RELEASE DATE: 12/01/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: INDOOR TRACK PREVIEW: MOUNTAINEER MEN AND WOMEN EXPECT RECORD SETTING SEASON.

Coach Mike Rohl is entering his fifth season as the head coach of the Mansfield University Indoor Track Teams. In his short tenure at the helm of the program, Rohl’s athletes have established over 20 school records on the men’s team and 23 records on the women’s. This season, both teams will look to continue rewriting the record books, and look to qualify more athletes for the PSAC championships.

Men- Chris Cummings, Jon Holtz, and Adam Keir Lead the Mounties Into the 2005-2006 Season With High Expectations.

The men’s indoor track and field team will boast a slightly smaller roster this season than in previous years. Don’t let the numbers fool you though; this team is looking to leave their mark on the record books - perhaps the largest mark in school history.

Headlining the Mountaineers attack on the record books is a solid distance squad whose members look to score points in the PSAC this season.         

Leading the charge for the distance men is junior captain Chris Cummings, who has an impressive career as a Mountaineer already. Cummings, who won the PSAC championship in the mile his freshman year, ran a school record  4:12.02 for the mile last season and looks to improve on that this season. A threat at all distances from 800 meters to 5000 meters, Cummings is a versatile athlete capable of scoring points in multiple events as well as being a key member of the distance relays.

      Senior captain Jon Holtz, last seasons' most improved athlete, looks to make a run at the 800 meter record (currently owned by Cummings) this season.  Not only will Holtz be a threat at 800 meters this season, he will also see time in other events ranging from 400 to 3000 meters and he will play a significant role in the distance relays.

Junior Bryan Morseman, a transfer addition to the Mountaineer squad, looks to make his PSAC track debut as impressive as his cross country debut. Morseman, who finished 21^st in the PSAC cross country championships and 29^th in the NCAA East Region, will be a threat at the longer distance races this season and will likely be a part of the distance relays as well.

Senior Rich Correll, freshman Matt Zimmerman, and freshman transfer Zeb Dunn will also look to qualify for the PSAC championships. Correll, a perennial conference qualifier, will likely drop from the 5000 meter race to the mile and 3000 meter events. He will also see time on the distance relay teams this season. Zimmerman is coming off one of the most impressive cross country seasons turned in by a freshman during Rohl’s tenure at Mansfield. He proved he is mature enough and plenty capable of handling collegiate level training. Zimmerman will likely run mid-distance events as well as be a member of the distance relays. Dunn, who turned in stellar performances in the PIAA State High School Championships last spring finishing fourth in the 800 (1:57.06), will run the mid distance events and be a member of the distance relays this season.

Senior multi-event specialist and men’s captain Adam Keir will likely qualify for the conference championships in the pentathlon.  Keir, who made the switch to a multi-event athlete last season hopes to improve his position in the conference and is looking for a possible podium position at the end of the season. A constantly improving athlete, Keir has the potential to qualify in many individual events- making him a key asset to the team. He will also see time on multiple sprint relays throughout the season.

Heading the sprinting crew this season will be sophomore Doug DeBenedetto, and freshman Bryan Falcone. DeBennedetto turned in impressive performances last year and looks to qualify for the conference championships in the 400 meter race. Falcone is also likely to qualify in the 400 meter race, and may have qualifying opportunities in other sprint races as well. Both will be crucial members to the sprint relays, as well as the distance medley relay.

Women- All PSAC Returning Athletes Lead Mountie Women Into 2005-06 Season, Backed by One of the Strongest Squads in School History.

The Mansfield University women’s indoor track program has seen more improvement in the last two years than any other track program in school history. With 23 records falling since Rohl took over at Mansfield, this squad will look to continue that trend this season.

            The Mansfield women will feature a balanced attack of sprinters and distance runners. Mansfield returns All-PSAC performers Amanda Fedish, and Katrina Brumfield from the third place 4x400 relay last winter.

Sophomore Amanda Fedish, a qualifier in the short sprints last season, will look to place in the conference championships this year in the sprint events. She will also be a significant factor in the sprint relays. Fedish will be looking to break her own records this season.

Fellow sophomore Katrina Brumfield finished second in the high jump at the PSAC outdoor track championships last spring, and will look to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships this winter. Brumfield will also look to qualify in the other jumping events, and will be a factor in the sprint relays as well.

Mansfield will welcome back Amber Hamlin this season. Hamlin, now a junior, ran an impressive season as a freshman but took her sophomore year off to focus on school. She competed this summer and looks to be in the best shape of her career. Hamlin will likely qualify in the 400 meter event. She will also be a major factor in the sprint relays.

Joining Hamlin in the longer sprints this season will be talented newcomer Marisa Fronczkiewicz. Fronczkiewicz, a freshman, will look to qualify in the 400 this season. She will also participate in the sprint relays.

Mansfield will add depth this season with the addition of Jess Lown. Lown will provide multiple scoring opportunities in the sprints, jumps, and hurdles this season. She will look for a podium position in the hurdles at the conference championships while seeing time on multiple relays throughout the season.

            The distance core will once again be led by 2004 cross country All-American Charity Learn. Entering her final season, Learn will be a threat at all distances from 800 meters to 5000 meters. A conference qualifier and strong performer every year of her college career, Learn will look to score points at the conference meet. She will also be a major factor in the distance relays.

Learn will not be alone at the head of the distance charge this season, as junior Rachel Hall will be looking to place at the conference meet as well. Hall, an All-PSAC performer in cross country this fall, will also be a threat at all distances from 800 to 5000 meters. She will also run the distance relays.

Mansfield will add depth in the distance races with freshman Tricia Learn, freshman Heather Wida, and junior Robyn Ireland. Learn is coming off an impressive cross country season and will look to qualify in multiple distance races and relays. Wida will look to qualify in the mid-distance races this season and will see time on the distance relays. Ireland, perhaps one of the most improved athletes coming into the season, will look to qualify in the long distance races this season.

            Junior captain Nicole Dann will lead the mid-distance charge this season. Dann is coming off the best field hockey season of her career and looks to carry her success to the track. A Qualifier for last year's outdoor conference meet, she will look to qualify in the 800 meter race this season. A strong and versatile athlete, she will see time on many of the sprint and distance relays.

The Mountaineers will kick off their 2005-06 season this Saturday, December 3 at Cornell University.