The Clayton State track & field teams open their third indoor season on Friday at the Clemson Opener.  Both squads will be gunning for several team records this season while also seeking qualifiers to the Division II national meet next March in Boston.

This weekend’s meet at Clemson will be the first of six scheduled indoor meets for the Lakers this indoor season. The Clemson Opener begins at 5 p.m. on Friday with the distance medley relay and concludes on Saturday afternoon with the 4x400-meter relay.

LAKER WOMEN

The Clayton State women hope to get their first national qualifier this season after junior Allison Kreutzer just missed advancing in the mile run last season.  Kreutzer and teammate Angela Cobb have excellent chances in the mile and 5,000-meter events this season.  The duo will also team up with Terrica Hamilton and Jon Taylor during the season to try for a provisional time in the distance medley relay.

“We have an excellent shot this season in having athletes off both the women and men’s teams advance to the indoor national meet,” said Clayton State head coach Mike Mead.  “On Friday at Clemson, our ladies are going to give it a shot at running provisional times in both the DMR (distance medley relay) and the 5,000-meters.  It’s early, but we hope coming off cross country will help.”

For the indoor season, the Lakers return six runners off last season’s squad. In addition to Kreutzer and Taylor, the women return seniors Cassandra Bolivar and Melissa Fernandez, junior Katelyn Stache and sophomore Kara Stokes.  Bolivar and Fernandez will concentrate on the mile, while Stache and Stokes will focus on the 400-meter dash and the 800-meter run.  Taylor will also run the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, as well as the 4x400-meter relay.

Newcomers to make an impact this season include Cobb, Hamilton, and Keisha Etienne.  Cobb is coming off earning All-American honors two weeks ago at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.  Hamilton, also coming off cross country, plans to run the 800-meter run and mile run during indoors.  Etienne is expected to make an impact in the hurdle and sprint events, as well as the relays.  Additional newcomers include freshmen Isabelle Ahanotu and Titisha Cochran, who will both run middle distance events.

“Our newcomers provide us with more depth in several events,” said Mead.  “Our veterans will need to step it up this season.”

LAKER MEN

The Clayton State men’s team is expected to be back to a level similar to two seasons ago when three runners ran provisional indoor times in three events and two advanced to the national meet. Leading the squad will be Eric Simmons, who qualified and finished 10th in the 400-meter dash at last year’s indoor national meet.

“For the most part, Eric is the lone returnee from last season’s indoor team,” said Mead. “Eric had a solid indoor season, but got injured late and was held out during outdoor track. He’s back and ready to go with a good supporting cast.”

The Lakers do return Alfred Dixon, who was primarily a jumper last season, but will be taking on some duties on the 4x400-meter relay.  Ben Londrillo returns in the pole vault, but did not compete for Clayton State last indoor season.

Leading the newcomers are transfers Ahmad Rolle in the jumps and sprints, Lawrence DeShields in the hurdles and sprints, and Nelson Lopez in the distance events.  Freshmen include Nathan Hytower, Travis Morris, Chris Ritchie and Brad Twyford.  Hytower will mainly do the long sprints, Morris and Ritchie the middle distance and Twyford in the throws and sprints.

The Lakers may also have junior Peter Gajda and freshman David Taylor back at some point during the indoor season as both are recovering from cross country injuries.

“We have several guys that have good chances of going to indoor nationals in several events, including the sprints, jumps and 4x400-meter relay,” said Mead.  “Our biggest challenge will be how much individuals will train during the Christmas and New Year’s break.”

Following the Clemson meet this weekend, Clayton State will resume its indoor schedule on Jan. 28 at the Tennessee State Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.