Coastal Carolina University
Virginia Tech Invitational
Women's Track & Field Set to Open 2009 Season
1/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country
More Information:
COASTAL CAROLINA BEGINS SEASON AT VT HOKIE INVITATIONAL: Coastal Carolina University's Women's Indoor Track and Field team gets the season underway this weekend at the VT Hokie Invitational.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: This weekend's meet marks the first of three meets that the Chants will compete in at Blacksburg. Coastal Carolina will return to Virginia Tech on February 20-21 for the Virginia Tech Challenge, and again on March 7 for the Virginia Tech Last Chance meet.
SLATED TO COMPETE: Head Coach Alan Connie will enter 16 athletes in 25 events in this weekends season opener. Among the entrees are 2008 indoor standouts LeAuna Sistrunk (triple jump, 60 meters) and Ikeyliah Brown (60 meters).
TITLE DEFENSE: The Chants will look to defend their Big South Indoor Championship from last season, and continue their streak of three consecutive championships dating back to the 2006 season. At last seasons championship, Coastal Carolina totaled 202.5 points and saw six individual champions in Ikeylah Brown (60 meters), Shanta Johnson (200 meters), Vondeeshia Humphries (400 meters), Diana Jepchirchir (3,000 and 5,000 meters), LeAuna Sistrunk (60 meters) and Marcie Veitch (pole vault).
COMING BACK FOR MORE: Of the six champions from a year ago, five return. Gone is two-time Big South Champion Diana Jepchirchir, but several promising newcomers will look to fill the void left by the departed champion.
FOUR-PEAT?: The Chants are the three-time defending Big South Conference Indoor Champions and have won three championships in the last four years. Liberty is the only other Big South team to have won a team championship, including the league's first six.
ANOTHER 200-POINT YEAR?: In each of the last three seasons, the Chanticleers have amassed over 200 points at the Big South Championship. Coastal Carolina won the 2008 title with 202.50 points, and the 2007 title with a team score of 204.50 points. The 2006 team dominated the championship with 232.50 points, the highest team total in Big South Women's Indoor Championship history.
