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Wyatt
Todd Drexler

Men's Track and Field

OUT OF THE BLOCKS: RU TRACK & FIELD BEGINS INDOOR SEASON AT LIBERTY KICKOFF

LIVE STATS  |  MEET SCHEDULE

RADFORD, Va. – For the fifth straight year, the Radford track and field teams will get their indoor season underway at the Liberty Kickoff, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the Tolsma Indoor Track Center in Lynchburg, Va.
 
The men are looking to continue their success established at last season's Big South Indoor Championships where the squad finished second, while the women strive to improve upon their ninth-place showing. Last February, Radford tallied seven all-conference performers and broke five school records.
 
At this event last year, the Highlanders posted 14 Top-5 finishes, highlighted by Joseph Betts' victory in the 200m and Caroline Ratterree's runner-up showing in the mile.
 
SPRINTS / RELAYS
Athletes to Watch… Senior Kaise White leads the men's side in this group. An all-conference selection in the 400m and the 4x400m, White won four 400m races last season.
 
Also returning is Betts, as he looks to continue his success at the 200m. Betts owns the third and fourth fastest 200m times in program history (both were set at the Big South Indoor Championships).
 
Senior Kayla Christian, who posted two Top-10 performances (60m – 7.99 | 200m – 26.84) at the Liberty Kickoff last year, and junior Lakei Crews, will be relied upon to lead the women's side. Crews has the third-sixth fastest times in the 60m, with her PR 7.71 coming at the VT Challenge.
 
Coach White on Sprints / Relays… “We have an outstanding returning group led by Kaise and Joseph on the men's side. Kayla and Lakei, who both broke numerous personal bests last year, will anchor the sprints group on the women's side. I look forward to seeing the success both groups established last indoor season carry into this one.”
 
HURDLES
Athletes to Watch… Despite the loss of Brett Olinger, a four-time indoor all-conference selection, Radford will have a strong presence in this area thanks to the return of Vincent Wyatt. An all-conference performer in the 60m hurdles, Wyatt holds seven of the Top-8 times in this event in the program's record books. His best time of 7.95 came at the Akron Invitational.
 
On the women's side, Amber Church and Courtni Pannell will be the leaders. Through two seasons, the duo combines for nine of the Top-10 marks in 60m hurdles program history, with each holding the school record at one point during their respective careers.
 
Coach White on Hurdles… “I can't say enough about Vincent, Amber and Courtni. They are three phenomenal athletes and continue to rewrite our record books. We expect great things out of this group.”
 
MIDDLE DISTANCE
Athletes to Watch… Eric Graves (men) and Maggie Wissler (women) lead the Highlanders' middle distance contingent. Graves posted an indoor personal-best 1:56.43 in the prelims of the Big South Indoor Championships and finished sixth in the finals of the 800m. Wissler finished fourth in the 800m (2:24.79) at the Liberty Kickoff last year.
 
Coach White on Middle Distance…“The middle distance group isn't real deep, but we have a ton of talent with the athletes we have in place. I think the potential is there for Eric and Maggie to have breakout seasons. I feel like both could be sleepers in the conference.”
 
DISTANCE
Athletes to Watch… Ryan Farnan is coming off a strong cross country season and looks to carry that momentum into the indoor season. Farnan established a personal-best 25:55.07 mark (8k) at the Charlotte Invitational. Be on the lookout for Chris Weeks, who finished third in the mile at the Liberty Kickoff last season with a time of 4:27.44.
 
Missing last season due to injury, Teresa Williamson looks to lead the women in distance events. She had a brilliant start to her career in the fall of last year, quickly becoming one of the top runners for Radford women's cross country as a freshman.
 
Coach Bossman on Distance… “I look forward to the upcoming track season for the distance group as we carry the momentum gained from cross country into the indoor season. The group as a whole continues to get better each day as we strive to improve upon the results from last season.
 
THROWS
Athletes to Watch… Coming off three runner-up performances in the weight throw last indoor season, Curtis Hodge will lead the men's side of the throws. Hodge recorded a season-best toss of 18.37m at the Big South Indoor Championships to finish fourth. At the Akron Invitational, Hodge posted an 18.12m mark to earn a second-place showing. He also finished runner-up at the VT Challenge (17.77m) and the Liberty Open (17.56m).
 
Keep an eye on Desi Simmons on the women's side as she is coming off a successful outdoor season, posting five Top-10 performances in throwing events. Simmons finished 13th in the shot put at last season's Big South Indoor Championships.
 
Coach Chumbley on Throws… “Without a doubt, this is the best Fall Semester we have ever had at Radford as a group. The returning athletes have worked incredibly hard in the weight room and in the ring. We still have a lot of technical problems to fix, but that is a process that takes time and lots of reps in the ring. If we can get (and keep) everyone healthy, it will be an exciting year for the throwers. I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication they have shown thus far!”
 
JUMPS / MULTI'S
Athletes to Watch… An indoor all-conference performer in the high jump, Travis Hudson leads the returning contingent for jumping events. Hudson claimed two titles in his first year at Radford, winning the Highlander Invitational (outdoor) with a 1.95m mark in the high jump and the VT Challenge (indoor) with a career-best 2.05m height.
 
Chris Henry spearheads the long jump efforts. He recorded a sixth-place showing at the Big South Indoor Championships with a season-best mark of 6.89m.
 
The women will feature Jamiecka Baker, who finished sixth in the triple jump with an 11.21m effort at the Liberty Kickoff last year. She went on to post a career-best 11.31m performance in the same event at the Big South Indoor Championships.
 
Newcomer Lora Wilson will be another individual to stay on the lookout for. Wilson prepped at George Washington High School in Danville, Va., where she won district and region titles in the triple and long jump for the Eagles.
 
Coach Tobler on Jumps / Multi's… “They all are working harder than they have ever before and adjusting to my coaching techniques / philosophy. With proper execution, all the jumpers can contribute greatly to the team this year!”
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