The indoor track and field teams opened up their seasons with a new look. A full roster, new coaches and a new swagger highlight the revamped teams.The Owls began their seasons Friday at the Jack Pyrah Invitational in Haverford, Pa., and they were led by some of their youngestcompetitors. Three athletes – all underclassmen – won their respective events. Team scoring was not kept.”We did real well,” coach Stefanie Scalessa said. “The team looked strong, very competitive.”Youth is the word for the men’s and women’s track teams this year. Both teams have only one senior. Of the 73 athletes comprising the teams’ rosters, 55 are either freshmen or sophomores.The numbers give the Owls an advantagethey previously did not have. Because they have a full roster this season, the Owls can compete in every event, Scalessa said.”It’s been a goal for a while,” Scalessa said. “They are not just representing, but competing.”If Friday’s performances were any indication, it doesn’t seem the Owls will struggle in the absence of upperclassmen.Amanda Cole started the season in record fashion. The sophomore set a new school record in weight throw, posting a distance of 45′ 8.” Cole also finished fourth in shot put with a heave of 11.88 meters.”I was just looking to go out there and do my best,” Cole said, who added that because of her hard work, “[I] knew I had the potential to do what I did.”Freshman Brittney McRae topped the long jumpers with a leap of 5.46m. Her 8.55 second finish in the 55m hurdles placed second.Sophomore Joshua Louis’ 1.93m jump topped the competition in the high jump field while his 7.84s finish in the 55m hurdles was good for second.Freshmen Ryan Randall and Kyle Hitchcockfinished second and third, respectively, behind Louis in the high jump.Sophomore Bryce Buffaloe finished second in the weight throw and sophomore Reava Potter finished third in the triple jump.Cole said the underclassmen are ready to contribute.”Even though the team is young, they have a lot of potential,” Cole said. “A lot of people stepped up to the plate.”Scalessa said the leadership of seniors Tynisha Gardner and Dave D’Addario has rubbed off on the underclassmen.”Dave is doing a good job; he brought the team through cross country,” Scalessa said. “Tynisha’s been here longer than I have.”Scalessa said she knows the team is still far away from an A-10 Championship but is still very encouraged with the team’s progress.”We want to move up in the A-10 and score more points in more areas,” she said.Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.
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