The Shippensburg University women’s track and field squad finished second at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Outdoor Championships for the second consecutive year last season. This season will feature a mix of some savvy veterans and talented newcomers. With this influx of new talent to complement the upperclassman, the women’s team should once again be a conference championship contender this year.

Jumps

With the graduation of five-time All-American Tunisia Lacy, the women’s jump program has large shoes to fill. Leading the way will be indoor school record holder and defending PSAC outdoor champion in the high jump, junior Monica Speca. Joining her in the high jump will be sophomore conference qualifier Casey Drummond and freshman Ashleigh Helfrick. Helfrick, the holder of six school records at James Buchanan High School, will be looked upon as a weapon in the multi-events. Freshman Leslie Serrano will also be a multi-event participant and long jumper for the Lady Raiders. Helfrick and Serrano were teammates this fall on the Shippensburg volleyball team.

The pole vaulters will be led by outdoor school record holder and PSAC placewinner, junior Stacey Wilcher. Returning in the vault will be sophomore conference qualifiers, Allison Jarkey and Kati Fisher and joining the squad will be Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state qualifier, freshman Christine Kihm. The vaulters are expected to be major contributors to the Lady Raiders.

The vertical jumps will be young and unproven. Senior Anna Mack returns from major knee surgery and may see limited action in the long jump. Also retuning from knee surgery is promising junior Jess Rucker. However, the jumpers will get a boost from freshman Amanda Spickler who was the Maryland 2A State Champion in the triple jump and finalist in the long jump.

Freshmen Shae Conrad and Karen Good will be looked upon to develop and thicken the jumps corps. Conrad was a PIAA District IV placewinner in both the high jump and triple jump.

Sprints

A solid sprint squad will be led by 55-meter defending PSAC indoor champion, senior Flo Yerokun. Yerokun should be considered a threat to win both the 55 and 100 meters at both the PSAC indoor and outdoor championship meets. Sophomore Megan Fogle placed fourth last year in the 400 meters at the PSAC Outdoor Championships and was a integral member of the 4x400-meter relay team that helped Shippensburg to a runner-up finish.

Junior Julie Riccardo will again add depth to all of the relays and will be looked upon to become a factor in the open races as well. Senior Dana Schmidt had a breakout season last year and will look to improve upon her great performances as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team.

PIAA state qualifier in the 100 meters, freshman Siobhan Richards will provide immediate help in the short sprint events. Also joining the sprint ranks will be talented freshmen Kristen McGoldrick, Alisa Murray and Erika Vanderstapppen.

Throws

After a year of heavy losses to graduation, the women’s throws squad will look to rebound and reload as one of the conference’s best. Junior Megan Schweigofer broke the school record last season in the indoor 20-pound weight throw and should be the backbone for the throwers. She is also a former PSAC qualifier and placewinner in the shot put and discus.

Also returning for the Lady Raiders will be former PSAC placewinner, senior Sonia Spriggs. New to the squad will be shot put PIAA District I qualifier and indoor state qualifier, freshman Kathryn Johnson. The javelin will sorely miss the loss of PSAC champion and two-time All-American Kelly Frick as well as Alyssa Kilgore, but the future looks bright with the addition of freshman PIAA state qualifier Ashley Starr.

Hurdles

Senior Anna Mack will lead a young and talented hurdle squad this year. A former NCAA provisional qualifier and All-PSAC hurdler, she comes into the season recovering from a knee injury and will be looked upon for leadership. Freshman Amanda Spickler was the Maryland 2A State Champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and should provide immediate help for the Lady Raiders.

Freshman Courtney Kostich, who qualified for the PIAA state championships in both the 100-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles, has shown a wealth of talent and should be a factor right away for Shippensburg. Freshman Siobhan Richards is not only a great short sprinter, but was also one of the best 300-meter intermediate hurdlers in the PIAA last year.

Multi-talented freshman Tina Grussenmeyer was also a PIAA state championships qualifier in the 100-meter high hurdles and may be considered for the multi-events. Coming off of a knee injury which sidelined her senior year, freshman Denai Thomson should be one to watch. She was a two-time PIAA state qualifier in the 100-meter high hurdles.

Distance/Mid-Distance

Several upperclassman will headline this mix of veteran and freshman faces. Senior Lindsey Incorvati was the runner-up in the 800 meter dash at the PSAC Outdoor Championships last year and a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that also garnered runner-up honors. Senior Lindsey Govern, a perennial conference placewinner, who qualified for the 2005 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships this fall, returns as Shippensburg's top distance runner.

Junior Christina Welker continues to make marked improvement every season and should be a factor in the open events this year. Sophomore Bridget Danner returns as the Lady Raiders' top steeplechaser and will be looked upon to move up the PSAC ranks to become a factor. Also returning are sophomores Christina Herman and Michelle Uhl.

Joining the teams will be freshmen Carly Devine, a PIAA state qualifier, Bridget Boudwin, Becky Fowler, Christina Goss, Alicia Van Cot as well as sophomore Lindsay Zerance. Another name to watch for will be freshman Allison Rineer who completed her first year of competitive running this fall for the cross country squad with several strong performances including six top-10 finishes with five in the top-5.