Will it be another Eastern Michigan dominance on the men's side and a wide open title run
on the women's side? Only time will tell during the 2003 MAC indoor season which will
officially kick off on December 6 at the Kent State Golden Flash Gala.
Men's Indoor Preview
There was no surprise last indoor season on the men's side as the Eagles from Eastern Michigan won by 74 points--without Boaz Cheboiywo. Although they have lost several key members from last year's championship squad, they do bring in Boaz who should provide plenty of points in the distance events.
Another key athlete from EMU to look for again this season will be Nduka Awazie. The defending MAC Champion in the 400 meters will sprint towards key points in the 200, 400 and 4x400 meter relay. Western Michigan appears on paper as the only team to challenge Eastern Michigan for the title. The Broncos will look to 800 meter specialist Chris Seats and an outstanding recruting class to help give Western Michigan a run. One of the recruits includes Matt Whalen from West Dundee, Illinois, whose personal-best mark of 61'5" in the shot ranked among the top 20 in the nation in the event.
Central Michigan will have a strong distance class as well, especially with what they are showing so far just out of the cross country season. Although they will be missing some major point scorers from last season, such as Ian Searcy, the Chippewas should be strong again for the indoor season. Dana Thomas will try to pull along his team again at the Championship meet in the multi-events.
Toledo will look toward the sprinting and jumping events as the major bulk of their points. Rhoan Sterling, perhaps one of the favorites in the 60 and 200 meters, along with Jak Taylor in the 400 will help carry the Rockets in 2003. Kent State showed some improvement during the outdoor season after their 7th place finish during indoors last year. The Golden Flashes will bring back the MAC Champion Brian Hallett for his final campaign in the shot put. Teammates Ofer Barniv and Otis Jordan will look to help lead the distance and sprinting events, respectively.
Akron will look to fill the void lost by LeShaunte Edwards to graduation. Ball State should be greatly improved, as one of the top up-and-coming teams this season. Marshall, Buffalo and Ohio should round out the remaining schools in the MAC, however, don't be surprised if one of these schools steps up at the conference meet in February. This will be the first year the MAC will not see Bowling Green as they dropped men's track & field.
Women's Indoor Preview
It was one of the best competitions in MAC history as the Central Michigan women claimed their first ever MAC title thanks to some big points in the high jump as the competition came down to the wire. The lady Chippewas will lose several athletes who provided those big points but will have plenty of more athletes who will step up. Kia Johnson will be back to look for some of those big points in the 60 and 200 meters. Amanda Storck should rise to the occassion again in the pole vault along with freshman Kari Taylor in the throws.
Just like Central Michigan, the Golden Flashes from Kent State have lost a number of point scorers as well. The defending outdoor champions will look to keep their stride in tact heading into the indoor season. Kia Flowers will look to have the same kind of outstanding season last year again in the 400 and 800 meters. Newcomer Lauren Richards should be an immediate impact in the 400 meters as well. Jackie Rodgers and Molly Hammer will look for big points in the pole vault and distance events for the Flashes.
Eastern Michigan is coming off a heartbreaking close loss from the outdoor season and will look to get that bad taste out of them. The runner-up from indoors as well, the Eagles should be one of the favorites to claim the indoor title. Although they have lost a number of important point scorers as well, they will look to athletes such as Ronique Keane-Dawes to provide them what they need in order for the title run. Head coach Bob Maybouer should have his ladies in the right direction this season.
Ball State should be one of the favorites as well in the chase for the wide open women's title. Head coach Sue Parks & co. will have the Cardinals ready for another competitive indoor season. Natasha Lothery should have another outstanding season in the 800 along with teammate Katie Nowak in the distance events. Don't forget about defending MAC long jump and triple jump champion Patricia Soman who should be one to watch again in 2003.
Perhaps the most improved team over the past several years is Western Michigan. Although they placed 9th at the indoor meet, the lady Broncos took home 5th at the outdoor meet and have a lot of confidence thanks to a new coaching staff led by former Ball State assistant Kelly Lycon. They will look to Heather Johnson in the sprints after coming off the outdoor 400 meter title last season. Janaule Bennett placed third at the outdoor 800 and after a solid freshman year in 2002, Kristen Ford will look for more big points in the throws.
Akron could be one to watch as well although they will have to wait until the outdoor season to get back Mary Varga. Kira Sims will contribute major points in the jumps and pole vault. Although their roster is not as deep compared to the past several years, the lady Zips should step up at the conference meet. Toledo will be strong in the distance events again after coming off the cross country title. Led by Briana Shook, the Rockets will look to get the bulk of their team points out of the distance events. Buffalo, Miami, Bowling Green, Ohio, Marhshall and Northern Illinois should round out the rest of the MAC. The women's title run should be just as exciting in 2003 as it was last year.
• MAC season schedules
• MAC Indoor Championship schedule of events
Men's Indoor Preview
There was no surprise last indoor season on the men's side as the Eagles from Eastern Michigan won by 74 points--without Boaz Cheboiywo. Although they have lost several key members from last year's championship squad, they do bring in Boaz who should provide plenty of points in the distance events.
Another key athlete from EMU to look for again this season will be Nduka Awazie. The defending MAC Champion in the 400 meters will sprint towards key points in the 200, 400 and 4x400 meter relay. Western Michigan appears on paper as the only team to challenge Eastern Michigan for the title. The Broncos will look to 800 meter specialist Chris Seats and an outstanding recruting class to help give Western Michigan a run. One of the recruits includes Matt Whalen from West Dundee, Illinois, whose personal-best mark of 61'5" in the shot ranked among the top 20 in the nation in the event.
Central Michigan will have a strong distance class as well, especially with what they are showing so far just out of the cross country season. Although they will be missing some major point scorers from last season, such as Ian Searcy, the Chippewas should be strong again for the indoor season. Dana Thomas will try to pull along his team again at the Championship meet in the multi-events.
Toledo will look toward the sprinting and jumping events as the major bulk of their points. Rhoan Sterling, perhaps one of the favorites in the 60 and 200 meters, along with Jak Taylor in the 400 will help carry the Rockets in 2003. Kent State showed some improvement during the outdoor season after their 7th place finish during indoors last year. The Golden Flashes will bring back the MAC Champion Brian Hallett for his final campaign in the shot put. Teammates Ofer Barniv and Otis Jordan will look to help lead the distance and sprinting events, respectively.
Akron will look to fill the void lost by LeShaunte Edwards to graduation. Ball State should be greatly improved, as one of the top up-and-coming teams this season. Marshall, Buffalo and Ohio should round out the remaining schools in the MAC, however, don't be surprised if one of these schools steps up at the conference meet in February. This will be the first year the MAC will not see Bowling Green as they dropped men's track & field.
Women's Indoor Preview
It was one of the best competitions in MAC history as the Central Michigan women claimed their first ever MAC title thanks to some big points in the high jump as the competition came down to the wire. The lady Chippewas will lose several athletes who provided those big points but will have plenty of more athletes who will step up. Kia Johnson will be back to look for some of those big points in the 60 and 200 meters. Amanda Storck should rise to the occassion again in the pole vault along with freshman Kari Taylor in the throws.
Just like Central Michigan, the Golden Flashes from Kent State have lost a number of point scorers as well. The defending outdoor champions will look to keep their stride in tact heading into the indoor season. Kia Flowers will look to have the same kind of outstanding season last year again in the 400 and 800 meters. Newcomer Lauren Richards should be an immediate impact in the 400 meters as well. Jackie Rodgers and Molly Hammer will look for big points in the pole vault and distance events for the Flashes.
Eastern Michigan is coming off a heartbreaking close loss from the outdoor season and will look to get that bad taste out of them. The runner-up from indoors as well, the Eagles should be one of the favorites to claim the indoor title. Although they have lost a number of important point scorers as well, they will look to athletes such as Ronique Keane-Dawes to provide them what they need in order for the title run. Head coach Bob Maybouer should have his ladies in the right direction this season.
Ball State should be one of the favorites as well in the chase for the wide open women's title. Head coach Sue Parks & co. will have the Cardinals ready for another competitive indoor season. Natasha Lothery should have another outstanding season in the 800 along with teammate Katie Nowak in the distance events. Don't forget about defending MAC long jump and triple jump champion Patricia Soman who should be one to watch again in 2003.
Perhaps the most improved team over the past several years is Western Michigan. Although they placed 9th at the indoor meet, the lady Broncos took home 5th at the outdoor meet and have a lot of confidence thanks to a new coaching staff led by former Ball State assistant Kelly Lycon. They will look to Heather Johnson in the sprints after coming off the outdoor 400 meter title last season. Janaule Bennett placed third at the outdoor 800 and after a solid freshman year in 2002, Kristen Ford will look for more big points in the throws.
Akron could be one to watch as well although they will have to wait until the outdoor season to get back Mary Varga. Kira Sims will contribute major points in the jumps and pole vault. Although their roster is not as deep compared to the past several years, the lady Zips should step up at the conference meet. Toledo will be strong in the distance events again after coming off the cross country title. Led by Briana Shook, the Rockets will look to get the bulk of their team points out of the distance events. Buffalo, Miami, Bowling Green, Ohio, Marhshall and Northern Illinois should round out the rest of the MAC. The women's title run should be just as exciting in 2003 as it was last year.
• MAC season schedules
• MAC Indoor Championship schedule of events