Aug. 5, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - With nagging injuries causing several of the team's top performers to miss significant time or to perform at less than 100%, the Saint Joseph's women'strack team struggled to meet its own lofty expectations in 2005. Despite the ailments, however, several individuals made significant strides during the season, letting it be know that they would be in the mix for conference and regional recognition in the near future.

Lingering injuries to juniors Andria Smythe and Thuy Nguyen were the most significant. Defending event champions both indoor and outdoor, both persevered to gain All-Conference recognition.

Smythe was poised to make a push for indoor A-10 championships at 55m and in the long jump before being sidelined and missing both the conference and ECAC championships.

She recovered in time for the outdoor championships and positioned herself for potential wins in both the long jump and 100m. In the long jump, she moved into first place with a leap of 18-5.75 with one jump remaining. She passed on her final jump to prepare for the 100m preliminaries and was edged in the final round to place second overall to pick up All-A-10 Second team honors. She easily qualified for the 100m final after tearing off a time of 12.25, but felt a tweak in a lingering injury and was forced to withdraw from the final. She also missed an opportunity to gain recognition, when the team's 4x100 relay suffered a disqualification.

Classmate Nguyen, the defending indoor and outdoor champion at 800m, was slowed all season. She was edged in the 800m indoor by less than 8/10 of a second for first place and finished third in a time of 2:15.94, but was able to garner All-Conference Second Team accolades with the 4x800 Relay that included Mary Crossin, Kelly Victory and Rebecca Powell.

Several other upperclassmen, including Crossin and Colleen Ladden were unable to perform at their optimum levels. Although Crossin was able to meet ECAC standards in the 1,000m indoor.

While key veterans had health ailments, several of the team's younger runners emerged, including sophomores Suzie McHenry and Rebecca Powell and freshmen Valerie Ramirez and Jordan Teuber.

Selected as the team's most improved performer, McHenry met ECAC qualifying standards in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000m. Shaving significant minutes off her times, she used the cross country season as a springboard and emerged as one of the team's most reliable distance runners. In the middle distance, Powell captured All-Conference indoor with the 4x800. She also displayed improved times in the 800 and 1000.

In the sprints, Ramirez and Teuber each posted strong times. Ramirez emerged as a threat in the hurdles posting team season-bests at several distances and set an SJU outdoor record in the 100m hurdles. Teuber picked up an A-10 Rookie of the Week citation for her efforts in at 55, 100 and 200m. Both also ran legs in the team's 4x100 and sprint medley relays.

While injuries curtailed a promising season for the SJU women's track team, several younger runners were able to prove their mettle. With most of the squad's key competitors back in the fold a quick return back to the top of the Conference standings should be on the horizon.