“We are typically better in the outdoor season,” Tory said. “We spend all year building toward the outdoor season. We have a lot of momentum after indoor, and we expect the same in the outdoor season.”

Expectations have increased for the women’s track and field team after the successful fourth place finish at the indoor state meet and taking second in the 2004 outdoor state meet. March’s indoor meet saw excellent individual performances by Carol Scalice, Sue Madden, Jen Dias, and Marion Albert, as well as top finishes by the two relay teams. Dias was an All-American in the 400-meter hurdles while Scalice and Madden reached the NCAA Championship meet last year in the long jump and discus throw, respectively.

“The women’s relay teams have a real shot at nationals,” Tory said. “Sue, Carol, and Jen all made it to nationals as freshmen and I’m sure they want to improve on their performances as sophomores.”

The men’s squad will also have several athletes looking to reach the national meet. Joe Otto, who received All-American status in the 800-meter race during the indoor season, and Trevor Tersmette, who won the New York State pentathlon, are likely candidates to reach the championship meet in Waverly, Iowa. Otto will be hoping to reach the meet in the 800-meter race, but Tersmette will have to reach the meet in the decathlon.

The outlook on the Engineers’ spring season is looking even brighter with the addition of several new events to the outdoor season. The javelin throw, the steeplechase, and the 400-meter hurdles are places where RPI has traditionally fielded strong competitors. Jimmy Motzkin will be another national contender in the javelin while Dias will be able to start competing in arguably her strongest event, the 400-meter hurdles.

“There are several events that make us a stronger team in the spring,” Tory said. “We have several top performers, some national contenders, and a lot of depth in these events.”

Tory also pointed toward the hammer throw, the discuss, and the 10,000-meter run as events that could also help propel both the women’s and men’s teams toward the state championships and the NCAA meet.

Experience could also play a major factor as RPI sets its course for the New York State Championship meet in early May. The men’s team has a wealth of talented seniors and four extremely successful team captains. Fifth-year seniors Sharath Alampur and Owen Kellett, along with seniors Otto and Tersmette, have proven their worth over the years, and will aid the continued development of the Engineers’ younger players. The women’s team is much younger overall, but seniors Alysia Evanitsky and Rebecca Lock have shown their ability as leaders on and off the track.

The freshmen class, which provided both the men and women with some much-needed depth in the indoor season will be crucial again in the Engineers’ spring campaign.

“I don’t want to call out any of the freshmen, but we will need them to perform,” Tory said. “They just need to keep improving.”

Tory admitted, however, that there is a burnout concern as his team enters the outdoor season. Many members of both track and field squads have been competing in meets since the fall, so fatigue is a real concern entering the year’s home stretch.

“We plan our schedule thinking about [fatigue],” Tory said. “We plan in several low key meets to prevent players from having to produce personal bests every week. We are focused on long term goals.”

After a few weeks off and some quality training sessions, the men’s and women’s track and field teams will open their season this weekend against a solid Springfield club; that is, if the weather cooperates. The snow and rain have not only forced the Engineers to practice inside, but caused disruptions in their training schedules.

Rain is seriously threatening the Springfield meet, and rescheduling is a difficulty for RPI. Tory is also anxious to get the first meet in to allow his team back into the flow after a few weeks off.

“We have been anticipating this meet for awhile,” Tory said of the Springfield meet. “We have not had the full team together at a meet since states and there are several events individuals haven’t done in over a year, so I think everyone just wants to get out there and do it.”

Should the Springfield meet get cancelled, RPI will have to either make-up the meet on Wednesday during GM Week or simply cancel it. RPI will have several smaller meets leading up to the Liberty League Championship meet. The Engineers will also be visiting Division I Holy Cross prior to the state meet again this year. The Engineers fared well against several D-I opponents at last year’s Holy Cross Invite.

“It is nice to get some solid competition from some different faces,” Tory said. “It is nice to see some different teams and the success we had last year really boosted our confidence heading into the state meet.”