Jan. 13, 2006
HOUSTON, Texas - The UTA men's and women's indoor track and field teams open the 2006 season at the Houston Indoor Opener at the Yeoman Field House here Saturday.
The men's team returns the Southland Conference's defending 60-meter hurdle champion in senior Adam Stafford (Merkel, Texas). Junior sprinter Jared Connaughton (Charlottetown, Canada) looks to build off his success last summer where he won a gold medal at the Canada Summer Games. Plagued by injuries during his 2005 indoor season, Connaughton will compete in the sprints and relays for the Mavericks.
Junior Quinchun Carey (Fort Worth, Texas) qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2005. Juniors Coby Morrison (Wichita Falls, Texas) and Jon McDowell (Odessa, Texas) bring experience to the hurdle events.
Thirteen freshmen will make their first indoor appearance Saturday.
Newcomer Andrew Duncan III (Austin, Texas) has personal bests of 6-10 in the high jump, 23-3 in the long jump and 47-2 in the triple jump during his prep career. He placed third at the 2005 UIL State Track and Field Meet in the Class 4A high jump with a height of 6-8.
The women's team will be bolstered by middle distance runner Ivorita Taylor (St. Elizabeth, Jamaica). Taylor finished second in the SLC in the 800 meters last winter with a 2:16.64. Pole vaulter Lacey Moore (Great Bend, Kan.) earned all-SLC honors last indoor season in the pole vault with an 11-05 3/4.
Joining Taylor in the middle distances is indoor season redshirt Heather Isbell (Keller, Texas) and sophomore Jodi Hulett (Arlington, Texas). Both finished in the top 15 at the 2005 SLC Cross Country Championships.
Newcomer Stacey Bennett (Kingsville, Texas) is expected to make an immediate contribution in the high jump. She will try and eclipse the indoor record of 5-9 1/2 set by Sara Massey in 1988.
In all, the Mavericks women welcome eight athletes to the squad -- Bennett, freshman sprinter Chenell Benson (Austin, Texas), freshman pole vaulter Erin Cluiss (Forney, Texas), freshman distance runner Caroline Erlingson (Angelholm, Sweden), freshman sprinter Charquenta Dishmon (Bastrop, Texas), freshman jumper Kymbra Lovan (Killeen, Texas), freshman sprinter Latasha Watson (Harker Heights, Texas) and freshman sprinter Elizabeth White (Rowlett, Texas).
