Sarah on her marks for Indoor debut.

SPARTANS TRACK & FIELD TEAMS SET TO TAKE NEXT STEP

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Last year, the Trinity Western men’s and women’s track and field teams, particularly the women’s team, made a major splash on both the conference and national stages. This year – the fourth since the resurrection of the Spartans track and field program in 2010 – both teams are looking to prove that last year was just the start of things to come and take next their next leap forward on the track and in the field.

The Spartans will open their track and field season this weekend with part of the team travelling to Edmonton to compete in Alberta’s Golden Bear Open (Jan. 18-19) and part of the squad heading to Seattle for the University of Washington Indoor Preview (Jan. 18).
2014 SEASON PREVIEW

WOMEN
2012-13 Canada West Championships: 2nd
2012-13 CIS Championships: 6th
Last CW title: None
Last CIS title: None

Key additions: Sabrina Nettey, Sarah Inglis, Regan Yee
Key returnees: Alison Jackson, Emma Nuttall, Hazel Ross, Liza Whitehead
Key departures: Rebecca Marchant

The Spartans women’s team caught the nation’s attention last season when, in its third year competing at the CIS level, it finished second at the Canada West championships and sixth at the CIS championships. Topping those results will certainly be a challenge but with the vast majority of last year’s team returning, the squad looks primed for yet another successful season.

Trinity Western will once again be led by high jumper Emma Nuttall, who won Canada West gold and CIS silver last year, and middle distance runner Alison Jackson, who captured Canada West gold in the 3000m and silver in the 1500m. Returning athletes Hazel Ross (hurdles and long jump) and Liza Whitehead (sprints) will lead a bevy of Spartans women who will challenge for conference medals including the likes of Ayla Akehurst (triple jump and long), Fiona Benson (middle distance), Anastasia Pearse (sprints) and Ivonne Zuniga (pole vault).

While the Spartans will feel the effects of losing of CIS silver medal-winning pole vaulter Rebecca Marchant, the incoming trio of Sabrina Nettey (long jump, triple jump and sprints), Regan Yee (middle distance) and Sarah Inglis (middle distance) are expected to more than make up for the loss of Marchant.

All told, the Spartans are another year older and another year better. After last year’s impressive showing, especially at the conference championships, expectations are heightened entering this season. But if they maintain its current trajectory, there’s no reason to believe TWU’s women’s team can’t take another step forward.