SJU Athletics Photos

An army of a thousand is easy to find, but, ah, how difficult to find a general. – Chinese Proverb Since head coach Kevin Quinn took over the reigns of the women's track program at Saint Joseph's, there hasn't been a problem with finding a general. But never before has the general had so much help in shaping and guiding his teams. According to the veteran Hawk mentor, seniors Erin Blaustein and Amy Manwaring are some of best leaders around. “One of our great strengths is the excellent leadership that we're going to have,” Quinn Said. “Amy and Erin are going to be real assets to (assistant coach) Maisha (Palmer) and I in dealing with the team.” Manwaring will handle working with the distance runners, while Blaustein has taken a young group of sprint and middle distance runners under her wing. “They care about their success,” Quinn said. “But they care more about the success of the team.” Saint Joseph's is once again strong in the middle distance and distance events, but with NCAA Regional qualifier Sarah Click in the jumps and All-East performer Andria Smythe in the sprints, the Hawks are much improved in both areas. Smythe, who set four school records last year in the indoor 55m and 60m and the outdoor 100m and 200m, will look to improve on her impressive rookie campaign. The program's first international athlete (Jamaica), Smythe gives the Hawks “a force in the dashes that we've never had before,” according to Quinn. Also an accomplished long jumper, Quinn thinks the sophomore will “really blossom this year.” A slew of sophomores, Katie Hoban, Lisa LaMela, Kim McKeon and Lynn Puzzo, will also aid the sprint corps. Senior Yasmin Copeland and junior Colleen Ladden are back in the 400/800 range. Copeland, who arrived on Hawk Hill as a walk-on who did not compete in high school, has developed into a key contributor in the 4x400 relay. Quinn expects a “breakout year” from Ladden, who placed fifth in the 400 at A-10s last year. A staple of the Hawk program, the middle distance events are stocked with a strong group of returnees. Sophomore Thuy Nguyen, last year's A-10 Indoor Rookie of the Year, headlines the group after winning the 500m at last year's conference championships. Nguyen and juniors Kelly Victory, an all-conference performer in the 800m, and Mary Crossin return from a school record setting 4x800 relay that won the A-10 Championship outdoors and met ECAC qualifying standards. Junior Meghan Gallagher also will vie for a spot on the 4x800 relay after a “wonderful cross country season.” Quinn believes that will carry-over to the oval. Manwaring, junior Colleen Flanagan and sophomore Ann Regan highlight a strong distance group. Manwaring was an ECAC qualifier in the 10,000m outdoors last spring and set the school record in the event. Flanagan is coming off a cross country season in which she earned all-conference honors. Regan, who missed all fall due to injury, is working hard to regain her all-conference form in the 3,000m. The sophomore was also an all-conference performer in cross country during her freshman year. Senior Karen Weber is a veteran contributor that scored at the conference championships two years ago. Add in junior Erin O'Donnell, the school record holder in the steeplechase, and the Hawks have one of the top distance groups in the area. Despite losing fifth-year senior Maisha Tyler, a four-time Atlantic 10 Champion in the long jump, to injury, Quinn is optimistic about the jumps. Click cleared 5'7” in the high jump in qualifying for the NCAA Regional Championships outdoors and is priming for an even better performance this season. Smythe will man the long and triple jump. Always hesitant to talk about his freshman, Quinn does think that the group can contribute—who and in what events, remains to be seen. The Hawks once again will be in the mix at the Atlantic 10 Championships, especially at the indoor meet, which is more geared towards the middle distance events. And with leaders like Blaustein and Manwaring leading a young, but talented group, anything is possible.