TRACK TEAM OPENS INDOOR SEASON AT URSINUS TOMORROW

The Bryn Mawr indoor track-and-field team, led by a strong blend of leadership, experience and youth, will begin their season on January 20 at the Ursinus Open at 4 p.m. The Owls will compete this year without Joanna Simonis '05 and Melissa Leedle '05, but will boast a talented group of returners and newcomers.

Simonis, who owns the Centennial Conference record for the 800-meter run (both indoors and outdoors), had the third-fastest Division III indoor time in the nation last year (2:12.90). Simonis anchored all three of Bryn Mawr's record-setting relays least season (4x400, 4x800 and distance medley) and also owns the school record in the mile indoors. Leedle, who owns the indoor school records for the 1500 and 5000-meter runs, was also a member of Bryn Mawr's 4x400- and 4x800-meter record relay squads.

Three returning school record holders are Cara Petonic '07, Sara Chan '07 and Ashley Dawkins '08. Petonic owns the school record in the triple jump (32'0.25") and was a member of the record-setting 4x200-meter relay team last year. Chan, who is returning from her junior year abroad in South Africa, was also a member of the 4x200-meter relay squad that set a school record with a time of 1:56.51. Chan will run the 400-meter dash and compete on the 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay teams. After an excellent fall season with the Bryn Mawr field hockey team, Dawkins will look to contribute heavily to the team this year after running on the record-setting 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley teams in 2004-05.

Several of Bryn Mawr's cross country runners from this season will make a big impact on this year's indoor track-and-field team. The Owls' only two seniors, Jessie Posilkin and Lana Momani, will lead Bryn Mawr in 2005-06. Both Posilkin and Momani captained the cross-country team this past fall and will lead Bryn Mawr's indoor distance events.

Katie Weng '09, the Owls' top harrier in 2005, will aim to leave her mark in both the mile and 800-meter run this year. Tonda Shimbo '07, who scored in the mile (eighth place) at last year's Centennial Conference Championships, and classmate Carolyn Cost '07 will both look to make a smooth transition from cross country to track in 2005-06. Cost will see meet time in the 800-meter run this season.

Four other cross country runners, Meg Grehl '08, Hannah Hagstrom '08, Giovanna Hayward '08 and Camille Jones '09, will be a key component of Head Coach Dan Talbot's indoor squad. Grehl should be a strong competitor in the mile and may also see action in the 3,000-meter run and the relays. Hayward and Hagstrom will both see track time in the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run, while Jones' indoor season will be her first time running track.

Talbot's roster features several newcomers, including Rahel Ayalew '07, Jennifer Millkey '09 and Sydney Silver '09, who will all be running track for the first time. Menda Francois '09 and Whitney McDonald '08 will also experience Bryn Mawr track and field for the first time this season. Francois did triple jump and ran the mile and two-mile in high school and will sprint and jump for the Owls. McDonald will participate in the 55-, 200- and 400-meter dashes.

Sara D'Angio '07 and Lisa Grandner '09, along with Silver, join the indoor track team after competing for Bryn Mawr's varsity club rugby team this fall. D'Angio was a pole vaulter in high school but will throw shot and sprint for the Owls. Grandner will also sprint and throw shot this season.

After the Ursinus Open on Jan. 20, Bryn Mawr will make the short trip to Haverford on Jan. 28 for the McElligot Invitational (11 a.m.). For the Owls' complete indoor schedule, please click here.

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