The 2008 CAC Women’s Track Team took on a different look than most years. CAC won their 5th National Championship this past season with a team that had good depth in all of the running events but very little depth in the field events. Every race from the 100m to the 5000m at Nationals had two or three CAC runners competing and scoring in the finals. The scoring in Texas was led by Coach Gray’s distance crew that placed two in the 1500m, two in the Steeplechase, three in the 5000m, and had the first place finisher in the 800m. Rose Tanui also placed 2nd in the 10,000m. Coach Kim’s sprinters placed two in the 100m, three in the 200m, and two in the 400m with Karla Hope winning the event easily. Coach Cooper’s hurdlers had two in the 400IH and one in the 100H final. Ashton McGuire won the javelin and Latroya Darrell placed in the triple jump, but that was all the scoring that took place off the track. The 4 x 400M relay team finished the scoring by winning the final event of the meet.

Some of the individual accomplishments this past season included six school records (100H, Steeplechase, 3000M, 5000M, 10000M, and the 4x100 Relay) and a NJCAA record for Rose Tanui in the 10,000M. Rose ran a 34:34.61. We are all looking forward to seeing what she does this coming season.

At the end of this season, Central said goodbye to some outstanding young ladies. Saravia Richardson (Louisville), Quaneshia Cleckley (South Carolina State), Liann Kellman (LSU), Aybuke Kizilarslan (Concordia CA), Ashton McGuire (North Florida), and Jamia Robinson (Morgan State) will all be missed here at Central Arizona College.

2009 Season Preview

Sophomores Karla Hope (200,400), Bianca Dougan (400IH, 800), Jasmine Williams (100H, 400IH), Malia Mcpherson(100H, 400IH), Latroya Darrell (TJ, LJ), Karene King (100,200) and 2008 Cross Country National Champion Rose Tanui will lead this year’s team in pursuit of a fourth straight championship in Hutchinson Kansas. Joining them will be a talented, experienced group of athletes. The 2008 recruiting class could be the best one ever for our Track program. In the sprints, we welcome Magen Del Pino, Gloria Roberts, Sharonte Marshall, Eulannae Douglas, Erin Humphrey, and Tameka Williams. Tameka will also compete in the jumps, as will Monsherri Hall, and Priscilla Guevara. Kierre Beckles will be a significant addition to our hurdlers. In the middle distances, we are happy to welcome Adrenee Sterrett, Brittney Washington, and Century Williams. Cross Country runners Patricia Barela, Catie Clarke, Rebecca Hbetamu, Katelyn Williams and new comer Violah Lagat will join Rose in the distance events. Completing this year’s team will be throwers Keneisha Throughsingh, Arisha Blevins, and Brittany Honea.

In addition to our Conference and Region One meets, we are looking forward to running at the University of Arizona (Willie Williams Invitational), Arizona State University (Sun Angel Classic), Texas University (Texas Relays), and the University of New Mexico (Don Kirby Invitational). Our schedule should prepare us to take a shot at winning a national title at Hutchinson College in May.