Sending a host of team members to the NCAA East Regional this weekend with a number of them likely assured spots at the NCAA Championships, the track and field team looks to continue what has already been a banner year for the program.
As has been the case throughout the season, the team will be led by its women's distance runners when it travels to Gainesville, Fla., Saturday. The women--seven of whom head coach Norm Ogilvie believes have already secured an at-large bid to nationals--are coming off a third-place finish at the ECAC East Regional Championships.
"This is way, way ahead of where we have ever been," Ogilvie said. "We think seven are definitely going to go and we could easily have 10. This is clearly the women's best outdoor season Duke has ever had."
Three of the Blue Devils that have likely already locked up places at Nationals have solid chances to earn top finishes this weekend. Debra Vento in the high jump, Shannon Rowbury in the 1500-meters, and Clara Horowitz in the 5000-meters all could score top-five finishes and automatic berths at the NCAA Championships.
Duke's strongest race, the women's 10,000-meter, will not be run this weekend and selections will be done on an at-large basis exclusively. Ogilvie believes that four Blue Devils have already earned national slots. Among them are Natasha Roetter, Heidi Hullinger and Laura Stanley, all of who will compete in the 5000-meter this weekend. Paige Miller, who is recovering from injury, will sit out this weekend and hopes to be back at full strength in time to run the 10,000-m at the June 9-12 national meet if she is selected.
Although she will likely not receive an at-large bid, Sally Meyerhoff is a contender for a top-five finish in the 1500-meter race and is ranked 29th in the event.
"Meyerhoff probably has an excellent shot of getting in," Ogilvie said. "But we certainly have to wait and see with her."
Also in the competition will be Liz Wort in the 3-kilometer steeplechase. Lauren Matic and Meghan Leon will compete in the 800-meter run in which Matic advanced to the Regional finals a year ago.
On the men's side, pole vaulter Brent Warner is the Blue Devils' best hope to make the national meet. Warner, who has headlined the men's squad all season, placed fifth at the NCAA Regional a year ago and earned a trip to nationals despite entering the competition ranked 65th.
"Things can definitely change by athletes stepping up to a different level at Regionals," Ogilvie said, using Warner's 2003 performance as an example.
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Nick Schneider in the 1500-meter and Jon Amt in the 800-meter will also compete this weekend for the Blue Devils.
"We like to think that everybody we are bringing to Regionals has a decent shot at making Nationls," said an optimistic Ogilvie.