Women's Indoor Track & Field Pre-Championship Webcast 

Christopher Newport’s athletic program joined the Capital Athletic Conference in 2013, and the Captains’ women’s track & field team had an immediate impact, hosting and winning the team championship by the largest margin in the three-year history of the indoor championship meet.

The fourth-annual CAC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship will be held at Christopher Newport’s Freeman Center, beginning at 10 a.m.

CNU scored 161 points to win the six-team championship in 2014 – the third different team champion in the three-year history of the meet.  Meanwhile, Mary Washington (86 points), Wesley (85 points) and Salisbury (71) points battled it out for second place.  Salisbury won the CAC title in the initial year of the championship (2012), followed by Mary Washington’s first-place effort in 2013.

Wesley’s third-place finish in the women’s team standings matched the Wolverines’ placement in the men’s standings, marking the first time in school history that either team achieved bronze-medal status in the final standings at a CAC track & field championship event (indoors or outdoors).

For the second time in four years, the CAC championship will boast seven competing teams.  The conference started indoor championship competition in 2012 with seven teams, but dropped down to five teams in 2013.  CNU was added to the championship lineup in 2014, and Penn State Harrisburg introduced its varsity indoor and outdoor program under coach Danielle Lynch this season.

Here is a brief look at each team heading into the 2015 championship:

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT enters the CAC Indoor Championships looking to defend their conference title. Guided by head coach Tyler Wingard, the Captains have pieced together a strong indoor season this year, including a tremendous effort by Enuma Ezenwa. The reigning CAC Indoor Co-Athlete of the Year ranks among the top-50 nationally in the 60-hurdles, high jump, and pentathlon. Additionally, Lydia Cromwell ranks among the league's top-five in both the 3000 and 5000, Karissa Love and Leah Richardson have paced the team in sprints, and freshmen Lillie Cummings, Kayla Jones, and Hannah Shoemaker have made a huge impact in the throws this year.

FROSTBURG STATE heads into the CAC Championships behind senior Alexis Bush (long jump) and a pair of freshmen in Kayla Truesdel (sprints) and Erin Early (hurdles). Bush is currently ranked 1st in the conference in the long jump (17ft. 7.5in./5.37m). Truesdel is ranked 1st in the 400-meter dash (1:00.88), 2nd in the 200-meter dash (26.40) and 3rd in the 60-meter dash (8.08), while classmate Early is ranked 3rd in the 60-meter hurdles (9.41).

MARY WASHINGTON will look to finish near the top of the championship standings with a balanced squad. Senior pole vaulter Claire Harrington, who broke her own school record two weeks ago at CNU, will again look to capture top honors, as will runners Lauren Braney and Teagan Young, both of whom advanced to the NCAA Championships in cross country. Throwers Elysa Baker, Sheree Turner, and Taylor Cockerille provide depth in the throwing events.

PENN STATE HARRISBURG has worked extremely hard in its first season competing in the CAC to earn the right to compete in the Championships.  Keep an eye on Katlin Gould who holds top times in the 200 and 400 meters as well as holding the 3rd highest pole vault in the CAC. Another athlete to keep an eye on is Erin Goodyear, who holds top throws in both the shot put and weight throw.

SALISBURY enters the 2014-15 indoor CAC championships, looking for its second indoor title, led by a strong group of athletes, as the Sea Gulls hold seven top-two places in the conference in the field events … Sophomore Paige DeMent holds the No. 1 spot in the shot put and the weight throw, with a 40’ 11” heave in the shot put and a 47’ 1.5” toss in the weight throw … The jumps are another strong point for SU, with sophomore Ashley Jackson holding the No. 1 spot in the conference with a 37’ 1.25” leap in the triple jump and the second spot with a 16’ 8.5” effort in the long jump … Both distances are school records set in the Christopher Newport Holiday Open … Freshman Christine Randall ranks second in the conference in the triple jump, with a 35’ 6.75” jump … Sophomore Sarah Taylor also set a school record at the CNU Holiday Open in the pole vault (10’ 11.75”) to rank second the CAC, and sophomore Meghan McGowan leads the conference with a top jump of 5’ 5.75” in the high jump..

WESLEY finished third at the CAC Indoor Championship last year, which was a program-best.  But head coach Stephen Kimes expects to move even higher in 2015.  Leading the charge is sophomore Elizsha Streeter, last year’s CAC Rookie of the Year, who is the top seed in all three sprints and will attempt the triple crown over the weekend. Streeter is also very likely to be looked upon in the 4x400m Relay along with classmate Angel Hall, freshman Quadira Minus and one of either Danae Carter, Chiquita Deline, Aja Russell and Alexia Mitchell.  Mitchell also ranks second in the CAC in the 60m Dash while freshman Ashley Morris is the second seed in the 60m hurdles.  On the field side, sophomore Taylor Rae Danforth ranks among the leaders in the pole vault while sophomore Kameko Webb heads the jumps team.

YORK enters the 2015 CAC Championships looking to improve on last year's finish. Head coach Stephen LoBianco will turn to distance stalwarts Jess Miller and Caroline DeLany to give York points in various distance events. Freshman Ericka Quenzer has proven to be a jack of all trades as she will compete in the sprints, the 60 hurdles, the high jump and various Spartan relays. Junior Bria Jones has been running well heading into championships as she gives LoBianco another scorer in the sprint event.