Feb. 22, 2008

SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The Santa Clara track team will begin their fourth season next Saturday when they take on fellow WCC schools at the WCC Challenge Cup in Malibu.

Each year the team has grown more and more comfortable with competing on an NCAA level. The majority of the team competed for the Broncos in the fall on the cross country team but have some new additions with a few runners coming back from various injuries.

The coaching staff also welcomes a new addition in new assistant coach Monty Steadman, who will focus on the shorter distance events.

Said head coach Tom Service, "I am very excited about adding Steadman to our growing team. His experience will allow us to have more structure for the runners who compete in the shorter events, while at the same time allowing the rest of us to focus on the long distance events as well."

Given the fact that the majority of the team competed in cross country during the fall, a major focus of the team is to excel at the long distance events. However there is a new focus on the shorter track events as well this year.

"This track season is the first year where I feel that we have more depth when it comes to the sprinting events," said Service. "With such a high quality of sprinters this season (especially on the female side), I anticipate a lot of school sprint records will be broken pretty early in the season."

The women's sprinting team is anchored by three freshmen, Amanda Brown, Jennifer Hinds, and Jacqueline Lynch. The team's lone hurdler, Joanna Gistand, is also steadily improving after focusing on a new training regimen this season.

Service is also looking forward to seeing a tremendous performance from senior long distance runner Michael Delaurenti. Says Service about Delaurenti, "We're looking to seeing him have a big push towards qualifying for the NCAA regionals this year. Given his fitness level from this year's cross country season and his determination and focus, he has a great shot. Santa Clara has never had a runner qualify before and that would be great to see him accomplish that this year."

But before there is any talk about anyone qualifying for regionals, first the team will need to get some meets in. This upcoming Saturday the Broncos will practice in a time trial at Los Gatos High School to "get a feel for the season," said Service. "Times aren't important; we want to get a feel for where the team is at after our winter training."

What Service is most looking forward to is the upcoming WCC Challenge next Saturday, March 1st in Malibu. "What we want to do is treat it exactly as it is. We have a long season, and our concern is to concentrate on correct distances. We don't want to overrace anyone or do anything that could be detrimental to the rest of the season. We're mainly just excited to see the other WCC schools and see what everyone has to offer."