At the end of each season, I try to kind of wrap up my thoughts on the year. A few years ago, I tried assigning grades to all the Tech track athletes and got by butt kicked by some irate posters. Hey, folks, I do this for fun, so I thought I would come up with some a little less threatening that still looks at how everyone did this year.
For the Tech women it was an amazingly successful year, with the highest conference and national placement in program history. The amazing thing is that the success came with a team that was not very deep, but that had some amazing athletes leading the team.
My unscientific and wholly subjective categories where I put all the Red Raider athletes for this post are as follows: Far Exceeded Expectations, Exceeded Expectations, Met Expectations, Disappointing, Redshirts and Anyone Else. I added the Far Exceeded Expectations to acknowledge some very special athletes. Here goes:
FAR EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Sally Kipyego - Sr - how does a multiple-time national champ far exceed expectations? Well, she runs the fastest 10K in D-I history, she runs the fastest 5K championship time ever and blows away a good field, she runs a race far too short for her (the 1500) and smashes the school record and almsot wins the D-I race. That kind of thing! My gut tells me that Sally will turn pro before next year - she cannot run another outdoor season for Tech and would have to return next year for the XC and indoor season only. An amazing young woman who has left an indelible mark on Tech athletics.
Irene Kimaiyo - Sr-- an All-American as a junior in the 5K, Irene moved to the steeplechase in 2008 and made a real run at winning the whole thing this year. She had a terrific conference meet where she won the steeple and also volunteered to run the 10K to pick up some extra points and finished 4th.
Patience Knight - Jr - a true feel-good story, as Patience underwent chemotherapy during the 2007 season and came back from ordeal better and stronger than ever. She scored at nationals in the shot put and qualified for the Olympic Trials. What a great year for one of the nicest kids you will ever meet.
D'Andra Carter - Jr - a fantastic year for DeDe, who has become one of the premier discus throwers in America. She topped it off with a top-3 finish at nationals and will undoubtedly go into 2009 as the favorite to win it all. Another good kid who has improved steadily in each year at Tech.
Sandra Iwunze - So - I knew Sandra was good, but this year she moved into the GREAT category. I won't let a poor semifinals race at nationals negate what has been an outstanding campaign for Sandra. She was consistently in the top 10 in the nation. She broke the school record time after time. She will return next year as probably Tech's top threat on the track.
Chep Boit - Sr - a special "tip of the hat" to Chep, who spent the past 3 years as the team manager. This year, she decided to compete for Tech and she had a terrific season. She placed 6th in the steeple at conference and qualified for the regional meet. So, she far exceeded expectations, since I had NO expectations for her at all.
EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Jasmine Flournoy - Jr - really nice job by this former transfer from U of New Orleans (who dropped their program after Katrina). Jasmine improved dramatically from her first year at Tech. She was much stronger and that resulted in her placing at conference in the 400H and qualifying for regional, where she just missed the finals. Her performance was a really nice bonus this year.
Shannon Jackson - FR - Tech's top freshman this year. Ran consistently well all year. She did not quite drop below 2:10 in the 800 this year, but she ran right in the 2:11 range in virtually every race. With a tiny improvement, she will move under 2:10 and start contending at conference.
Gladys Kipsang - SO - Gladys underwhelmed me in 2007, but in 2008 she became a very steady runner. She qualified for regionals in the 800, where she also picked up big conference points. She also scored at conference in the 5K and ran the 1500 well a few times. If she improves as much this next year as she improved this season, she could become a serious conference contender in up to three races.
Ozie Okolie - SO - she has become another national contender in the hammer throw, consistently breaking the old school record this year. The only thing that downgraded her slightly is that she tailed off late in the season just a bit. She will be a conference and national contender in 2009 in the hammer.
MET EXPECTATIONS
Jonisha Boleware - SO (actually I think she might be freshman outdoors since she missed all of the outdoor season in 2007 due to injury) - Jonisha did a pretty good job of coming back from the foot injury that kept he out of all of 2007. When she came back, she was more of a quartermiler and less of a sprinter (100/200). She did not qualify for regionals, but she is close enough that I expect to see her do so in 2009.
Asia Diaz - JR - Asia had a slow start to the year indoors, but started coming back mid-season. She was able to best her PR in the 800 and place at conference and the regional meet. I truly believe that Asia has the capability to make it to nationals and hopefully 2009 will be the year that she puts it all together - she is already so close.
Michelle Guzman - FR - the only freshman distance runner to make at impact, Michelle shows great promise for the future. Michelle is a very tenacious runner and will probably help Tech in the 5K/10K in future years. She finished a highly competitive 11th place at conference in the 5K. I think she could even qualify for regionals in that race in 2009.
Kearci Jobe - FR - I debated where to put Kearci, who started off the year trying to become a heptathlete. Midway through the outdoor season, Kearci switched over to running the 800 exclusively and I think that could be her best event in the long term. She steadily improved in the 800, but will need a full year training only for that race to have an impact in 2009.
Kelsey Lloyd - FR - I hoped for really big things from Kelsey in the HJ. Lots of potential for the future, but for 2008 she still did fairly well. She scored in the HJ at conference, although she did not qualify for regionals. I think we will see Kelsey jumping 5-10 or above in 2009.
Kelley Schulz - SR - over the past 2 years, Kelley has had to come back from a terrible injury. She came back far enough to place at conference and to place at the regional meet in the PV(12-11.75). I would have loved to see her get back up to the level she attained prior to the injury (13-6 or above), but she still fought her way back into conference competitiveness.
Erica Worthy - JR - I thought Erica might have a great year, as she had a really good indoor year. Her outdoor season was okay until conference, when she ran a PR in the 400 (55.57) and just barely missed making the finals. If Erica would just build on this season, she could be a contender in 2009.
DISAPPOINTING
Janell Appelhans - SO - I keep hoping that Janell will consistently move into contention in the LJ. Early in the season she jumped 18-8 and I thought might mean she will move over 19 feet, but it was not to be. Tech needed a really good jumper and Janell just couldn't step it up. I do think that nagging injuries might also be hindering Janell.
Veronica DiLullo - SO - virtually verbatim comments as for Janell Appelhans, only for Veronica it is the triple jump. I was frankly surprised to see Veronica jump at the conference meet, but she is not conference-competitive. She has also been nagged by injuries.
Jessie Gibbs - FR - I think that Jessie might have redshirted, if Tech had not had to redshirt two if its vaulters due to injuries. Jessie did not come close to her best HS vault all year, then she no-heighted at conference. The good news - Jessie is young and has three more years to make her mark at Tech.
Katherine Priebe - FR - Tech redshirted most of the freshman distance runners. However, Katherine showed enough in cross country and indoors that she was one of the 2 freshman distance runners who did not redshirt. Her times just kept going up in each race and after mid-season she did not run. Katherine is a nice kid and I think there is some potential here, but this year was a disappointment for her.
Keshima Starks - JR - for 2 years, Tech has needed Keshima to step up in the 400 and this year she regressed, BADLY. For three years, Keshima has shown glimpses of the outstanding quartermiler she could be for Tech. But, in 2008 she went backwards in her progression. In 2009, she will have one last chance to turn into Licretia Sibley and she has the potential to do just that.
Ashley Williams - SO - looked like a real contender indoors. However, when she moved outdoors, she ran very poorly in the 400H. Ashley was right there with Sandra Iwunze in HS (she prepped at Fort Bend Hightower and spent one disastrous year at SFA). I think she is a sub 60-second 400 hurdler, but she did look like it this year. She lost the confidence of the coaches to the point that she did not even run at conference.
REDSHIRT - this may be the biggest category this year!
Amanda Alley - JR - good vaulter spent all year rehabbing an injury. We needed her at conference, but at least, she now has 2 more years.
Louise Cox - SR - losing Louise all year to nagging injuries doomed the 4X400 this year. The relay desperately needed Louise's speed AND experience. If Louise comes back from injury in a similar fashion as Shawon Harris did this year, the 4X400 is back to a contending team in 2009.
Chelsea Ervi - FR - a good HS distance runner, Chelsea completely lost her confidence in the ross country season. I hope that redshirting indoors and outdoors allows Chelsea to get stronger, build that confidence back and help in 2009.
Julianne Kennedy - SR - losing Julianne to injury at the Texas Relays was a terrible blow to this tear. Julianne is a real leader by example for this team. She is determined to come back from an ACL tear. Tech will apply for a medical redshirt for her and I think there is a good chance the NCAA will grant that request. I hope so, I want to see Julianne go out fighting!
Addison Lemaster - FR - she limped through a terribly painful, injury-plagued HS senior year (I saw her HS regional meet her senior year and it WAS painful to see her trying to qualify for state with a pronounce limp). I was glad to see her redshirt and try to build strength for the future. I think Addison could be one of the most pleasant surprises for the Red Raiders in 2009.
Krystal Lux - SO - transfer from McNeese ran on a limited basis indoors and did not look like someone who will help in the future.
Kayla Sayegh - FR - a cross country specialist in HS, Kayla ran one race unattached outdoors and she is a long ways from helping the team outdoors.
Tori Smith - JR - another injury that really hurt this team. In 2007, Tori improved to a conference-competitive level, placing at conference in the 100H. A nagging hamstring caused her to RS in 2008. If she can come back 100% in 2009, she will really help.
Katie Veith - FR - one of the top HS vaulters in the nation, Katie was the toast of the 2008 recruiting class. A back injury wiped out all of her indoor and outdoor season. Katie is a legit 14 foot vaulter - if she can mend, she can contend - both at the conference and national level.
Kaci Westervelt - FR - walkon distance runner who ran decently in cross country and who will probably train in the steeple, where Tech desperately needs someone for 2009.
OTHERS
Michelle Edman - SO - only ran one outdoor race all year.
RECRUITS
Terra Evans - FR from Phoenix - an exciting sprinter, who moved up in the recruiting world when she defeated the best Texas sprinter in the 100 at the Great Southwest meet in Albuquerque. Has times that should qualify for regional in the 100 and 200. Terra will help Tech's decimated sprint relay greatly.
Trudeann Clark - JR from New Mexico JC - a former JC national indoor champ in the 400, Trudeann had a really good freshman year and a mediocre soph year. If she comes in running like she did as a freshman, she will help in the open 200/400 and the 4X400 (which could improve dramatically in 2009).
Brintney Green - FR from Spring Westfield - she was 3rd in 5A state 800 as a HS freshman! She went back to state as a soph, then in spite of being a dominant halfmiler in the Houston area in 2007 and 2008, she missed state both years with disappointing runs at the regional meet. Lots of potential, she has run a 2:11 800.
Sage Lasater - FR from Stephenville - the 4A runnerup in the PV, Sage is a solid addition in an event where Tech is already loaded. If both Katie Veith and Amanda Alley are healthy, Sage (and even Jessie Gibbs) is a good candidate for redshirting.
Tech should be good again in 2009, but they will not be great. You can't be great when you lose 2 stars like Sally Kipyego and Irene Kimaiyo. The 2009 team will depend heavily on their throwers - Carter, Knight and Okolie. If everyone comes back from injuries, the team may actually be deeper (as in more people who qualify for the regional meet), but will have fewer national contenders than this year.
To me, what Tech still needs desperately is some sprinters - 100/200 types. Adding Terra Evans will be big, but there is the need for 1 or 2 more to really make a difference. Those will probably have to come from the transfer route. I will try to watch for any news of transfers that will make a difference.
For the Tech women it was an amazingly successful year, with the highest conference and national placement in program history. The amazing thing is that the success came with a team that was not very deep, but that had some amazing athletes leading the team.
My unscientific and wholly subjective categories where I put all the Red Raider athletes for this post are as follows: Far Exceeded Expectations, Exceeded Expectations, Met Expectations, Disappointing, Redshirts and Anyone Else. I added the Far Exceeded Expectations to acknowledge some very special athletes. Here goes:
FAR EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Sally Kipyego - Sr - how does a multiple-time national champ far exceed expectations? Well, she runs the fastest 10K in D-I history, she runs the fastest 5K championship time ever and blows away a good field, she runs a race far too short for her (the 1500) and smashes the school record and almsot wins the D-I race. That kind of thing! My gut tells me that Sally will turn pro before next year - she cannot run another outdoor season for Tech and would have to return next year for the XC and indoor season only. An amazing young woman who has left an indelible mark on Tech athletics.
Irene Kimaiyo - Sr-- an All-American as a junior in the 5K, Irene moved to the steeplechase in 2008 and made a real run at winning the whole thing this year. She had a terrific conference meet where she won the steeple and also volunteered to run the 10K to pick up some extra points and finished 4th.
Patience Knight - Jr - a true feel-good story, as Patience underwent chemotherapy during the 2007 season and came back from ordeal better and stronger than ever. She scored at nationals in the shot put and qualified for the Olympic Trials. What a great year for one of the nicest kids you will ever meet.
D'Andra Carter - Jr - a fantastic year for DeDe, who has become one of the premier discus throwers in America. She topped it off with a top-3 finish at nationals and will undoubtedly go into 2009 as the favorite to win it all. Another good kid who has improved steadily in each year at Tech.
Sandra Iwunze - So - I knew Sandra was good, but this year she moved into the GREAT category. I won't let a poor semifinals race at nationals negate what has been an outstanding campaign for Sandra. She was consistently in the top 10 in the nation. She broke the school record time after time. She will return next year as probably Tech's top threat on the track.
Chep Boit - Sr - a special "tip of the hat" to Chep, who spent the past 3 years as the team manager. This year, she decided to compete for Tech and she had a terrific season. She placed 6th in the steeple at conference and qualified for the regional meet. So, she far exceeded expectations, since I had NO expectations for her at all.
EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Jasmine Flournoy - Jr - really nice job by this former transfer from U of New Orleans (who dropped their program after Katrina). Jasmine improved dramatically from her first year at Tech. She was much stronger and that resulted in her placing at conference in the 400H and qualifying for regional, where she just missed the finals. Her performance was a really nice bonus this year.
Shannon Jackson - FR - Tech's top freshman this year. Ran consistently well all year. She did not quite drop below 2:10 in the 800 this year, but she ran right in the 2:11 range in virtually every race. With a tiny improvement, she will move under 2:10 and start contending at conference.
Gladys Kipsang - SO - Gladys underwhelmed me in 2007, but in 2008 she became a very steady runner. She qualified for regionals in the 800, where she also picked up big conference points. She also scored at conference in the 5K and ran the 1500 well a few times. If she improves as much this next year as she improved this season, she could become a serious conference contender in up to three races.
Ozie Okolie - SO - she has become another national contender in the hammer throw, consistently breaking the old school record this year. The only thing that downgraded her slightly is that she tailed off late in the season just a bit. She will be a conference and national contender in 2009 in the hammer.
MET EXPECTATIONS
Jonisha Boleware - SO (actually I think she might be freshman outdoors since she missed all of the outdoor season in 2007 due to injury) - Jonisha did a pretty good job of coming back from the foot injury that kept he out of all of 2007. When she came back, she was more of a quartermiler and less of a sprinter (100/200). She did not qualify for regionals, but she is close enough that I expect to see her do so in 2009.
Asia Diaz - JR - Asia had a slow start to the year indoors, but started coming back mid-season. She was able to best her PR in the 800 and place at conference and the regional meet. I truly believe that Asia has the capability to make it to nationals and hopefully 2009 will be the year that she puts it all together - she is already so close.
Michelle Guzman - FR - the only freshman distance runner to make at impact, Michelle shows great promise for the future. Michelle is a very tenacious runner and will probably help Tech in the 5K/10K in future years. She finished a highly competitive 11th place at conference in the 5K. I think she could even qualify for regionals in that race in 2009.
Kearci Jobe - FR - I debated where to put Kearci, who started off the year trying to become a heptathlete. Midway through the outdoor season, Kearci switched over to running the 800 exclusively and I think that could be her best event in the long term. She steadily improved in the 800, but will need a full year training only for that race to have an impact in 2009.
Kelsey Lloyd - FR - I hoped for really big things from Kelsey in the HJ. Lots of potential for the future, but for 2008 she still did fairly well. She scored in the HJ at conference, although she did not qualify for regionals. I think we will see Kelsey jumping 5-10 or above in 2009.
Kelley Schulz - SR - over the past 2 years, Kelley has had to come back from a terrible injury. She came back far enough to place at conference and to place at the regional meet in the PV(12-11.75). I would have loved to see her get back up to the level she attained prior to the injury (13-6 or above), but she still fought her way back into conference competitiveness.
Erica Worthy - JR - I thought Erica might have a great year, as she had a really good indoor year. Her outdoor season was okay until conference, when she ran a PR in the 400 (55.57) and just barely missed making the finals. If Erica would just build on this season, she could be a contender in 2009.
DISAPPOINTING
Janell Appelhans - SO - I keep hoping that Janell will consistently move into contention in the LJ. Early in the season she jumped 18-8 and I thought might mean she will move over 19 feet, but it was not to be. Tech needed a really good jumper and Janell just couldn't step it up. I do think that nagging injuries might also be hindering Janell.
Veronica DiLullo - SO - virtually verbatim comments as for Janell Appelhans, only for Veronica it is the triple jump. I was frankly surprised to see Veronica jump at the conference meet, but she is not conference-competitive. She has also been nagged by injuries.
Jessie Gibbs - FR - I think that Jessie might have redshirted, if Tech had not had to redshirt two if its vaulters due to injuries. Jessie did not come close to her best HS vault all year, then she no-heighted at conference. The good news - Jessie is young and has three more years to make her mark at Tech.
Katherine Priebe - FR - Tech redshirted most of the freshman distance runners. However, Katherine showed enough in cross country and indoors that she was one of the 2 freshman distance runners who did not redshirt. Her times just kept going up in each race and after mid-season she did not run. Katherine is a nice kid and I think there is some potential here, but this year was a disappointment for her.
Keshima Starks - JR - for 2 years, Tech has needed Keshima to step up in the 400 and this year she regressed, BADLY. For three years, Keshima has shown glimpses of the outstanding quartermiler she could be for Tech. But, in 2008 she went backwards in her progression. In 2009, she will have one last chance to turn into Licretia Sibley and she has the potential to do just that.
Ashley Williams - SO - looked like a real contender indoors. However, when she moved outdoors, she ran very poorly in the 400H. Ashley was right there with Sandra Iwunze in HS (she prepped at Fort Bend Hightower and spent one disastrous year at SFA). I think she is a sub 60-second 400 hurdler, but she did look like it this year. She lost the confidence of the coaches to the point that she did not even run at conference.
REDSHIRT - this may be the biggest category this year!
Amanda Alley - JR - good vaulter spent all year rehabbing an injury. We needed her at conference, but at least, she now has 2 more years.
Louise Cox - SR - losing Louise all year to nagging injuries doomed the 4X400 this year. The relay desperately needed Louise's speed AND experience. If Louise comes back from injury in a similar fashion as Shawon Harris did this year, the 4X400 is back to a contending team in 2009.
Chelsea Ervi - FR - a good HS distance runner, Chelsea completely lost her confidence in the ross country season. I hope that redshirting indoors and outdoors allows Chelsea to get stronger, build that confidence back and help in 2009.
Julianne Kennedy - SR - losing Julianne to injury at the Texas Relays was a terrible blow to this tear. Julianne is a real leader by example for this team. She is determined to come back from an ACL tear. Tech will apply for a medical redshirt for her and I think there is a good chance the NCAA will grant that request. I hope so, I want to see Julianne go out fighting!
Addison Lemaster - FR - she limped through a terribly painful, injury-plagued HS senior year (I saw her HS regional meet her senior year and it WAS painful to see her trying to qualify for state with a pronounce limp). I was glad to see her redshirt and try to build strength for the future. I think Addison could be one of the most pleasant surprises for the Red Raiders in 2009.
Krystal Lux - SO - transfer from McNeese ran on a limited basis indoors and did not look like someone who will help in the future.
Kayla Sayegh - FR - a cross country specialist in HS, Kayla ran one race unattached outdoors and she is a long ways from helping the team outdoors.
Tori Smith - JR - another injury that really hurt this team. In 2007, Tori improved to a conference-competitive level, placing at conference in the 100H. A nagging hamstring caused her to RS in 2008. If she can come back 100% in 2009, she will really help.
Katie Veith - FR - one of the top HS vaulters in the nation, Katie was the toast of the 2008 recruiting class. A back injury wiped out all of her indoor and outdoor season. Katie is a legit 14 foot vaulter - if she can mend, she can contend - both at the conference and national level.
Kaci Westervelt - FR - walkon distance runner who ran decently in cross country and who will probably train in the steeple, where Tech desperately needs someone for 2009.
OTHERS
Michelle Edman - SO - only ran one outdoor race all year.
RECRUITS
Terra Evans - FR from Phoenix - an exciting sprinter, who moved up in the recruiting world when she defeated the best Texas sprinter in the 100 at the Great Southwest meet in Albuquerque. Has times that should qualify for regional in the 100 and 200. Terra will help Tech's decimated sprint relay greatly.
Trudeann Clark - JR from New Mexico JC - a former JC national indoor champ in the 400, Trudeann had a really good freshman year and a mediocre soph year. If she comes in running like she did as a freshman, she will help in the open 200/400 and the 4X400 (which could improve dramatically in 2009).
Brintney Green - FR from Spring Westfield - she was 3rd in 5A state 800 as a HS freshman! She went back to state as a soph, then in spite of being a dominant halfmiler in the Houston area in 2007 and 2008, she missed state both years with disappointing runs at the regional meet. Lots of potential, she has run a 2:11 800.
Sage Lasater - FR from Stephenville - the 4A runnerup in the PV, Sage is a solid addition in an event where Tech is already loaded. If both Katie Veith and Amanda Alley are healthy, Sage (and even Jessie Gibbs) is a good candidate for redshirting.
Tech should be good again in 2009, but they will not be great. You can't be great when you lose 2 stars like Sally Kipyego and Irene Kimaiyo. The 2009 team will depend heavily on their throwers - Carter, Knight and Okolie. If everyone comes back from injuries, the team may actually be deeper (as in more people who qualify for the regional meet), but will have fewer national contenders than this year.
To me, what Tech still needs desperately is some sprinters - 100/200 types. Adding Terra Evans will be big, but there is the need for 1 or 2 more to really make a difference. Those will probably have to come from the transfer route. I will try to watch for any news of transfers that will make a difference.
