Alabama Women's Track and Field Opens Season
1/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
When the Alabama women's track and field team takes to the road this weekend at the Kroger Invitational at Virginia Tech for its first meet of the 2003 indoor season, there will be a lot of new faces in the lineup.
Of the 18 women traveling to Blacksburg, Va., seven will be making their debuts wearing the crimson and white of Alabama. And there are another two freshmen who are making their track and field debuts after spending the fall competing in cross country.
"This weekend will be a real test for our young team," head coach Sandy Fowler. "There's going to be a steep learning curve just because of the caliber of team that will be at the meet. The athletes are going to have to trust in the training, the coaches and themselves this weekend. If they do that, they will be able to let go and compete the way they are capable of in this competition."
Alabama will face perennial powers South Carolina, Miami, UNC, N.C. State, Clemson, Tennessee and William and Mary in Blacksburg.
Aymara Albury, Erica Edwards, Mildred Harris, Beth Mallory and Tissilli Rogers are all freshmen competing in their first collegiate meets. Sandrine Berthol and Jihan Trone are both sophomore transfers, competing for Alabama for the first time this weekend.
Nicole Abram and Blair Davis both ran cross country this fall, but will be on the track for Alabama for the first time in Virginia.
There will even be one coach making his Crimson Tide debut. Assistant coach Sydney Cartwright will be coaching his first meet for Alabama this weekend.
There are also two athletes competing this weekend who Alabama fans are use to seeing in different uniforms. Junior Erin Price, a three-year starter on the volleyball team as an outside hitter, will again be clearing the high jump bar for the Tide. And senior Andre? Pickens, a four-year standout for the gymnastics team, will be competing in the pole vault.
Leading the Tide's young crew will be the Tide's band of veterans. Seniors Nadia Krell and Katie Kelly along with juniors Virnetta Greene, Natalie Kinion and Kara Nowak, will all be showing their younger teammates the way. Kinion will be making her return to the competition field after redshirting last season to rehab an injured knee. And in between the veterans and rookies will be a pair of sophomores in Tricia Bohan and Christy Fairley.
"I expect our veterans to advance to the finals of this meet," Fowler said. "Not only should they advance, but they should expect that of themselves."
The make up of the Tide's lineup for the weekend keeps with Fowler's philosophy of a balanced attack. The Tide will have strong contingents in the distance, sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws this weekend.
