CLARKSVILLE - Austin Peay State University
women's track and field team will be looking to replace a pair of outstanding
field athletes when it opens the indoor track and field season at the Saluki
Fast Start, hosted by Southern Illinois, beginning with the women's pole vault
at 11:30 a.m., Friday, in at the SIU Rec Center.
The event will consist of 23 teams, including
Big East teams Louisville and South Florida, along with Belmont and Division II
power Lincoln (Mo.).
The Lady Govs will be taking a small group
made up mostly of sprinters and jumpers. Head coach Doug Molnar hopes to use
this opportunity to compete as a measuring stick of the team's fall training program.
Understandably, Austin Peay will be looking to replace OVC Champion vaulters
Carrie Burggraf and Molly Bartkieweicz, as well as standout sprinter and
hurdler Amanda McCoy.
"We lost three key seniors," Molnar said, "but
we have a very strong freshman class and some outstanding returnees. This meet
will give us a chance to see how our fall program went. This group has worked
very hard this fall and this will give us an idea of where we need to go as we
head into the break."
Leading the Lady Govs will be senior sprinter
Chiamaka Obi, the school-record holder in the 400-meter dash, set at the 2010
Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships. Obi headlines a group of five
senior sprinters. Sophomore Leigha Tolliver, the defending OVC Indoor Freshman
of the Year, will look to continue her dominance in the hurdles, where she led
the team with 13 top-10 finishes.
"Chimaka will lead a very strong sprint group
for us," Molnar said. "Leigha will be back in the hurdles and jumps along with
Cenitra Hudson, who had a very strong fall in the long and triple jumps."
Austin Peay is opening its indoor season with
two pre-Christmas events; the Saluki Fast Start, this weekend, and the MT
Christmas Invitational, Dec. 11, at Middle Tennessee. The two early meets will
offer Molnar's young team some extra experience heading into their typical
indoor winter schedule in January.
-AP-