[Track and Field] 2019 Season Preview: Outdoor T&F
MONTREAT, N.C. – Coming off of multiple banner seasons, Montreat College track and field is looking to continue their recent successes into the 2019 outdoor season.
Last season, the men captured the inaugural Appalachian Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship and had a top-3 finish at the outdoor conference championships. On the women's side, the year was highlighted by Lydia Wilson's All-American effort in the marathon at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships.
This indoor season, the men snatched their second straight AAC title. In total, the Cavs were represented by six student-athletes at the NAIA Indoor National Championships, and Lydia Wilson garnered another All-American honor.
With effort and attitude as the strength of this year's team, the Cavaliers want to continue to raise the bar for what they can do as a program. "This is a hard-working group that wants to accomplish some big things," said director of track and field Jason Lewkowicz. "The squad was inspired by the success of the cross country teams in the fall and wants to continue building off of that."
The program has a lot of strong returners this season. On the men's side, Ahmad Perryman, Tom Hanke, Joshua Lester-Harris, Connor Duncan, and Rylan Hincher are all returning national qualifiers. AAC point scorers Caleb Silver (2018 AAC Champ – indoor 1k), Jacob Prater (triple jump), Troy Lieberman (pole vault) and Josh Auvil (throws) will look to join the group of national qualifiers.
Lydia Wilson has already qualified for the marathon at the outdoor national championships and looks set to have a great season. Katie Colenda has turned her focus to the pole vault and has made tremendous improvement, as has distance runner Madeline Sides.
As for newcomers, Coach Lewkowicz is excited about his incoming talent, including sophomore transfer Azavier Kirtley, who will help bolster the program's 4x400m relay. Pole vaulter Micah Matheson has NAIA qualifying potential as do distance standouts Nathan Richards and Antonio Gomez. Transfers Ben Schmidt and Steven Anhold have their sights set on the marathon podium at the conclusion of the outdoor season.
On the women's side, jumpers Alexus Preston and Romane Baudin look to make an impact in the AAC, as does distance runner Skyler Tait, who had a strong freshman cross country season.
New to the coaching staff this year is graduate assistant Mariah Cruise, who completed a standout career at Cedarville University and works with the throwers. The team also added 2016 Olympian Abbey (D'Agostino) Cooper as an assistant for the distance program.
The goal for the men this season is to win the AAC championship and take a strong contingent to the national championships. For the women, the squad wants to move up in the AAC standings and set the stage for a big jump next year with the large freshman class that is getting added to the already existing young talent.
The Cavaliers have several goals for this season off the track as well.
"We want to be active in the community by serving others and pointing them to the love of Christ, as well as pursue excellence in the classroom and our personal lives, all for God's glory. We also want to have fun and honor Christ in all that we do."
Outdoor season kicks off Friday, Mar. 15 at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational in Hickory, N.C. From there, the schedule is highlighted by a new trip to Emory University in Atlanta, as well as the Montreat College Invitational at the end of March. The Cavs are also set to host the AAC Outdoor Championships for the third year in a row.
Full 2019 Men's Outdoor Schedule
Full 2019 Women's Outdoor Schedule