The 2002 Men's Preview
11/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Nov. 15, 2001
Before each season begins head track coach Ralph Lindeman and his staff evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of his team. They use their assessments as a barometer once the competition begins. They know how to get the best out of every team member in their respective events. Proof of that came last season when Lindeman's peers in the Mountain West Conference voted him as both the indoor and outdoor Coach of the Year. Such an honor is usually reserved for the coach whose team walks away with the conference championship. In Lineman's case it came after his men finished third during the indoor championships and second during the outdoor championships. As the Falcons prepare for the 2002 indoor and outdoor campaign, here is how Lindeman sees his team and the season.
WHAT WILL BE THE FALCONS' STRENGTH IN 2002?
"Mark Stanforth's distance and middle distance runners will again be the strength of the team, coming off their Mountain West Conference runner-up finish in cross country this past fall.
Senior Brian Carpenter, already the Falcons' school record-holder in the 1500-meters at 3:44.42, should leave a legacy as one of USAFA's best ever middle distance runners by the end of 2002. Joining Carpenter is a very promising young group consisting of juniors Jim Blech and Jason Sanders, sophomore Bryant Bevan, and freshmen Danny Soule and Rob Dunphy.
Although two-time MWC Champion and NCAA all-American Shane Rogers graduated, the 3000-meter steeplechase will be in very capable hands of seniors Albert Kelly and David Romero. Romero was injured during the 2001 season, but with a personal best of 9:03.76 in 2000, he can be expected to run under 9:00 this season. Kelly has scored in the past two MWC Championships.
The 5000-meters and 10,000-meter events will be led by sophomore standouts Chris Acs and Ben Payne. Juniors Rudy Taute and Adam Chitwood are capable of scoring in the MWC as well, and newcomers Brian Dumm, Eric Goff, Michael Joanos and Tom Kubler could surprise."
HOW ABOUT THE SPRINTS AND HURDLES?
"The sprint events were a liability for the Falcons in 2001, but I expect significant improvement this season. Junior Paul Mayo is the top returnee in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, and sophomore Nick Bromberek, who scored in four events at last spring's MWC championships, will give a big boost in both the 200-meters and 400-meters. I believe freshman Derrick Powell is one of the most promising young sprinters the Falcons have ever had here.The hurdle events will be significant strength for the 2002 team-juniors Marc Fulson and Tom Clark both place third in the conference in the 110-meters and 400-meter hurdles respectively last spring. They'll be joined by an extremely talented sophomore group of Jim Campbell, Luke Marker and Sean Temple. I believe these young athletes will develop into the best group of hurdlers since the world record-setting group of the early '70's."
HOW STRONG WILL THE FALCONS BE IN THE FIELD EVENTS?
"Senior Paul Golando leads a promising group of young jumpers hoping to score in the MWC. In 2001, Golando scored in the MWC in the high jump, long jump and triple jump both indoors and outdoors! Sophomore Tim Hughes earned all-MWC honors last season in both indoors and outdoors in the high jump. Sohomore Anthony Park was the surprise winner of both the MWC long jump and triple jump titles at San Diego State last May. He'll be joined by Bromberek in the long jump and fellow sophomore Chris Banks in the triple jump.
Sophomore Paul Goossen (16'0?" last season) leads the pole vaulters, with fellow seniors Rob Thompson and Greg Starling both expected to top the 16-foot mark in 2002. Coach Scott Irving has also assembled the best freshman class of vaulters in the country-Paul Gensic had the third best high school mark in the nation last spring at 16' 9?", and fellow frosh Christian Morgan, Trey Fryman and Erik Mirandette all vaulted in the mid-15 foot range.
The graduation of Shawn Johnson will be sorely felt in the shot put and discus, but a young group of promising throwers are waiting in the wings. Coach Irving expects junior David Thompson to ultimately be an NCAA qualifier in the discus throw. Matt Mai from the football team will add strength in the shot put.
Junior Tim Fritz was the MWC runner-up in the javelin last spring, and is expected to pass the 200-foot mark in 2002. Senior football player Zach Johnson returns to throw the javelin for us after scoring in that event in the 2000 MWC championships.
With Nick Herald red shirting this season, Tom Clark and junior Justin Ballinger will provide the leadership in the combined events, but I am very excited with a young group of decathletes-freshmen Christian Morgan, Erik Mirandette and J.P. Waller could dominate the decathlon in the MWC over the next four years, setting USAFA records on the way. "
HOW DOES THE 2001 MEET SCHEDULE LOOK?
"The FaIcons will be hosting both the indoor and outdoor Mountain West Conference Championships in 2002. In addition to a complete slate of exciting home indoor meets and annual treks to the major relay meets (Texas, Mt SAC and Drake), the Falcons have some exciting scoring meets on tap in 2002 as part of the USTCA/Collegiate Series. Indoors, Arizona and Stanford join CSU in meeting the Falcons in what is being billed as the Mountain West-PAC-10 Challenge the first weekend in February. Outdoors the Falcons travel to Arizona where they will also meet Boise State and Kansas State in late March, then host Colorado, Wyoming and UNC in mid-April before traveling to Indiana to meet Indiana and Purdue in a triangular meet the first weekend in May. "
HOW DOES THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE SHAPE UP?
"BYU again will be a favorite to win both indoor and outdoor championships in 2001. But after placing second outdoors the past two seasons, the Falcons hope to challenge the Cougars this spring. Rival Colorado State should provide major competition for the Falcons as well."
WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED NATIONALLY?
"One goal of the entire coaching staff is to qualify more individuals than ever for the NCAA Championships. Those with the potential include Brian Carpenter in the 1500-meters, David Romero in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Marc Fulson in the 110-meter hurdles and Tom Clark in the 400-metere hurdles, Anthony Park in the long jump and Tim Fritz in the javelin throw. Don't count out young Paul Gensic in the pole vault either."
Lindeman can't help but smile when he thinks about the prospects for 2002. He feels that this year's recruiting class is possibly the best ever. If the young athletes can meld successfully with the old veterans then all that remains is getting the maximum out of each athletes' potential. If that is achieved, then 2002 could very well be the year a championship trophy is added to the Falcons' case.
