2/29/2008 - PREVIEW: Javelin Champ and Decathlon All-Americans Lead Bruins into New Season
NEWBERG, Ore. - Led by three NCAA Division III All-Americans on the men's side and nine All-Northwest Conference performers on the women's side, the George Fox University Bruins enter the 2008 outdoor track and field season with high hopes of making waves both on the conference and national levels.
"We have a good group of young athletes who are poised to do great things," says second-year had coach John Smith, himself a former Bruin All-American decathlete in the 1990's. "If we can avoid injuries, we should be able to send a pretty good contingent of athletes to the nationals again this year."
Men
Reigning national and conference javelin champion Joel Krebs (Jr., Salem, Ore. / Salem Academy), who was a finalist for the 2007 Ad Rutschman Award as the top small-college athlete in the state, returns this season looking to defend his titles. As good as he is, Smith observes that "Joel still has a lot of room to improve. I believe that, with some technical changes, he has a great shot at breaking our school record. The Olympic Trials qualifier isn't too far off either, and Joel has the ability to challenge that mark if things go well."
Krebs will lead the throws group along with returner Ben Burgess (Jr., Grants Pass, Ore. / Hidden Valley HS), who had a strong showing last season in the hammer and looks to improve on his third-place conference standing. "Ben is not a big thrower, but he is extremely explosive and has a work ethic that is second to none," says Smith. "We're excited to see what the season has in store for him." David Marvin (Jr., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS), a transfer from Northwest University, is a raw talent among the throwers.
The decathlon is led by Ben Dillow (Sr., Newberg, Ore. / Cedar Park Christian HS), who is returning for a fifth year after using a medical hardship year as a junior. Dillow will be the cornerstone of the Bruin men's team and provide depth in many events such as the pole vault, in which he placed third while earning All-NWC honors last year. "Ben has had a second and a third-place finish at the nationals in his career, and if he is healthy, there is a good chance he could challenge for the national decathlon title," predicts Smith. "It looks to be the strongest year ever in the decathlon for Division III, so it isn't going to come easy, though."
Dillow's counterpart, Ryan Forbes (Jr., Jackson, Wyo. / Jackson Hole HS), was frustrated with injuries last year but looks to return to the form of his freshman year, when he earned All-America status by finishing eighth in the decathlon. He placed 10th this past spring after winning the conference decathlon. Forbes' versatility will help the Bruin depth in both the sprints and field events as he looks to climb up the national podium. "Ryan is very close to really breaking out and becoming a strong national contender," Smith comments. "I feel the hurdles and discus could become his premier events at the conference level."
New to the decathlon training group are Nate Dillow (Fr., Newberg, Ore. / Marist HS) and David Dillow (Fr., Newberg, Ore. / Marist HS), the younger twin brothers of Ben. Both are skilled in the 400 meters and have hurdle and vault skills that will help their progression in the event. "I am excited to have these two athletes to work with this year and think they can become the backbone of this team in the near future", says Smith.
Dakari Kongela (So., Sammamish, Wash. / North Kitsap HS) will lead the Bruin sprinters and horizontal jumps squad. "We are excited about Dak's abilities and think he can challenge the top sprinters and jumpers in our conference along with earning a trip to the national meet," predicts Smith. Complementing Kongela in the sprints are returnees Bret Hamilton (So., Medford, Ore. / South Medford HS) and John Zaganiacz (So., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS) and newcomer Chris Fritz (Fr., Auburn, Wash. / Thomas Jefferson HS), a transfer from Spokane Falls Community College. "John Z. is putting in the work this season, and has the talent that could help the Bruins challenge for a podium finish at nationals," Smith adds.
Garrett Blizzard (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev. / Bonanza HS), an All-Conference performer two years ago who struggled through injuries last spring, will contribute greatly in the sprints if he is healthy. Also available are returnees Adam Haldorson (Jr., Springfield, Ore. / Springfield HS), James Hosford (So., Silverdale, Ore. / Klahowya HS), Joshua Smith (So., Central Point, Oer. / Crater HS) and Tony Zamora (So., San Salvador, El Salvador / Newberg HS) as well as newcomer Adam Harrington (Fr., Hillsboro, Ore. / C.S. Lewis HS). Ryan MacKenzie (Sr., Redmond, Ore. / Redmond HS), after using up his soccer eligibility, will compete in the hurdles to finish off his senior year.
In the jumps, the Bruins are limited in numbers but not in talent as returnee Sam McKenzie (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. / Colorado Springs Christian HS) and newcomer Jake Weber (Fr., Carlton, Ore. / Yamhill-Carlton HS) join Kongela. Bruin pole vaulters include Tyler Hoskins (Jr., Canby, Ore. / Canby HS) and Brian See (Sr., Oregon City, Ore. / Oregon City HS), the latter also a javelin thrower.
The Bruin distance and mid-distance squad will be led by 5,000 meter specialists Grant Finney (Sr., Tigard, Ore. / Southridge HS) and David Delmore (Sr., Philomath, Ore. / Philomath HS). Both are in their senior season and will look to make an impact on the conference scoring. A strong contingent of sophomores in Paul Rapet (So., Medford, Ore. / South Medford HS), Cam Eberhart (So., Albany, Ore. / West Albany HS), and Jordan Ware (So., Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) will contribute in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, and steeplechase. Eberhart, coming off a second All-West Region performance in cross country, will be seeking a national birth in the steeplechase as he steps in to replace Jake Moe, last year's NWC champion who participated in the nationals.
From the cross country team, Bradley Higgins (Fr., Grants Pass, Ore. / Grants Pass HS) will be joined by newcomer Steven Hunter (So., Huntington Beach, Calif. / Brethren Christian HS) to also compete in several of the distance events.
"I'm proud of our distance squad, as they have battled through some tough times together," notes Smith. "I feel that under new direction this season, the athletes will be able to reach that next level and provide a boost to the men's team at the conference championships.'
Women
Rachel Giffey-Brohaugh (Sr., Renton, Wash. / Christian Faith HS), the NWC 800 meter champion and NCAA participant, headlines a long list of All-Conference athletes for the Bruin women. "Rachel has prepared well and we will be excited to see how her senior season plays out," says Smith. "The GFU 1500 record is well within striking distance for her, and her new training plan should have her on schedule to make the national finals."
Giffey-Brohaugh was a part of the 4x400 meter relay team which finished second at the conference meet and includes Kelly Bladorn (Sr., Turner, Ore. / Cascade HS), JulieKay Brown (Sr., Sherwood, Ore. / Sherwood HS) and Lisa Mensonides (Jr., Tacoma, Wash. / Tacoma Baptist HS). Bladorn also earned All-Conference honors with the third-place 4x100 meter relay team along with Cindy Walsh (So., Dayton, Ore. / Dayton HS), Jessica Brassard (So., Castle Rock, Wash. / Castle Rock HS), and Mollie Honan (Jr., Carbondale, Colo. / Roaring Fork HS).
"Julie will lead a talented sprint group and give us depth in all three sprint events," comments Smith. "Lisa and Mollie will provide strong legs in the 400 and look to be a threat in the 400 hurdles as well."
The coach is also pleased with the potential of several new additions in the hurdles and sprints, including Melissa Leighty (Fr., Canby, Ore. / Canby HS), Irene Johnson (Fr., Portland, Ore. / David Douglas HS), and Lizzy Alaimo (Fr., The Dalles, Ore. / The Dalles HS). Twin sisters Anja Harder (So., Yamhill, Ore. / Yamhill-Carlton HS) and Naomi Harder (So., Yamhill, Ore. / Yamhill-Carlton HS) join newcomer Katie Servoss (F., Medford, Ore. / North Medford HS) as other sprinters the Bruins will call on frequently.
Leighty and another newcomer, Greta Erickson (Fr., Clallam Bay, Wash. / Clallam Bay HS), are also possible competitors in the heptathlon, joining returnee Terah Laack (Sr., Carson City, Nev. / Carson HS). "Our incoming freshman are hard working and will provide immediate impact on the conference scoring," says Smith.
The Bruins are deep and versatile in the jumps. Katie Alaimo (Sr., The Dalles, Ore. / The Dalles HS), Lizzy's older sister, is back to defend her conference long jump crown and also finished third in the high jump. Although Walsh was second at the NWC meet, she ended the season with the Conference's top mark. Brassard completed the Bruins' 1-2-3 sweep of the long jump. Emily Hodgin (Jr., Bellingham, Wash. / Squalicum HS) placed third in the triple jump at the Championships, but claimed the Conference's longest triple jump last year. Whitney Kolb (Sr., Jefferson, Ore. / Jefferson Christian HS) won the NWC triple jump as a freshman and is always a serious threat to win when competing. "We have a strong tradition in the jumps and will continue to have success due to the work and desire this group brings to the track," observes Smith.
Adding depth to the jumps squad are Lizzy Alaimo in the high jump, Erickson and Elisha Kampfe (So., Troy, Mont. / Troy HS) in the long jump, and Jessica Morrison (Jr., Klamath Falls, Ore. / Henley HS) from Linn-Benton College and the Bruin volleyball team in the triple jump. Sierra Whitehill (Fr., Portland, Ore. / Cleveland HS), a Bruin soccer player, will also participate in the jumps. Kampfe will use her blazing speed in the 100 meters as well.
Conference pole vault champion and NCAA participant Victoria Black graduated, but the Bruins welcome a talented new vaulter in Sarah Curry (Fr., Portland, Ore. / Beaverton HS), who had a high school best vault of 10-6. Connie Steiner (Jr., Aurora, Ore. / Waynedale HS), a transfer from Eastern Mennonite University, brings competitive experience to the team and will look to be a conference scorer. Other vaulters Smith can call on are returnee Reneca Bauer (So., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS) and newcomer April Thompson (Fr., St. Helens, Ore. / St. Helens HS).
The Bruins lost third-place conference discus thrower Cassandra Woods as well, so the throws group will be young with rookies Marlee Zakrevsky (Fr., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS) and Hannah Printz (Fr., Newport, Ore. / Newport HS), but their progress is coming along fast and will provide the women's team with help in all the throws.
The distance and mid-distance runners for the Bruins come mostly from the cross country team, including veterans Bethany Adams (Sr., Portland, Ore. / Westside Christian HS), Anna McLain (Sr., Medina, Wash. / Bellevue Christian HS), Bethany Strutz (So., Billings, Mont. / Billings HS), and Giffey-Brohaugh. "This group is not deep, but we feel they can provide us with help throughout the range of distances," says Smith.
Schedule
The season gets under way for the Bruins with the Linfield Icebreaker on Saturday, Mar. 1, at 9:00 a.m. With a new surface installed over the summer on the Bruins' Colcord Memorial Field, George Fox will host three events this spring: the Frank Haskins Invitational on Mar. 15, the Northwest Conference Multi-Events on Apr. 7-8, and the Northwest Conference Championships on Apr. 18-19.