Falcons Expect Strong Season
Courtesy of Matt Stewart, Sentinel & Enterprise
Fitcbhurg State looking to soar in 2014-15
FITCHBURG -- The Fitchburg State University women's indoor track team is only a week into its season, but it looks like the Falcons are gearing up for some good showings as the season progresses.
After just one week of competition, more than two-thirds of the team's athletes have already clinched a spot in the conference championship meet. That hot start could bode well as the team continues to rise up the MASCAC ranks.
"We had our first meet Saturday and we're very optimistic for a strong season," Fitchburg State head coach Jamie Aubuchon said. "Our numbers are up to 30 from 25, and it was a strong outing so far. Our first individual goal is to qualify for the MASCAC championship, and 20 out of the 27 women who competed on Saturday did that. The ones who haven't qualified are very close to doing it."
Senior Jenae Harrison is hoping to follow up a strong cross country season with an even stronger indoor slate. Harrison will be primarily a middle-distance runner, focusing mostly on the 800-meter run, for which she is the defending MASCAC champion.
"Harrison is coming into her indoor season in the best shape ever," Aubuchon said. "She proved it Saturday by running her all-time best indoor half-mile, 2:21.56, on the first day of the year."
Arthina Robert was a star the minute she set foot on the Pearl Street campus, and now as a senior she is hoping to add to her illustrious sprinting career by qualifying for the ECACs again and upping her performance.
"(Robert) started off the season a little bit slower than last season," Aubuchon said. "Last year she qualified for the championships the first day, this year she's only 0.06 seconds away. Within a couple of weeks she should be qualifying for all those meets, as well."
The third senior captain, Rebecca McClure, already owns the Fitchburg State pole vault record (10 feet, 11.75 inches) and is looking to boost that mark even higher in her final season. McClure had a history battling it out for MASCAC supremacy with a former Westfield State vaulter, and now will have another Owl for a rival this year.
"McClure is certainly a favorite to be up at the top again this year," Aubuchon said. "Westfield has a freshman who can challenge her (for her MASCAC title defense). She's currently ranked No. 2 in the conference."
In addition to a star-studded senior class, there are some underclassmen looking to make a big statement as the season rolls on. Sophomore Morgan Steele returns after a strong freshman year in the throwing events, and already has a personal record in the weight throw at 13.18 meters.
"Last year, Steele missed qualifying for New England's by four inches," Aubuchon said. "They increased the qualifying standard this year by three or four feet, and she threw three to four feet better Saturday, and she missed qualifying by one inch."
Freshman Nicole Gaffney, a Wachusett Regional graduate, will be the strong Falcon in the mile and other distance events. Another impactful freshman is Annie Woolley, a strong 60-meter hurdler.
Another star freshman is Jenna Phelps, a high school standout in the hurdles and middle sprints. If Phelps can avoid some chronic injuries from popping up, she could be a surprise potent weapon in the conference championship.
"We limit what Phelps can do to keep her healthy," Aubuchon said. "We don't train her as hard as we'd like to, to keep her injury from flaring up. She already has the second-best time in the conference in the 400 meters, and missed qualifying for New Englands by 0.06 seconds."
The Falcons do have a little bit of depth to boast in some of the relays, including DIII New England qualifying 4x400 of Phelps, Sadie Zbikowski, Holly Sessler and Karollynn Wickless-Adams.