Spring Break
Women's track, field prepares to 'sneak up' on competition to surpass projected third place finish
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Sports
12/03/08 - The University of Rhode Island women's track and field team looks to improve upon last year's third place finish this season.
In the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll, the Rams are projected to finish third in the conference.
"We are definitely going to sneak up on teams," freshman Emily Zaccardi said. "We have a lot of talent that people don't know about."
Returning for the Rams is senior high-jumper and hurdler TyLynn Graham, who finished last year with First Team All-Conference honors. Also returning is junior high-jumper Shayna Daugherty.
Graham and Daugherty finished in first and second place respectively at the Atlantic 10 Championships, both with leaps of 5-07 (Graham won the tie-breaker).
Senior Khabria Hundley, who finished eighth at the A-10 Championships in the 200-meter dash, will be returning for one final year.
Senior Amy Krajewski finished fourth at the A-10 Championships in the 800-meter run and will join the team for her last season.
The Rams will retain three out of their four runners of the 4X400 relay team. They will also have all four members of the 4X800 relay team back again this season.
All-conference thrower Jasmine Jennings also hopes to continue her successful career as a Ram this season.
Ten seniors graduated from the 2007-2008 team, including First Team All-Conference thrower Sarah Thornton.
Replacing the seniors are Zaccardi, Chelsea Jubrey, Alexis Capozzi and Kalyn Sheehan.
Zaccardi, a long distance runner, enjoyed success during the cross country season. She was named Atlantic 10 Women's Cross-Country Rookie of the Week twice in a row, and helped lead the team to a 28th place finish at the 2008 NCAA Northeast Regional Championship.
Sheehan is a middle-distance runner, sprinter and hurdler. The Ireland native has been running since she was 6 years old.
"The returning seniors are very set on winning the whole thing," Zaccardi said. "They have really motivated everyone with their leadership."
The Rams will begin their season Friday when they host the URI Pentathlon, which is a five-event meet.
The first meet of the season will be the Brown University Invitational located in Providence.
"I feel like we have a good shot to have a very successful season," Jubrey said.
In the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll, the Rams are projected to finish third in the conference.
"We are definitely going to sneak up on teams," freshman Emily Zaccardi said. "We have a lot of talent that people don't know about."
Returning for the Rams is senior high-jumper and hurdler TyLynn Graham, who finished last year with First Team All-Conference honors. Also returning is junior high-jumper Shayna Daugherty.
Graham and Daugherty finished in first and second place respectively at the Atlantic 10 Championships, both with leaps of 5-07 (Graham won the tie-breaker).
Senior Khabria Hundley, who finished eighth at the A-10 Championships in the 200-meter dash, will be returning for one final year.
Senior Amy Krajewski finished fourth at the A-10 Championships in the 800-meter run and will join the team for her last season.
The Rams will retain three out of their four runners of the 4X400 relay team. They will also have all four members of the 4X800 relay team back again this season.
All-conference thrower Jasmine Jennings also hopes to continue her successful career as a Ram this season.
Ten seniors graduated from the 2007-2008 team, including First Team All-Conference thrower Sarah Thornton.
Replacing the seniors are Zaccardi, Chelsea Jubrey, Alexis Capozzi and Kalyn Sheehan.
Zaccardi, a long distance runner, enjoyed success during the cross country season. She was named Atlantic 10 Women's Cross-Country Rookie of the Week twice in a row, and helped lead the team to a 28th place finish at the 2008 NCAA Northeast Regional Championship.
Sheehan is a middle-distance runner, sprinter and hurdler. The Ireland native has been running since she was 6 years old.
"The returning seniors are very set on winning the whole thing," Zaccardi said. "They have really motivated everyone with their leadership."
The Rams will begin their season Friday when they host the URI Pentathlon, which is a five-event meet.
The first meet of the season will be the Brown University Invitational located in Providence.
"I feel like we have a good shot to have a very successful season," Jubrey said.
