With Cavalier Emily Harrison winning the mile at the Virginia Tech Challenge last weekend and a solid team showing overall, the Virginia Track and Field team appears ready to tackle the ACC championship meet, which starts tomorrow.
Earlier in the year, head coach Randy Bungard explained that the chief meet the team focuses on during the indoor season is the ACC contest, and that every other invitational the team competes in prior to it is primarily considered a preparatory meet. With a last place finish at the ACCs in 2005, the women's squad hopes that this year the season's previous competition has adequately prepared them.
"Our big goal on the women's side is to do better at the ACCs then last year," Bungard said. "We are a better outdoor team, but regardless, last year's last-place finish was unacceptable."
Last weekend's performance suggests that the women will fare considerably better this year. In the meet, Harrison broke five minutes to place first in the mile with a time of 4:56.19 and is looking to repeat her success this weekend.
"Coming off of the win this past weekend does make me more confident," Harrison said. "I have already raced most of the same girls in cross country or earlier this season so racing them at ACCs won't be a surprise. You just have to trust in your training and strength and be confident in yourself."
Two other Cavalier women, freshmen Danielle Light and Lauretta Dezubay, also placed in the mile event finishing fourth and sixth, respectively.
On the women's side, the ACC conference is perennially very strong in the mid- and long distances and Virginia traditionally looks to the sprinters, jumpers and throwers to score team points. Nevertheless, as the team heads into the ACC meet, last week's mile finishes are promising.
"I think we bring a great group of girls this year, the majority of them first years," junior Kathryn Pettine said. "They are looking to get out there and score and make their mark at the ACC meet."
Pettine herself will be looking to make a mark at the ACCs in the pole vault competition. At the Virginia Tech Challenge, both she and senior Alicia LaRoche hit Virginia season bests, vaulting 11'4.25.
"Setting a season best leading up to conference has helped give me some added confidence," Pettine said. "I am still not quite where I'd like to be, but it's a sign that I am moving in the right direction. This week leading up to ACCs we will taper off to make sure we are rested, sharp and ready to go."
One of the women Bungard has been excited about all season is freshman Talia Wise.
"She is our workhorse and has been pretty consistent this year," Bungard said. "Talia has our top time in the 200 meter and is a very good sprinter."
At the Virginia Tech Challenge, Wise took third in the 200 meter with a time of 25.00. This weekend, she hopes to run even faster on the same track.
"It is advantageous that we ran on the track last weekend that we will also be running on for the ACCs," Wise said. "I know what to expect coming off the turns in the 200 meter -- the curves and the dips."
Many of the promising women competing this weekend are freshmen making their first appearances at an ACC championship.
"This will be my first ACC meet and I do not know what to expect," Wise said. "I am anxious and excited. I am not so nervous now, but I know that when I arrive at the meet it will be a different story."
Indeed, overcoming nerves will be the women's first step to success this weekend.
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