Spring sports season is here and that means men’s and women’s track and field season is under way. They have high hopes and confidence for the team as men and women have key returners lacing up their spikes for one more season.

Senior 2007 NCAA Championship qualifier Raphael McFarlane and 2007 Big Sky 200 meter dash champion Jody Johnson will be leading the sprints this year as they look to defend their title as Big Sky Indoor Champions for the year of 2007.

Leading the pack for the distance runners is senior 800 and 1500 meter runner Jeff Paneda. Right by his side is junior 3K, 5K and steeple chase runner Dominic Vogl.

More key returners are senior Daniel Imlach, who holds the school record in the pole vault , and the sophomore duo of Jason Nelson and Jermaine Wilson that made up half of the 2007 Big Sky Championship 4×400 meter relay team.

“We are looking to repeat and hold the title this year as we have a strong men’s team. Preseason polls have us in the hunt for the championship this year,” said coach Kathleen Raske.

Nelson said Northern Arizona University and Weber State will be the toughest competitors this year for the title.

Key factors for the men’s side are senior decathlete Robert Brazier and senior 200 and 400 meter runner Alex Jackson. Although they faced injuries during the 2007 season, staying healthy this season will be a big lift for the men’s team.

For the women’s side, senior sprinter and jumper Tyreina Henley-Henderson, aka “Bunky,” and 2007 West Regional Qualifer in both long and triple jump last year, senior Lori Vaught will be leading the team as they have a lot of new faces on the squad. Also, 2007 West Regional Qualifier senior javelin thrower Ashley Ast will be one of the top guns in the women’s lineup.

They will be also looking for junior jumper and sprinter Carlyn Whitney and junior hurdler Morinsola Keshinro to step up as a big force for the team this year.

“We have a very young and very talented group on the women’s side. We are looking for some of the new-comers to make an impact early this year,” Raske said.

The team is young indeed, with 19 true freshman on the squad.

A key factor for the women’s team is senior pole vaulter Melissa Adams, as she competed in only 8 meets total in 2007 because of knee surgery.

The teams took on a number of schools, including University of Texas, Baylor and the University of Washington in its indoor season opener at the University of Washington on Friday and Saturday. Nineteen Hornets qualified in 31 events for the Big Sky Conference Championships.

“This meet is going to be high intensity, so it will be a good start to see how everyone competes to start the season,” Henly-Henderson said.

David Green can be reached at [email protected]