T&F opens 2014-15 at Alden Invitational
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's and women's track and field teams open their 2014-15 indoor season on Saturday, Dec. 6 when they compete at the Alden Invitational hosted by Brown University in Providence.
Prior to Saturday's opening meet, here is a look at the Black and Gold's jumpers, sprinters, throws and distance.
Jumps
The 2014-15 Bulldogs welcome back a strong group of jumpers led by juniors Adam Malone (Speonk, N.Y.) and Nicole Dempsey (Norwell, Mass.). Malone, who competes in the long and triple jump, is coming off a strong outdoor season that saw him finish 10th at both the NECs and New Englands in the triple.
Dempsey returns for her third season in Smithfield as the school record-holder in the long jump with a distance of 5.23m. She also holds outdoor record at 5.70m. Last winter, Dempsey finished 13th in the long jump with a distance of 4.93m.
Bryant will also welcome back another set of juniors in Peter Thorp (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Jocelyn Davies (Yarmouth, Maine). Thorp did not compete in the jumps during the indoor season last year but could be a key this winter. Davies returns as Bryant's top high jumper and will look to improve upon a strong sophomore campaign.
Freshmen Kehma Johnson (Milford, Mass.) and Rebecca Varney (East Longmeadow, Mass.) have excelled in the preseason and could be key contributors. Johnson was an all-league selection at nearby Bishop Feehan, while Varney earned all-league honors at East Longmeadow High.
Sprints
Bryant welcomes back an experienced group of sprinters this winter led by senior captain Nicholas Douglas (Shelton, Conn.) and junior captain Kristen Hayes (Menands, N.Y.). Douglas finds himself in the top 10 career list in the 60m, 200m, 400m and is the school record holder in the 300m with a time of 36.41.
Hayes, one of Bryant's top performers, returns for her third year in Smithfield after a record-breaking sophomore season. Hayes set the school-record in the 500m last winter and capped off her season with a school-record and gold-medal finish in the 400m hurdles at the NEC championships.
Also back for the Black and Gold is senior Kevin Louine (Mattapan, Mass.). One of Bryant's most consistent sprinters, Louine finds himself in the top 10 all-time in the 60m (2nd), 200m (4th) and 400m (7th). Thorp will also compete in the sprints along with classmate Toren O'Leary (Luxembourg). In addition to the jumps, Dempsey is one of Bryant's top sprinters and is third in Bryant's all-time top 10 in the 60m dash.
Bryant will look to a talented crop of newcomers to help as well. Deion Raper (Brockton, Mass.), Justin Patterson (Marshfield, Mass.) and MiaLynne Park (Jewett City, Conn.). Raper finished second in the state of Massachusetts and in all of New England as a senior in high school, while Patterson helped his 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams to state titles. Park enjoyed an outstanding high school career, competing in nationals as a sophomore and New Englands each of her final two years. She was a four-time all-state honoree and earned All-American honors as junior.
Throws
The Bulldog throwers will look to continue their progress and score more points each and every meet. Jonee Harrison (Dorchester, Mass.) leads the bunch on the women's side following a strong freshman season. She finished 13th in the weight throw at NECs and 18th at the NEICAAAs. Joining Harrison on the women's side will be junior Samantha Puckett (Canterbury, N.H.).
On the men's side, freshmen Mike Cooke (Wrentham, Mass.) and Anthony Fratturelli (Leominster, Mass.) will be looked upon to compete right away. Cooke was a league all-star each of his final two years and Fratturelli was a standout in high school. Hayes Watson (Glastonbury, Conn.) also returns as the Bulldogs' top pole vaulter. Watson posted a season-high height of 4.25m last winter.
Distance
Bryant's distance runners have become the backbone of the track and field program. Coming off another outstanding cross country season, the Bulldogs will once again look to their harriers to lead the pack.
On the men's side, senior co-captain Blake Fenwick (Thomaston, Conn.), classmate Francis Foley (Acton, Mass.) and freshman Milan Duka (Belgrade, Serbia). Fenwick finished 27th at the NEC cross country championships and finished 12th in the 5000 last winter at NECs. Foley was Bryant's top runner this fall and finished 18th at the NECs. He finished ninth in the mile last winter at the conference meet. Duka is coming off a stellar rookie season in which he earned All-NEC honors with a ninth-place finish at the cross country championships.
The women will be led by junior co-captain Annmarie Tuxbury (New Hartford, Conn.). Tuxbury is a three-time All-NEC selection in cross country and will look to rebound after appearing in just one meet last winter. Joining her will be veterans Brooke Tomasetti (Waterford, Conn.) and Kara Walsh (Waltham, Mass.). The duo are the top two in program history in the 800, with Walsh currently holding the school record. Tomasetti finished seventh in the event last year at the NECs and Walsh is healthy after missing most of last winter.