North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Track Outlook
11/16/1999 12:00:00 AM | Track
Last season was a good one for the NC State men's track & field team. The team came away with a third place finish at the indoor ACC Championships, and then followed that up with a fourth place finish during the outdoor season.
The Pack had individual champions in Chan Pons in the 5,000 meters during the indoor season, and Brendan Rogers in the 1,500 meters and David Patterson in the 10,000 meters both accomplished that feat at the outdoor ACC Championships.
So once again the Wolfpack will be looking to improve its status in the ACC, and with this year's track & field team that success will have to start with the Pack's many distance runners.
Distance
Year in and year out, the NC State cross country program is one
of the top programs in the country. NC State always has strong
performances in the distance events from its cross country participants,
and this year will be no different.
"This year we are really heavy in the distance events," said Geiger. "The cross country team this year will have to get it done on the track as well."
This year's distance runners are led by several All-Americans and conference champions. The Pack had three distance runners that qualified for the NCAA Championships during last year's outdoor season.
Leading the way this season will be one of NC State's strongest senior classes ever. Abdul Alzindani placed 15th in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA's, and also earned All-ACC honors in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Fellow senior Chan Pons also qualified for the NCAA's in the 5,000 meters, and Pons was also the ACC champion in the 5,000 meters during the indoor season. Brendan Rodgers was the third qualifier for the NCAA's, and he did it in the 1,5000 meters. Rodgers was named All-ACC during the outdoor season after becoming the ACC champion in the 1,500 meters.
Besides those three seniors, the Pack will also return many other proven veterans. Junior Chris Dugan returns after taking a redshirt last year. Dugan was fifth in the world in the 3,000 steeplechase two years ago. Sophomore David Patterson was the ACC champion in the outdoor 10,000 meters last season.
Add to the mix senior Aaron Saft who earned All-ACC honors with a second place finish in the mile at the indoor ACC's, and fellow senior Corby Pons who was second at the 1999 ACC Championships in cross country, and there is no doubt this year's distance runners should be very strong.
Sprints
Returning for the NC State sprinters is perhaps one of the Pack's
best athletes in junior Tyrone Dozier. After transferring from ECU,
Dozier was NC State's top sprinter last season, and will be looked to
reprise that role this season.
"Our main sprinter this year will be Tyrone Dozier," said Geiger. "He is a NCAA qualifier, and he will have to carry the load."
Dozier was NC State's top performer in the 200 and the 400 meters. During the outdoor season, Dozier received one NCAA provisional mark in the 200 meters, and three provisional marks in the 400 meters. Also, Dozier placed third at both the indoor and outdoor ACC Championships in the 400 meters, and picked up a sixth place finish in the 200 meters during the outdoor season.
Joining Dozier this season will be sophomore Jonathan Johnson. Johnson was the Pack's second best performer in the 400 meters. Newcomer Aahmese King will look to make and immediate impact in his freshman season as well.
Throws
This year's group of throwers will be young with somewhat limited
experience, but they have the potential to surprise many people.
The throwers are mostly a sophomore lead group. Isaiah Oglesby will be looked to lead the team as the top thrower after sitting out last season.
"We redshirted Isaiah Oglesby last season and we think he is a high quality thrower which we did not have last year," said Oglesby. Add to this group fellow sophomores Randy Cass, Richard Cook, and Ryan Furlough and the Pack should have some positive results in the throwing events.
Pole Vault
The pole vaulters on the 2000 roster are very experienced and
have had strong seasons for NC State in the past, and will look to carry
on that tradition this season.
"We think the pole vault will be a good event for us this year," said Geiger. "We feel very strongly in the abilities of the guys we have." Heading up this group will be seniors Zack Whitlow and Jake Woehr. Whitlow was sixth at the indoor ACC Championships, and had a strong finish during the outdoor season.
Sophomore David Kessler will look to improve on a strong rookie campaign, where he posted the Pack's top marks in the indoor and outdoor season. Kessler also finished an impressive fourth at the outdoor ACC Championships.
Jumps
The NC State program has always taken pride in the performance of
its jumpers, and the jumps are always some of NC State's best events.
This season, the Pack has a talented pool of athletes which should help
to gain points at the ACC Championships.
Brandon Brown will be looking for a strong sophomore performance after putting together one of the best freshman seasons in school history. Brown placed second at the indoor ACC Championships in the high jump, but now must recover from a broken leg to be at full strength for this season.
"Brandon had a strong indoor season, and then he broke his leg," said Geiger. "So we definitely want to get him back healthy and back into the lineup."
Senior Curtis Brookshire and sophomore Joseph Brent will be the Pack's primary long jumpers once again, while senior Eric Fonville will provide added depth in the high jump.
