The Pilot Track and Field program is coming off its most successful season during the 2006 year where both the men’s and women’s teams captured Mid-Central Conference Championships. Both sides came down to the final race, the 4x400m relay, before the conference championships were decided. The men’s team also finished 16th in the nation at the NAIA Outdoor National Meet held last May in Fresno, California. Head coach Tony Natali anticipates another stellar year during 2007.
“We are greatly anticipating what is ahead of us during the 2007 season,” says Natali. “We are looking forward to the challenges that we will face this year. Most importantly, we are excited to once again glorify Christ through the efforts and continued hard work that we all put into the Bethel College Track program."
"This season will be one that we will dedicate to bettering ourselves individually which, in the long run, will benefit the entire team as a whole," added Natali. "We want to enjoy the journey. It’s all about every day that we have together. Once we maximize that, the outcomes will take care of themselves.”
The men are led by senior dual NAIA All-American Geoffrey King. King finished 4th in the nation in the 200m at last season’s NAIA Outdoor National meet. King was also the anchor for the 4th place finishing 4x100m relay team. Other returning members of the 4x100m relay team include Juniors Chris Warhop and Brandon Thomas. Warhop will be counted on heavily to contribute in the sprints and the jumps while Thomas will help greatly in the sprint to mid distance area as well as the jumps. Junior pole-vaulter Zach Burrington completes the returning All-Americans for the Pilots. Burrington finished 5th at last season’s Nationals.
Other returners that Coach Natali will lean on heavily include Senior jumpers Chase Bislow and Adam Cramer, Junior distance runners Andy Gray, Kyle Steury, David Prieb, and Jay Edwards, Junior thrower Travis LaVine, Junior vaulter Adam Short, Sophomore distance runners AJ Sullivan, Scott Robinson (also javelin), Ben Collard, and Calon Naragon, Sophomore hurdler Chase Healey, Sophomore sprinter Nate Phillips, and Sophomore jumper William Walker. Of that group, Prieb, Collard, and Phillips have participated at the NAIA Outdoor National meet last season.
Coach Natali is extremely excited about his talented group of new comers on the men’s side. Junior hurdler Rod Waters and sophomore distance runner Vincent Reel will be the most experienced of the group. Waters has participated at Vincennes JC for the past two years while Reel has one year of experience under his belt at Butler JC in Kansas. Other new comers include Sophomore sprinter/jumper BJ Austin, Freshman sprinter Brad Wilson, Freshman mid distance runners Jontae Randolph and Caleb Hatfield, Freshman distance runners Ryan Waybright, Jared Mead, Will Cramer, and Raymond Dutweiller, Freshman throwers Brandon Hooven, JJ Jackson, Knox Capre, Seth Thompson, and Jeff Hardman, and Freshman jumper and javelin thrower Alex Walsh. New javelin throwers Joel Hartsell and Josh Watts round out the men’s roster.
The women are led by NAIA National Qualifiers Junior sprinter/hurdler Kate Bishop, Junior mid distance runners/hurdlers Emily Weaver and Kerri Goodrich, and Sophomore mid distance runner Heather Rathbun. This season’s lone Senior is distance runner Jessica Mead. Other Juniors include vaulter Bekah Laman, distance runners Ashley Imhoff and Allison Schuck, thrower Ashley Sparks, and jumper/javelin thrower Natalie Young. Sophomores that Coach Natali are counting on include sprinter Calyn Zahl, hurdler Dawn Heckman, throwers Lacey Litteral, Brittany Cook and Nikki Hinton, mid distance runner Shelby Morrow, distance runners Alison Gingrich and Mozy Thiel, and vaulter Danae Ellison.
The newcomers on the women’s side are also extremely talented. That group includes sprinter Jessie Spearman, mid distance runners Becca Prieb and Laura Miller, distance runners Ashley Wray, Laura Winningham, and Katie Heisey, throwers Holly Farrer, Alicia Derr, and Lyndee Flint, and vaulters Caitlyn Gager and Ann O’Keefe.
The indoor season kicks off on Friday, January 26 at the University of Findlay. Other indoor meets include the Taylor Invitational, the Goshen Meet, the Grand Valley State Invitational, followed by NCCAA Nationals and the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee.
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