TOWSON, MD. – The Towson University women's track and field team opens its 2018-19 season at the Navy Lid Lifter hosted by the Naval Academy this Saturday. Among the other teams competing include American, Georgetown, Morgan State, Mount St. Mary's, Wesley and William & Mary. Head Coach Mike Jackson and the Tigers enter the season with plenty of experience along with some talented newcomers.
"We've been practicing and competing with each other all fall, so it's great to finally have an opportunity to compete together against some other teams" Jackson said. "We have a very new team with outstanding ability so I'm a bit anxious with expectation and excitement."
Top returners for Towson include seniors
Liz Reid and
Arianna Waller. Last year at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships, Reid established a school record in the 400-meters and finished in fifth in a time of 54.98 seconds. Waller is the indoor school record holder in the 200-meters with a time of 24.50 seconds. She was sixth in the 200 at the ECAC Championships.
Other notable finishers at last year's ECAC Championships were
Phontavia Sawyer, who finished sixth in the shot put with her personal best of 48 feet, 11 inches and
Helnsarah Penda who earned an ECAC medal after placing in the 60-meter hurdles.
Jaina McLean is second all-time in program history in the 60 and
Taylor Giles received a medal in the ECAC for the weight throw.
Last year at the Invitational, Penda qualified for ECAC championships in the 60-meter hurdles finishing fifth with a personal record of 8.82 seconds. Sawyer finished in third in shot put.
Junior Jamilia Brown is someone the Tigers are looking to have a very good season as well as
Victoria Jones-Alleyne who is second all-time in the 60 hurdles.
The Tigers are bringing back 12 seniors who are all ready to lead the squad this season.
Shelby Bobbie,
Druex Collins,
Abby Gauthier,
Taylor Giles,
Rachel Laryea,
Naja McAdam, Mclean,
Liz Reid,
Naomi Roth, Sawyer, Waller and
April Sherrice Williams round out the senior class.
The junior class includes Brown,
Kaeshelle Ford,
Alexis Goodman,
Melissa Graham,
Nicki Iacaruso,
Erica Israel, Jones-Alleyne, and Penda.
Sophomores
Paige Keefer,
Jessica Manuel,
Sydnee Minor,
Jailyn Morris,
Christina Riggins, and
Siani Sellers are excited to contribute this season.
Towson's new faces include
Shamika Burton,
Hayley Horvath, Allie Kitchell,
Olivia Janke and
Crystal Johnson.
Competition is set to begin at the Wesley A. Brown Field House with the field events starting at 9:30.
Following the Lid Lifter the Tigers will take a quick break during the winter before they return on Jan. 11 as they travel to Blacksburg, Virginia for the Virginia Tech Invitational.
From there they will head to Pennsylvania for the Penn State Invitational on Jan. 25-26. As well as some student-athletes will participate in the Navy Invitational on Jan. 26.
February opens for the Tigers on Feb. 8 as Towson heads back to Annapolis for a third time to participate in the Navy Select.
A day later the Tigers head to Nashville, Tennessee to compete in the Music City Classic on Feb. 9.
Six days from that on Feb. 15 the Tigers head to Staten Island, New York for the Fastrack Last Chance Invite. All of these challenging meets will attempt to qualify participants for the ECAC and NCAA Division I Indoor Championships later in March.
