DETROIT -- The Detroit Titan women's track and field team will begin 2011 indoor season by competing in the Central Michigan Invitational on Friday afternoon. Field events begin at 4:00 p.m., while running events will get started on the track at 6:00 p.m.

Women's Track and Field Season Preview

Young would be the best word to describe the women's track and field team for 2011. Of the 33 student-athletes on the roster, 25 are underclassmen. “There are lots of opportunities for people to help this team,” head coach Guy Murray explained. “It's just a matter of how everyone develops. The freshman year is about learning and developing, whereas the sophomore year is about taking the next step and using what they have learned. We have 14 sophomores on the team this year so we will need a strong effort from that group.”

Although a majority of the team is inexperienced, the Titans still have upperclassmen providing leadership. Seniors Sequoyia Calhoun (Belleville, MI, Belleville), Megan Miller (Zanesville, OH, Zanesville), Kirstin Mooney (Stirling ON, St. Theresa Catholic) and Katie Taylor (Emmett, MI, Yale) will join junior Susan Kalkstein (New Kensington, PA, Burrell) to anchor the team. “Overall I like the direction that this team is headed in,” Murray said. “There is lots of potential, but you have to remember Rome wasn't built in a day.”

Sprints

Sequoyia Calhoun (Belleville, MI, Belleville) is a standout runner that is returning to Detroit for her senior season. Calhoun broke out and ran a 57.81 400 meter dash time at the Blue and Gold Invite during the indoor season. She topped that time to set a UDM school record at the outdoor Horizon League Championship meet clocking in at 56.17. Calhoun was Horizon League runner-up with that time. “Sequoyia is coming off a breakout year and we need her to continue on that pace,” Murray said. “We need her to be the star of the team. Brittany Horne was that person for us last year, and we need Sequoyia to take over that role.”

Amanda Hollern (Grand Rapids, MI, Catholic Central), Nikia Duncan (Murrieta, CA, Murrieta) and Nicole Meisner (Huntington Woods, MI, Berkley) will also compete in sprint events this season. “Amanda had a great season last year by making it to the finals in both the 100m and the 200m,” Murray said. “Nikia was solid and we think she will continue to improve, and Nicole will have the opportunity to help as a freshman.”

Hurdles

Detroit will return a veteran 400 meter hurdle group led by Kirstin Mooney (Stirling ON, St. Theresa Catholic) and Katie Taylor (Emmett, MI, Yale). Both Mooney and Taylor have scored at the Horizon League meet in the 400mH so they will look to repeat those efforts during this season. Coach Murray added Olivia Smid (Ann Arbor, MI, Whitmore Lake) to the mix as someone who can help the team after she completed a great freshman season in 2010. Smid is another Titan who scored in the 400mH with a sixth place finish during the outdoor season (1:05.20).

In the sprint hurdles group, Detroit will look for Sharonda Vesey (Westland, MI, Romulus) and newcomer Brandee Hart (Oak Park, MI, Berkley) to score points. “Sharonda improved throughout last year so that helps and I could see Brandee stepping up and contributing to both the 100mH and the 400mH right away,” Murray added.

Distance

Alexandria Vintevoghel (Casco, MI, Marine City) highlights this group as she led the team in every cross country race this past season. “Alexandria had some nice performances last year during the indoor season,” Murray said. “We will look for her to continue to lead this unit.”

Kristie Ferrans (Carleton, MI, Monroe), Katrina Oberski (Clyde, MI, Port Huron ) and newcomer Victoria Eger (Buchanan, MI , Buchanan) will also help out the distance group. “Kristie was limited this fall due to an injury so we hope that she can get going in order to be ready for a good year,” Murray said. “Katrina had a great sophomore cross country season so we expect for her to be a good runner for us this year, and Torrie will be able to help out with some long distance races.”

Mid-Distance

The mid-distance group has a nice mix starting with the return of senior Megan Miller (Zanesville, OH, Zanesville). Miller only has outdoor eligibility left, but she is a proven leader. “Megan can do a little bit of everything for us,” Murray explained. “She has always been a leader that comes through at the Horizon League meets, and she serves as a great relay leg.”

Tressanique Hampton (Flint, MI, Southwestern Academy ), Sarah Martinez (Grand Blanc, MI, Flint Powers) and Katie Weishaar (Plymouth, MI, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard ) all had promising freshmen years and should be able to help the mid-distance group. Freshmen Cecilia Pope (New Baltimore, MI, Anchor Bay) and Rachel Hofsess (Milford, MI, Milford) will also have a chance to help the team.

Jumps

Susan Kalkstein (New Kensington, PA, Burrell) gives the Titans an experienced jumper. Kalkstein took fifth place in both the long jump (17-8.5) and the triple jump (37-9.25) at the outdoor HL meet. The leap of 37-9.25 moved Kalkstein into second place on the Titan Top 10. “Susan really emerged with a great season of jumping for us last year,” Murray explained. “She was very consistent in the triple jump and we can also use her in some relays.” Whitney Rogers (Flint, MI, Hamady) will also look to get involved for Detroit in the horizontal jump events.

Coach Murray went out and recruited Stephanie Cuniberti (Macomb, MI, Dakota) to compete in the high jump. “This is the first time in a few years where we have added an exclusive high jumper to the team,” Murray said. “Stephanie should be in the hunt to score at the Horizon League Championships.”

Pole Vault

Freshman Kayla Zauner (Fort Gratiot, MI, Port Huron Northern) will join Monica Betker (Mecosta, MI , Chippewa Hills) in the pole vault for the Titans. Murray thinks Zauner has potential to do well in the event while Betker sits in sixth (9-8) all-time on the Titan Top 10 list.

Multi

Amanda Campbell (Lockport, NY, Lockport) will be Detroit's main threat in the multi events. Campbell is second on the Titan Top 10 in the pentathlon with a score of 2,661, and eighth in the heptathlon (3,294). “Amanda has been steady for two years and now we feel it is time for her to step up and contend for scoring at the HL meet,” Murray added.
 
Throws

With the graduation of Brittany Horne, there is no doubt that the Titans have some huge shoes to fill when it comes to the throw events. Detroit added three freshmen throwers that have the ability to do well. “We don't expect this group to come in and replace what Brittany did for us last year, but Coach Richotte will bring them in and teach them some new things that they can build on for the future.”