Janel Blancett took third place in the women’s mile Friday in day one of the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C. The 2008 Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year finished with a time of 4:59.82, the senior’s new personal best. Senior Caitlin Price returned to competition in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York City on February 6. The two-time All CAA Cross Country and two-time All CAA Track honoree had not run competitively since 2008.
Voted Co-Captains of the cross country team, Blancett and Price will work with junior Rebecca Hallam, the 2007 CAA Cross Country Rookie of the Year, to make a splash at this year’s CAA championships. Former Georgia State Cross Country Head Coach Sylvia Kamp said, “Rebecca trained well in the offseason and thus far the three have been running together in practice. If they continue to do that, I see an opportunity to have three in the top five at the CAA championships.”
The Women’s cross country team has a chance to have one of its best seasons in the school’s history, and there are signs that GSU’s dominance in women’s cross country will continue. Transfers Jasmine Love, Kelle’ Ransom and Meghan Takacs along with freshmen Lauren Towers, Alison Bishop and Katherine Showalter are the future of the squad.
Takacs, a junior and transfer from the University of Georgia, was a captain for both track and cross country in high school where she won first place in the 4X800-meter relay and the 300-meter hurdles to advance to regionals.
Bishop, a native of Stockbridge, GA, lettered all four years in cross country and three in track while in high school. Bishop was the Region 4 3A champion in 2007 and 2008, Regional champion in the two-mile run in 2007, and was named Henry County Female Athlete of the Year in 2007-2008.
Showalter, out of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Academy, won a national championship in the 3,000 meter run and finished fifth in the 1,500 meter run in the 2008 USATF Nationals. Showalter improved on her personal best by over 30 seconds by finishing the women’s mile with a time of 5:36.46 Friday at the Tiger Paw classic.
The women’s track and field Team has its share of young talent as well. “We are the strongest we have ever been,” said head coach Eric Campbell. The 2010 Women’s Track and Field team has five CAA champions from four events including: Brandy Swann (400m), Tamika Kinchen (800m), Kendra LaFleur, Angelia Nugent and Bianca Tyson (4X100m) and Nugent and Swann (4X400m).
Sophomore Angelia Nugent continued where she left off last season with a dominating performance at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational as she won the college division triple jump with a season-best 12.13 meters. She was also a member of the 4X400-meter relay squad that won the college division of the event. Nugent also finished second in the 400-meter dash.
Freshmen Rickola Smith and Gabby Brooks, Nugent’s sister, are expected to be able to contribute with sprints immediately.
Leah Norman and Tamara Moore will help the panthers in the hurdles. “We are as deep as we have ever been at hurdles…I think it should be one of our premiere events this year,” said Coach Campbell.
Freshman Kelsye Holt, a state qualifier in the long jump all four years and a three year region long jump champion, should be able to contribute as well.
Another key addition to the squad is Amber White, a transfer from Coastal Carolina University. White won the 400-meter dash at the 2009 Big South Championships with a time of 55.57. The senior from Summerville, SC also was part of the winning 4X100-meter relay team that broke the Big South meet record with a time of 45.28.
Women’s track and field team launches new season
Published: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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Senior Caitlin Price returned to competition in New York on Feb. 6.
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