Track season opens Saturday
 By
Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer
Optimistic realism. So simple a phrase to describe
the outlook of a season, yet one used by Purdue men's indoor track head
coach Mike Poehlein.
His team opens the 2001 campaign with the Purdue
Open at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lambert Fieldhouse.
"We want to use this meet and others to put the
pieces together for our puzzle and we know that we maybe will have one
of the two, three or four best track teams Purdue has ever had,"
said Poehlein.
Sophomore Shaun Guice finished in the top-10 in
the high jump at last year's NCAA Indoor National Championships. Guice
already has his sights set once again on the National Championships.
"I want to qualify automatically," said Guice.
A jump of 7-4 1/2 would send him to Fayetteville,
Ark., in March. Guice's personal best is a jump of 7-3 3/4.
Guice and junior Ryan Fitzpatric finished 1-2 in
the Big Ten Championships last year, respectfully. "We create an atmosphere
that demands high standards," said Guice.
And the training in practice is friendly and healthy,
according to Guice. The focus in practice has been on consistency. "High
jump is the most inconsistent event in the world," said Guice.
Another strong event is the 400m with senior captain
Markus Williams. Poehlein said Williams "could very well be an All-American
in the 400m."
The triple jump features sophomore Amukela Gwebu.
"He could be the heir apparent to the throne in the triple jump if he
takes care of business," Poehlein said.
Gwebu ended last year qualifying for the NCAA indoor
tourney. Assistant coach Lissa Olson said she hopes Gwebu "takes off
from where he left off and not have to start his way back up."
Purdue also has freshman Daniel Harris, who in
high school was ranked fourth in the country in the triple jump.
In the short sprints and hurdles, sophomore Prentice
Stovall leads the way. Olson said, "He pretty much carried the load
last year by himself."
However, Olson also said she thinks senior Chris
Clopton will be able to push Stovall every day.
Senior Chris Brown will be back throwing, senior
Chance Ruiz continues in the 600 m (he holds the Purdue all-time record
in the 600 m) and senior Donnie Fellows will run distance. Poehlein
said Fellows is "ready to go and be at the very, very national level."
|
