By Will Fairfax | Echo
Seventeen Taylor runners will head to the NAIA National Outdoor Championships starting May 23 at Indiana Wesleyan University IWU.
One more relay team will try to qualify for nationals at the Dr. Keeler Invitational held today in Naperville, Ill.
Coach Ted Bowers is excited about so many of his runners making it to nationals.
"For most of our team it's always a long term goal . . . it's tough to do," Bowers said. "There are years when we have only taken five or six kids, and this year we could have as many as 20 if all of our teams qualify. I think this year it shows the depth of our team to have our relay teams qualify like this."
Senior Henrietta Carey heads to nationals for the fourth time in the 100 meter run and looks to make it back to the final after making it in 2011. Last year, she missed the finals by two one-hundredths of a second. This year, she also qualified in the 200.
"It has always been an honor to qualify for nationals and get to compete against so many talented individuals from all over the world that you share a common passion with," Carey said.
Sophomore Elaine Schmeltz qualified for nationals in steeplechase. The women's 4x100 relay team consists of freshmen Angel Cartwright and Princess Sakeuh, sophomore Kehlay Dunah and Carey.
The women's 4x800 includes freshman Jane Hawks, sophomore Jenna Norris, Sarah Neideck and junior Tanya Rogers.
Junior Erin Price returns to nationals in the 400 meter hurdles after making the semifinals last year. Her coach said that she is someone to look out for in nationals.
"I think the 4x800 group could be very competitive," Bowers said. "We really think we have a good shot of getting to finals and score."
On the men's side, senior Corbin Slater qualified for nationals in javelin after just picking it up last year.
"It is such a crazy feeling to have made it to Nationals in the javelin, and I am currently ranked seventh in the nation," Slater said. "I started throwing as a joke to see if I could throw it further than my teammate Matt Thompson. After a few throws, I was throwing far enough to score at Conference, so Coach allowed me to throw."
Bowers was impressed with Slater making nationals, especially in just his second season in the event.
"It's a huge accomplishment," Bowers said. "I wasn't too surprised when he picked it up last year because he played a lot of baseball and he's just got good arm speed. He enjoys it and he's really worked at it, so it's a great reward for him. It's a big goal to accomplish."
Sophomore Brandan Wilchcombe and junior Luke Currens both qualified for nationals in the 110 meter hurdles.
The 4x800 men's relay team qualified for nationals, comprised of freshmen David Rodman, Schalk Van Niekerk, sophomore Scott King and junior Cerio Rolle.
As the season ends for everyone and and their career for the seniors, Carey said she is going to miss her teammates and the spring break trip the most.
"The thing I am going to miss most about TUTF is definitely when we go to Florida every year for Spring Break," Carey said. "It's just a huge opportunity to get to know everyone on the team on a personal and spiritual level."
Slater talked about his approach to his final event as a Trojan.
"I would really like to put it all on the line at Nationals," Slater said. "I have been nursing an elbow injury for the last month, so I have been afraid to throw as hard as I can. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I want to go all-american my last time competing."
Bowers, who will coach these men and women for the last time, talked about what he is going to miss most next year.
"The students. It's what it's all about," he said. "I love the sport, I love teaching it, but working with the students is the reason you do it. It's that simple."
