Despite this winter’s freezing temperatures, the women’s track team has refused to cool down. Led by Aderonke Adeniyi, Jessica Dunston, Rachel Clinton and Erin Davis, Temple appears ready to perform well at this year’s Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) indoor championships, which will be held Feb. 21 at the University of Rhode Island.
Adeniyi, a graduate student, is the most experienced on the team. She was the Atlantic Ten Conference’s top indoor and outdoor sprinter last season, and has already earned a Performer of the Week award. Adeniyi qualified for the ECACs 200- and 400-meter dash at the Great Dane Classic in mid January.
“Basically, right now she’s the premier athlete in the Atlantic Ten conference, she’s the best,” coach George Phillips said. “And she’s doing all this with a sore back.”
Clinton (8.20) and Dunston (8.24), both juniors, each qualified for the ECAC in the 55-meter hurdles at the Bucknell Invitational Jan. 24, where the Owls placed fourth. Clinton and Dunston are the only A-10 players to qualify for the ECAC.
“For us, it’s good that [Clinton] is on our team,” Dunston said. “She’s number one, and we get to run against the number one runner. We can work with her and try to work as hard as her. She only makes us better.”
Davis, a freshman high jumper, was named the A-10 Rookie of the Week at the end of January. She jumped 5-feet, 7-inches, just reaching the ECAC minimum qualifying score. Davis also is the lone A-10 player to qualify in the high jump.
“At one point during her high school career, she was considered the No. 1 high jumper in America,” Phillips said.
Catching Up
This past Saturday at the John Covert Classic Campbell captured first place in the 60-meter hurdles and third in the 60-meter dash at Rauch Field House on the campus of Lehigh University. Campbell crossed the tape in 9.12 in the 60-meter hurdles and 8.15 in the 60-meter dash.
The Owls, using a split-squad also participated in the Penn State National Invitational at State College, Pa.
Some Owls also participated in the Penn State National Invitational where Clinton (8.84) and Dunston (8.89) placed 14th and 15th respectively out of a field of 44 competitors in the 60-meter hurdles.
The Owls will compete at the University of Delaware, Feb. 7-8.
David Cargan can be reached at ghostryter81@yahoo.com.
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