Women's Season Outlook - Q&A With Ralph Lindeman
1/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Jan. 26, 2004
Q: WHAT WILL THE STRENGTHS OF THE AIR FORCE WOMEN BE IN 2004?
A: The throwing events will definitely be our strongest - the four throwing events are our women's best opportunity to score in the Mountain West Conference and to qualify for the NCAA Championship competition. Junior Dominique Boivin (Shoreline, Wash.) is the defending MWC champion in the discus throw and could be among the national leaders this year.
Dana Pounds (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) barely missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships last year as a freshman. Junior Lacy DeWall (Bismark, N.D.) could also be among the national leaders in the javelin, if she can bounce back from a series of surgeries to her foot and elbow. Senior Jessica Perez (Fullerton, Calif.) is another returning conference scorer and NCAA qualifier from a year ago.
Then there's Olivia Korte (Seneca, Kan.). She could make a huge impact on the Falcons' success in the throwing events as just a freshman.
Q: HOW WILL THE FALCONS FARE IN THE DISTANCE EVENTS?
A: This has been our strength over the years and 2004 should be no exception. Senior Anne Chumlea (Enon, Ohio) will lead us in the distance races, while senior Kelly McPherson (RAF Mildenhall, England.) and junior Cindy Dawson (Yreka, Calif.) will pace us in the middle distance races. Senior Jean Taylor (Florissant, Mo.) could finish her year as the best steeplechaser the Academy has had in the short history of the event on the women's level. We have a terrific group of freshmen middle distance and distance runners as well.
Q: HOW WILL THE FALCONS PERFORM IN THE SPRINTS?
A: Historically, we have had trouble matching up with our opponents in these two areas, but I believe that this season we should see the best sprint-hurdle crew that we have seen in years. Junior Jami Hodge (Sachese, Texas) is developing into one of the fastest sprinters that the Air Force Academy has ever seen.
Q: HOW WILL AIR FORCE DO IN THE HURDLE EVENTS?
Hurdlers Rachael McIntosh (junior - Stafford, Va.), Paula Maffey (junior - Las Vegas, Nev.) and Jen Neville (sophomore - Cold Spring, N.Y.) all have the potential to score in the conference meet - with McIntosh competing in the 100-meter hurdles and Maffey and Neville taking part in the 400-meter hurdles. Freshman Dierra Poland (Deptford, N.J.) has shown tremendous potential in the 100-meter hurdles, as well. She is also expected to compete in the high jump and long jump.
Q: HOW WILL AIR FORCE MATCH UP IN THE FIELD EVENTS?
A: In addition to the throwing events that we've already mentioned, the Falcons will be vastly improved in the jumps. LaTravia Robinson (Waynesboro, Ga.) returns for her senior season, already holding USAFA school records in the long jump (outdoors) and triple jump (indoors). After enduring the 2003 season without a single high jumper, the Falcons will have a depth chart at least five-deep in that event during 2004.
(First-year) assistant coach 1Lt. Jacob Gensic is working with a very talented group of young pole vaulters this season. Junior Erin Richardson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) returns to the lineup along with sophomore Amy Gilliland (Tyrone, Pa.). They will be joined by a promising freshman, Becky Stone (Danville, Calif.).
Q: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THIS YEAR'S FRESHMAN CLASS?
A: Our coaching staff has paid a lot of attention to recruiting females to USAFA for our track and field program. We believe that we may have our best freshman class ever. Individuals like Dierra Poland and Olivia Korte have the potential to score in the Mountain West Conference right away.
Q: HOW DOES THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SENIOR CLASS HELP THIS TEAM?
A: We not only have terrific senior leadership on our women's team in team captains Anne Chumlea (distances), Jessica Perez (throws) and LaTravia Robinson (jumps), but we also have several juniors who are stepping up into leadership roles as well. Juniors like Cindy Dawson (distances), Dominique Boivin (throws) and Jami Hodge (sprints) have each taken on a leadership role in their event groups."
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE COMPETITION FROM THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE?
A: BYU, Colorado State and San Diego State should be the dominant teams in 2004...as they've been over the past few years. Wyoming is vastly improved and should be in the top half of the conference as well. Our hope is that we can be the 'best of the rest' and finish over UNLV, New Mexico and Utah in the conference championships. This goal may be more realistic during the outdoor season than during the indoor schedule, given our point potential in the throwing events.
Of course, we love having the conference indoor championships on our track (at the Cadet Field House). It gives our team a chance to showcase their performances to their peers in the Cadet Wing. Being in our home environment raises the level of our performance.
