men will attempt to repeat the feat, while the Linfield women will fight for their own championship crown.

The team will be led by long-time head coach Garry Killgore. Last year, Killgore was voted NWC Coach of the Year and was singled out as the West Region Men’s Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Returning for his 19th year, Killgore has confidence in his team and its chances for the NWC titles.

“We don’t really have any weak areas,” Killgore said. “I believe in the potential of people.”

One of the brightest hopes for Linfield will be the young returning runners who made their mark last year. Twin sophomore sensations Josh and Jeremy Lovell are looking to continue their dominance in the decathlon, while sophomore Shawn Fisher is coming into his own in the mid-distance events.

Seniors Harrison Wilson, Justin Brandt and Shawn Pollard will use their unbeatable conditioning to be an imposing presence in the long distance events; senior Scott Vanassche and junior Mat Strum will lead the sprinters; and senior Eric Snow will lift the team  in the hurdles. Vanassche, the NWC Athlete of the Year for 2007, is looking to defend his 100- and 200-meter NWC titles.

The women’s team is looking to improve its performance.  Despite losing Joanna Murphy to graduation in the long distance events, the women’s team still has veteran leaders as examples for a talented young group.

Senior Casey Stepan will continue to be a driving force for the women in the 1500-meter event as well in other distance events. She is currently fourth on Linfield’s all-time top-10 list.

Hurdles and heptathalon competitor junior Laura Sibley has high hopes for the women’s team.

“We are small—there’s no getting around that—but we are also a very talented group,” Sibley said. “It will be important for the women’s team to come together and realize the potential we have.”

Sibley is also joined by fellow runners, sophomores Tasha Tolzmann and Julia Scheele and junior Anna Lehman. Mid-distance events will be led by juniors Michelle Harteloo and Kate Franklin.

Linfield’s throwers are also a force to be reckoned with. Juniors Cecilia Speer and Rose Hollingsworth are both in the top-10 list of all-timers for Linfield in the hammer throw and javelin events, respectively.

“As a whole I think we are a stronger and more connected team,” senior Kreig Holland said. “Everyone on the team has a desire to be the best they can be in their events and to build on a legacy we started last year.”

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