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Show MONDAY, MARCH UNIVERSITY JOURNAL SPORTS 11, 2002 PAGE 11 » TRACK AND FIELD ’‘Birds open season Saturday BY MARK JONES SPORTS EDITOR The SUU track and field team opens its 2002 outdoor season Saturday in dual meets as the men will compete at the Long Beach Invitational, in Long Beach, Calif., and the women will open at the UNLV Rebel Invitational in Las Vegas. The 'Birds are coming off a second-place finish at the MidCon indoor championships, Feb. 22-23. “It’s nice to know that going into a championship your team is going to give it their all,” said coach Eric Houle. SUU finished behind Oral Roberts in both the men and women’s competition. The Golden Eagles figure to be the team to beat in the outdoor season. “Oral Roberts won the indoor title so convincingly, that they are clearly the team to beat,” Houle said. ORU won the championship going away as it won the men’s championship by 85 points over second-place SUU (214-129). They won the women’s championship by 57 points over the 'Birds (207-150). However, if ORU is to be upset during the outdoor season, the trick could be pulled off by the 'Birds. “Us and Western Illinois provide the best opportunity for someone to beat Oral Roberts,” Houle said. “We will bring in some more players for the outdoor season that could help us get more points.” If the ’*Birds have any hopes of upending the Golden Eagles they will have to rely heavily on the five exclusive outdoor events, which saw SUU set several records in last year. The steeplechase is an event that the 'Birds have fared well in recently. On the men’s side, five of the top nine school records in the event have been set in the last four years, Zak James set the third highest mark in the event last year with a mark of 9:11.17. On the women'’s side, the top four records in the event were set last season led by Mary Ann Schauerhamer’s best 10:47.39. The 10,000-meters is another event that SUU figures to fare well in. On the women'’s side, two of the top four marks in school history were set last season. Robyn Adams set the second-best matk with a time of 37:26.17 and Jandee Anderson recorded the fourth fastest time in SUU history with a mark of 38:13.43. On the men’s side, Curtis Moore set the second-best mark last year with a time of 29:35.54. The javelin is an event which has not had a school record Football schedule Six home games, a matchup with defending national champion Montana and a pair of games against Division I-A opponents highlight the 2002 Southern Utah University football schedule. Southern Utah opens the season Sept. 7 with a home game against Division II Mesa State, then hits the road for its first Division I opponent of the season, Troy State, Sept. 14. The Thunderbirds then return home to face Eastern Washington of the Big Sky Conference, Sept. 21, before returning to the T Wm::lomgba mes nst teams ! from the Southlamd ggh%grencgggjouthwest Texas State (Sept. 28) and Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 5). Following the game at Stephen F. Austin the Thunderbirds return home to host Cal Poly on Oct. 12, then hit the road again for defending national champion Montana (Oct. 19). SUU hosts St. Mary’s Oct. 26 and plays at Division [ Arkansas State Nov. 2 before returning home for a bye week and the final two games of the regular season, both at home, against Western Illinois (Nov. 16) and Idaho State (Nov. 23). The 'Birds lost to Mesa State during the 2001 season at Eccles Coliseum, 13-10 and lost a road game at St. Mary’s 28-21. They also played tough at Division I Troy State, but lost broken on the women’s side since 1999. Kyle Rowley set the second best mark in the event on the men’s side during the 2000 season with a throw of 220-0 1/4. The discus was another event that SUU enjoyed success in a season ago. Anna Bullock set the school record with a mark of 160-8. Also last year, Kassandra Harrell set the third-best mark in school history with a throw of 145-4. Troy Ford set the seventh-best mark on the men’s side last season, with a mark of 142-4. The combination of Marques Rose, Robert Crow, James Wood and Austin Beardall set the men’s fifth fastest time in the 4x100 meter relay with a mark of 42.07. Those events could offset the weaknesses, which is a growing concern for Houle. “Our true weakness is the jumping events,” he said. “We're not as strong in the jumps as we could be.” The weakness could also be nullified by the number of national qualifiers the team has. “James, Moore, Rose, Rowley, Ford and Ransom Minyard are our national qualifiers,” Houle said. “Natalie Quilter, Alisha Bezanson, Shalene Finlinson and Bonnie Bradley will be major contributors.” Having to compete in two seasons in such a short period of time, the conditioning of the athletes could determine how successful SUU is in the outdoor season. “Conditioning is is crucial,” Houle said. “It’s our playbook. it provides us a reason and rhythm for giving our athletes a rest when we do. If you overload the athletes, then it's going to make a difference in how they compete.” Houle says that the key to not overloading the athletes is simple. “You have to give them rest and not beat them up,” he said. Figuring out what conditioning program is best, is not as simple as it seems. “There are different conditioning programs,” Houle said. “It's a matter of science you have to work, til you find something that works.” g : e 12 For SUU, the key meet will be April 18-21 when the 'Birds participate in three different meets, the Mt.SAC Relays (April 18), Pomona-Pitzer Invitational (April 19) and Long Beach Invitational (April 20). “There are two things we want to try and do that weekend,” Houle said. “One, we have the potential to qualify for nationals. Secondly, the meets will give us a look at what conference will be like.” announced 20-17. However, in its last trip to Montana, Brooklee Bateman (left) set the fifth longest mark in school history in the long jump last year with a mark of 16-21/2. Kandice Eardley (right) posted a 9.51 mark in the 60-meter dash in the indoor regular season finale at Northern Arizona, Feb. 9. Both figure to play a vital role in the outdoor season for the 'Birds. Gymnasts go 1-1 on trip SUU opened the 1998 season with a win oyer The SUU gymnastics team posted a 39.000 or better score Wednesday night as the Grizzlies, 45-35. Southern Utah's women’s gymnastics team 195.275, its second-highest score of the year, “This is a good schedule for us, a tough topped Boise State, 195.300-194.895. The to finish third against #17 Arizona State and schedule but a good one,” SUU Coach C. Ray SUU team score was a school record-tying host Utah State Saturday night in Logan. ASU Gregory said. “We go to some tough places: season-high. finished first with a 196.100 while USU was Troy, Alabama; Missoula, Montana; Jonesboro, Geronimo finished with a 39.025 to finish second with a season-high 195.425. Arkansas; and to the Texas schools, but those second to BSU’s Jamie Johns in the allTalayna Fortunato scored a career-high are places where if you win you also earn around with SUU’s Talayna Fortunato 39.100 in the all-around while Carly respect. It's also nice to have six home games, finishing third at 38.975. Geronimo conttibuted a 39 or better for the for our players and for our fans, and we have The Thunderbirds tied or bettered six fourth straight meet to lead SUU. Geronimo some quality opponents coming in this ye § g . finished with a 39,000, after a 39,025 at., . . individual career-bests and five more ({The;six home umes, f ¢ Thu individual season-high scores. As a team qus;: StateWednesday and a pair of 39.050s ks will allow thgl Ig'lafis to g(aél.gt:?lo%k at the fu 5"{*2m SUU tied the school beam record at 48.925 last week, Fortunato and Geronimo finished of the program, the 23 players that signed second and third behind USU’s Jessenia and posted season-high scores on bars letters of intent to play football at SUU (48.825), and floor Abrego (39.225) in the allstarting in the fall. (49.200). around. The 23 newcomers will provide the 'Birds Geronimo had a careerSUU posted schoolwith some balance. The recruits include: six best 9.825 on floor while records on vault and beam. | offensive lineman, five running backs, three Bauer had a career-high Four gymnasts notched defensive backs, three wide receivers, two and Crosby tied her career-bests on vault as the quarterbacks, two defensive lineman and two career-best with scores of ’Birds finished with a linebackers. 48.825 to better the | 9.875 on the same event. Eighteen of the recruits are former Utah Bauer also notched a 48,700 posted against BYU | prep athletes. Three others are from Nevada, career-best on beam with in 1997. Two more one each from California and Virginia. individual-bests were hit as 2 9.750 while Charlotte The 'Birds’ first chance to rebound from a Scott tied her career-high the team added a 48.950 disappointing 2-9 season a year ago will be on beam to finish first in _on beam at 9.850. April 1 when spring ball begins. Season-bests came from the event. Geisler, Overstreet, Jayme Harmony Greene and Morgan and Erica Burk. Sandi Crosby each had Morgan had three with a career-high 9.800s on vault 38.700 in the all-around, a while Molly Bauer tied This weekend'’s series concluded a six-game 9.750 on bars and a hers with the same score road trip for the 'Birds. Last weekend, SUU E season-high-tying 9.775 and Fortunato had a was outscored 34-9 by San Diego State in 4l & on floor while Burk had a personal watermark 9.775. " being swept in the three-game series. On beam Sarah Geisler put 112 9.875 on bars, Overstreet The 'Birds only home games of the season up a career-high 9.825 o had a 9.675 on bars and came against the Utes in St. George. while Bauer tied her best 2 i 5 Geisler notched a 9.850 Baseball loses two to Utes The SUU baseball team headed to Salt Lake City this weekend for a three-game series againt the University of Utah, but because of snow, games Friday and Saturday were postponed, the teams were forced to play a doubleheader Sunday. The "Birds were swept in the doubleheader losing 16-7 in the opener and 22-1 in the nightcap. The Utes scored seven runs in the eight Next up for SUU is a six-game homestand in Cedar City, which will last two weeks. The with 2 9.675. E on floor. SUU also had its second- Scott tied for first on ‘Birds will play Division Il Mesa State this weekend. SUU will host in-state rival BYU best bars night of the season with a 48.700 and Sandi Crosby scored a careerhigh on vault with a mark of 9.8 Rick White took the loss as he pitched 4.2 homestand March 26-27 when the Air Force 48.800 on floor. Fortunato innings allowing nine runs on nine hits. Academy comes to Cedar City. SUU’s next road game will be April 10 when it visits UNLV. The 'Birds open the Mid-Con play on April finished third in the three-team at Utah State. notched another careerbest on bars with a 9.775 while Cayce Overstreet had a season-high inning of the opener to break the game open. White falls to 0-4 on the season. In the nightcap, the Utes scored in every inning, but the sixth to rout the 'Bird. Shane Perkins pitched two innings for the 'Birds. He allowed seven runs on eight hits as he falls to 0-5 on the season. This weekend’s series was the Utes’ first home games of the season. Utah, 10-8 on the seasotl; has played the likes of Washington and Arizona. March 18-19 and will conclude the 20 at Oakland. On the season, the 'Birds are led in hitting by Jake Reynolds, who is batting .317. Reynolds has 20 hits on the season, including one home run, seven RBI and 12 runs scored. In the doubleheader on Sunday, Reynolds went 2-for 10 with one run scored. finished with a solid 9.725. “We hit for the second straight night on . beam and had our best night of the year on vault,” SUU Coach Scott Bauman said. “Everybody contributed for the third straight meet and that's exactly what we need.” Geronimo notched her third straight E%rsen puts hard work into game After high school, L:u'sen played basketball for two years at Linn-Benton College, a junior college in Albany, Ore. After JOURNAL STAFF WRITER finishing at Linn-Benton College, she researched schools and looked at her scholarship options to decide where she would Bvieliarsen, a junior communication major from Twin Falls, continue playing basketball. Idaho) puts a lot of hard work and dedication into playing T was really lucky to land the opportunity to basketball for the SUU women’s basketball team play at SUU,” she said. “This was a division one and balancing a busy school schedule. program that I really wanted to be a part of.” Larsen said that basketball has been a part of Latsen red-shirted for one year after. her life for as long as she can remember. transferring to SUU so she could practice with “I remember watching my dad play in city the team and improve her skills without losing a leagues, and then my sister also eventually year of eligibility. This year is the six-foot, threefollowed in the family footsteps,” she said. inch centet’s first year practicing and playing ‘Larsen said she started practicing basketball in in games with the team. elementary school, then began playing in organized She said she loves basketball and is a big fan games'and leagues in middle and high school. of Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. Tatly in her high school career she had to have “I love Tim Duncan and my room is like a hip surgery, and was told that she might never shrine to him,” she said. regain enough flexibility and growth in her left leg Evie Larsen Larsen also enjoys movies, shopping, music to contifiue playing basketball competitively. But, she and playing tennis.” horse,” she said. “I stayed in the cabin a regained most of her flexibility back through physical Iot... I would rather go to the mall or 2 movie [than go therapy. camping].” “Basketball is a big part of my identity, so I'm grateful things During the 2001 02 season Larsen averaged 1.3 points, .7 worked out so that I was able to continue to play at the rebounds and played in 19 games for the Lady 'Birds. college level,” she said. BY MANDIE YATES st Saturday night as the 'Birds eam Burk finished in a e o1 second on bars, Bauer and Crosby tied for second on floor and Fortunato (9.725) and Crosby (9.700) placed second and third on vault. “We had a great meet, the kind of meet I've been saying we are capable of all year,” Bauman said. “Coming into this meet we had counted a fall or more every night but tonight we were 24-for-24.” SUU will host Utah State Wednesday night in the Centrum Arena at 7 p.m. BIRD WATCH B SOCCER: The SUU M GOLF: The SUU golf women’s soccer team will offer open campus tryouts for currently enrolled students March 18-19 at the Thunderbird Soccer Field. Anyone interested should contact coach team is coming off a Brian Stock at 865-8513. The *Birds will be in action March 18-19 at the San Diego Invitational, W SOFTBALL: The Lady, = "Birds are 10-12 on the season and will be in action on Saturday at BYU. The Cougars defeated the SUU earlier in the season at the Thunderbird Canyon Park Classic, 10-1. SUU is coming off a 1-3 showing at the Red Desert Classic, March 1-2. ninth-place finish at the Herb Wemberley in Las Cruces, N.M. The tournament was won by Wichita State with a team combined total of 8606. B TENNIS: The SUU tennis team got the season under way this weekend with matches against Chicago State and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Due to inclement weather a match against Bradley was canceled. |