2005-06 Track and Field Team Previews

MEN'S TEAM

The Binghamton men's track is coming off a program-best fourth-place finish at last season's America East Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. With the Bearcats' strengths coming in the sprints, jumps and throws, the goal for this season is to climb up into the top three at the conference meet in May.

"We are pretty evenly balanced in the sprints, jumps and throws this year," head coach Mike Thompson said. "Our goal is to finish in the top three at the conference meet but we have to stay healthy this season. We have been very pleased with how our freshmen have been doing but we are going to need them to keep improving if we are to reach our goal."

SPRINTS

Senior Joe Flucus is coming off an impressive junior campaign. He placed third in both the 100 and 200 at the outdoor conference meet and was eighth in the 400 at the indoor conference meet. Flucus holds the school record in the 200 (21.62).

"Joe is a tough competitor," Thompson said. "He always runs his best in the biggest meets of the year."

Freshman Jimmy Massar, who comes from nearby Johnson City, is the top newcomer in the sprint events. His top times are 10.8 in the 100, 22.15 in the 200 and 49.8 in the 400. His best distance in the long jump is 22-8.

"Jimmy is a strong and disciplined athlete who is capable of excelling in many different events," Thompson said. "He will make an immediate contribution to our team as a jumper and sprinter and should help improve both sprint relays as well."

Junior Sam DePaola is the other top returnee in the 400. A trio of freshmen (Geoff Campbell, Dan Walker and Junior Obionwu) have all been "very pleasant surprises" according to Thompson.

In the hurdle events, senior Adam Goldberg is coming off a second place finish in the 110 hurdles at the outdoor conference meet. He will be joined by graduate student Hasani Hampden and junior Rory Quiller.

"Adam could win both the 55 (indoor) and 110 hurdle events this year," Thompson said. "He is a very solid athlete who always steps it up in big meets."

Hampden is the top returnee in the 400 hurldes. He is attempting to become the third different Binghamton athlete in as many years to win the conference title. DePaola could also compete in this event.

"Hasani is another tough individual," Thompson said. "He is a very versatile athlete who will be counted on in several events for us."

JUMPS

Quiller continued to make history in the pole vault last season. He shattered the indoor conference record (17-6.5) and became the first Binghamton athlete to advance to the NCAA Division I Championships. Injuries slowed him during the outdoor season but he appears to have bounced back and is primed for another outstanding season.

"Rory had an amazing year," Thompson said. "He looks even better than he did early last season and if he stays healthy, he could establish himself as one of the top vaulters in the nation."

Graduate student Mike Ksionzyk, senior Ryan VanHalle and sophomore Kris Yelverton could also place at the conference meets in the pole vault.

In the high jump, Goldberg is coming off a first-place finish at the outdoor conference meet. He will be joined by graduate student Nick Tillman, who was fifth at the same meet, senior Luke Shafer and Hampden.

Hampden will also compete in the long jump while Massar is a possibility in the triple jump.

The heptathlon and decathlon could be two of Binghamton's other strong events. Hampden, Tillman, Shafer and Quiller could all score at the conference meet in the heptathlon while Tillman and Ksionzyk are options in the decathlon.

THROWS

Junior Kevin Hall, who won the indoor title in the shot put and was seventh in the outdoor meet in the hammer, leads a strong group of throwers. He will compete in the shot put, weight throw and hammer. Senior Paddy Hennessy, who was third in the indoor meet in the weight throw, will excel in the weight throw, hammer, shot put and discus. Sophomore Ben Babcock will be counted on in the hammer and discus while freshman Justin Halleck will compete in the shot put, weight throw and hammer.

"Our throwers are a tough group with a great work ethic," Thompson said. "They know how big of an impact they have on the team."

DISTANCE

Junior Prahlad Genung, who was sixth in the 3,000 steeplechase at last season's outdoor meet, is the top returnee. Junior Andrew Jezik is the top middle distance runner while freshmen Adam Hill and Ryan Shon will head the team in the long distance events.


WOMEN'S TEAM

Like the men's team, the Binghamton women's track and field team is coming off a fourth-place finish at the outdoor conference meet. With its strongest events coming in the sprints, distance and jumps, a top-three finish at the conference meet is also the goal for the women's squad.

"Our women's team should be in the top three this season but we can't afford to have many injuries," Thompson said. "We could shatter several school records and send our most people ever to the ECAC and NCAA Regional meets."

JUMPS

Sophomore Dayna Johnson, who won the conference outdoor meet in the long jump and was second in the triple jump, is the top returnee. She was also second in the triple jump at the conference indoor meet.

"Dayna had a great freshman year," Thompson said. "She is really focused this year to improve her performances even more in the long and triple jumps."

Sophomore Aja Phipps, who was fifth in the outdoor meet, is the top returnee in the high jump. Senior Jessica Nye and freshman Cassie Harris will compete in the long and triple jumps while freshman Marsha Fiesinger cleared 5-4 in the high jump in high school.

In the pole vault, sophomore Katie Wilmer and senior Jaime Stitt are the top returnees. Wilmer was fourth in the outdoor meet last season while Stitt placed sixth. Freshman Lindsay Pine is the top newcomer.

"Katie and Jaime will both have very good years," Thompson said. "They should be fighting for the conference championship."

SPRINTS

Freshman Kim Williams is set to make an immediate impact in the short sprints. Her top times are 12.52 in the 100 and 25.61 in the 200. At the 2004 New York State Championships, she was third in the 100 and fourth in the 200.

"Kim has unlimited potential," Thompson said. "She has a great work ethic and can run anything from the 55 up to the 400."

Johnson and Keisha Short placed fifth and sixth respectively in the 400 at the conference outdoor meet. Short was also third in the 400 at the indoor conference meet.

"Keisha had a breakthrough year, especially for a non-recruited freshman," Thompson said. "She knows what to expect this season."

Senior Nina Minasi will run the 55 and 100, sophomore Jessica Picha will compete in the 110 hurdles while Karisa Heisler is slated to run both the 400 and 400 hurdle events.

DISTANCE

Binghamton is deep in the 3,000 and 5,000 events. Seniors Stacy Kramer and Erica Angell placed fourth and fifth respectively in the 5,000 at the outdoor conference meet last season. Angell was also sixth in the 5,000 and seventh in the 3,000 at the indoor conference meet.

Freshman Katie Radzik, who will also compete in the 3,000 and 5,000, is coming off an outstanding cross country season. She was a team-best third at the America East Conference meet and earned All-Northeast Regional and All-ECAC honors in the final two meets of the season.

Senior Joy Romulus, who placed sixth in the 800 at the outdoor conference meet, and senior Kathryn Murnane, who will compete in the 1,500, are the teams other top distance runners.

"Joy has been running very well," Thompson said. "She is capable of breaking both the 400 and 800 school records."