The Rensselaer indoor track and field team plans to launch a strong 2004 season with many of their experienced and very successful athletes returning to the competition.
A large number of freshmen athletes with a wide variety of talents are also expected to contribute heavily to the team’s performance throughout the season.
One of the team’s goals for the season is to continue to build upon last year’s successes in the regional and state championships.
Head Coach Colin Tory is very pleased with this seasons’ mix of athletes and is looking to contend for both the men’s and the women’s UCAA and NYSCTC titles.
The men’s team, placing second in the ECAC championships in the 2003 season, believe they have a strong chance of winning the meet this year due to their increased experience and new strengths.
Both the men’s and women’s teams also believe they will become more competitive in the UCAA this season after placing second in the championships for the 2003 season.
Senior captain Rebecca Rosenberg-Beran added that the women’s team hopes to improve their performance at the NYSCTC Indoor Championships this year and will most likely see many individual improvements among the athletes.
Seniors Alison Benson and Dwaine Alleyne are the teams’ two returning All-American athletes in the pole vault and triple jump, respectively. They are expected to contribute their experience as well as their strong talents to the team.
Senior teammate and captain Sharath Alampur believes these returning All-Americans, as well as the numerous athletes who set new school records last season, are the teams’ strongholds for the new year.
All of the team captains commented on their excitement about the new freshmen who have joined the team.
Captain Benson said that the group of freshmen have many new talents which complement the strengths of the established upperclass athletes.
Alampur said that there are many good jumpers and sprinters amongst the new recruits in particular.
Overall the 2004 indoor season looks very promising for the Rensselaer track and field teams with their variety of new and old talents, and they are looking forward to setting new personal records and achieving their team goals with a little support from the Rensselaer faculty and student body.
