BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's indoor track and field team is looking to maintain its winning tradition as the squad looks to capture its eighth consecutive Landmark Conference Indoor title. The women's team brings back 28 returners this winter, 10 of which competed at last year's ECAC Division III Indoor Championships.
After earning a first-place finish and Co-Field Athlete of the Year sophomore Lauren Suelke plans to return right where she left off and help lead her team to another conference title along with fellow sophomore Casey Raymond and junior Christelle Reglas. Senior Dana Fineman and sophomore Kiara Bright along with freshman newcomers will round out the jumpers and pole vaulters.
Fourth year Head Coach Jesse Baumann is impressed with where is team is at and is excited for the potential of what they bring to the table. "Our women's jumps are very strong with depth in every jumping event," commented Baumann. "We have the potential to qualify up to six female horizontal jumpers to ECACs.
"Christelle Reglas and Melissa Cheong in long jump and Kiara Bright in the triple jump are the leaders of this strong group and we are very excited to see what they are capable of accomplishing this year," Baumann continued. "We have already seen some big improvements and we are excited for the competition season. Freshmen Melissa Cheong and Casie Cronk jumped 5'2" in high school and will also be very competitive this year."
Seniors Brianna Wright, Morgan Redmond and Brielle Sutter with Reglas bring experience and drive to place higher in the top 10 at ECACs this season after placing 10th last year in the 4x200 relay in 1:45.68 which also earned them a place in the school history book. Junior Corinne Glass is back to full form after battling injuries last season after claiming top honors her freshman year.
"Corinne Glass appears to be reaching the potential we always saw in her," stated Baumann. "She's ready for a huge breakout, and Brielle Sutter and Morgan Redmond are looking better than ever, especially Morgan in the hurdles who has dramatically improved her mechanics the past six months. Brianna Wright should be pushing for NCAAs this year in the short sprints, and we have a lot more depth to compliment these runners."
Senior Emily Lambright is coming off a stellar cross country season earning spots on the Landmark Conference First Team as well as All-Region honors. Sophomore Meg Brockett and freshman Jillian Troisi will be looking to help after earning Second Team honors. Troisi also earned Freshman All-Region honors this fall.
"Meg Brockett, Emily Lambright, and Jillian Troisi were improving exponentially at the end of cross country," commented Baumann. "So I think they'll do really well in the 3k/5k indoors. Claire Del Casale, Devon Bedell, and Meredith Colton are healthy after injuries that set them back the last half of cross, so they're ready to go as well. Sarah Hughes is also in the best shape of her life, so I'm expecting big improvements in the middle distances from her."
Senior Jenny Kratch and sophomore Jackie Finnegan return to the lineup to lead the throwers. Kratch embarks on her final season with the Greyhounds and will be in the hunt to return to ECAC after a successful spring when she posted a 11.71 meters (38 feet, five inches) in shot put, and a mark of 46.62 meters (152 feet, 11 inches) in the hammer throw.
"Although we've had talent in these events in the past, we've lacked depth which will change this year," says Baumann. "The additions of some javelin throwers and some talented freshmen shot putters will really solidify this group. Jenny Kratch is stronger than ever so ECACs are a bare minimum expectation for her in a number of events this year. Freshman Ciara Stewart could also push to make ECACs in the shot put."
The Hounds open their winter indoor season at Lehigh University's Fast Times Before Finals meet in Rauch Fieldhouse on Friday, December 5 with the pole vaulters and Saturday, December 6 for the rest of the squad.
