Female tracksters feeling young
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This year, youth will try to be a spark for the Iowa women’s track and field team.
What you should know
Heading into the 2009 season, the Iowa women’s track and field team was unsure just what it would have. The previous team featured three All-Americans. With only one of those returning, the team was forced to look to the abundance of youthful talent.
The Hawkeyes found part of their answer in hurdling sensation and junior-to-be Karessa Farley.
After a freshman season in which she had a rough time with injuries that forced her to forgo the outdoor portion of the season and get healthy for her sophomore season.
The rest paid off; Farley took sixth in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA national meet and joined teammate and outgoing senior Racheal Marchand as an All-American.
“[Farley] went in seeded 13th and wasn’t expected to make the finals,” Iowa head coach Layne Anderson said. “She didn’t let the pressure get to her and performed well.”
Never one to rest on her laurels, Farley will try to build on the solid foundation that she has set for herself in her second year on campus.
“I definitely have more confidence,” she said.
Whom you should know
Sophomores-to-be Betsy Flood and McKenzie Melander have been a force right from the start along with several other from the class of 2012.
“I feel that there is a lot of potential in everyone,” Flood said. “Hopefully, we can do big things together.”
They have done so throughout the 2009 season, and without leader Marchand around, the 2010 campaign will be a new experience for the young core of the team.
Anderson also has high hopes for the next crop of Hawkeye runners and athletes. So far, he has managed to sign eight women who he feels can be national competitors.
“Two of the women are ready to be All-Americans already,” Anderson said.
Main rival
The Hawkeyes do not have any main rivals in women’s track and field.
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