Even after an exhausting cross-country season, head coach Jon Bell keeps his momentum as he shifts his focus to the Saint Louis University track team.
The team opens their indoor track season in Carbondale, Ill., on Saturday, Dec. 8. The teams many key contributors from last season return this season.
“It’s always a little bit nerve-wracking leading up to the first meet because you haven’t raced, jumped or thrown in a while and want to start out at a good place,” junior Allison Walter said.
On the women’s side, Margo Richardson and Naya Owusu return to the track team for their junior season on the team.
Richardson qualified last season for the NCAA preliminary rounds in the 1,500-meter and the 5,000-meter. Owusu returns, after claiming the women’s high jump Atlantic 10 Conference title.
Another key returner is Walter, who qualified for the A-10 finals in the 400-meter last season. Walter was a part of the academic all-conference team last season.
Though the women’s side returns with many key contributors from last year, Brittney Cloudy, their most decorated athlete from last season, graduated.
Cloudy claimed eight A-10 titles during her illustrious track career. She was named A-10 Field Performer of the Year last season.
On the men’s side, one of the key returners is Sean Canavin. Canavin advanced to the 800-meter A-10 Conference finals last year.
Michael Scolarici and Tim Zellmer also return this season, looking to follow up on their success from the cross-country season.
Scolarici and Zellmer look to translate their success from the cross-country team to the track team.
Zellmer finished 12th in the 8K in the A-10 championship for cross-country, while Scolarici finished 15th.
The men’s team is without Dahmar Smiles and Brian Holdmeyer this year. Smiles qualified for the NCAA West preliminaries in the 110-meter hurdles last season. Holdmeyer had all-conference honors, finishing second in the 10,000-meter race last track and field season.
“I know a lot of us are really looking forward to the first meet,” Walter said. “I think this season is going to be exceptional. We have so much fun together, I don’t see how this season could be anything but great.”
The team has many returning runners and seems to be ready for the upcoming indoor track and field season.
