Coker Women’s Track and Field Set for a Scintillating 2015-16 Season
The Coker College women's track and field team begins its season on Saturday at the Gamecock Indoor Open
HARTSVILLE, S.C. – After a 2014-15 season that saw 84 top-10 finishes, four third-place finishes, five runner-up showings and two wins, the Coker College women's track and field team is ready to better those totals with the 2015-16 season beginning on Saturday (Jan. 9).
"The ladies put in those extra hours of practice and I am eager to see how we perform this season," said Morgan.
The Cobras will use the first half of their season to compete in indoor events, with the second half of the schedule being the outdoor season. Led by second-year head coach Benny Morgan, the Navy and Yellow will look to use what knowledge they gained from last year's debut season and apply that to what hopes to be a strong showing in 2015-16.
"My goal for the indoor season is to strengthen our chemistry," said Morgan. "This team is very balanced and we will be competitive in sprints, hurdles, middle-distance, jumps. The one spot we are hoping to improve on this year is our throwing."
The roster of 23 is made up of eight freshmen, 11 sophomores, thee juniors and 1 senior and the Cobras return much of last season's squad that saw a wealth of good finishes. Five ladies in all recorded 10 or more top-10 finishes last season, highlighted by the 15 recorded by Da'Sha Jobes. Classmates Talicia Murphy and Lisa Foster registered 13 and 12 top-10 finishes, while Shauntel Smullen and Noella Leake notched 10. Autumn Walters brought home one of Coker's first place finishes to go along with nine top-10 showings.
"We have a strong returning class that got their feet wet last year, performed well and brought home some great finishes," said Morgan.
Newcomers include Kaylah Ruff who will run in the 100 and 400-meter hurdles and Briana Nixon who will run in the 200 and 400-meter.
"Based on high school success, I expect Kaylah and Briana to have solid freshman seasons, but we need all of our freshman to be ready to step in and contribute," said Morgan.
The 2015-16 schedule includes trip to the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Winthrop University along with trips to SAC foes Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate.
The Cobras get their season underway on Saturday (Jan. 9) when they travel to Columbia, S.C. for the Gamecock Indoor Open. Races begin at 9 a.m.