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Northwest Missouri State's indoor track season gets going this weekend when the Bearcats travel to the Nebraska Holiday Inn Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.
The Bearcats took part in two competitions prior to Christmas at Iowa State and Doane College, but this will be their first meet with a full squad present.
"Going into this first meet, I'm just expecting for us to be competitive," said Northwest Missouri State head coach Scott Lorek. "We really want to see where we are mentally and there's so many new things especially for our freshman. Not only is it their first college meet, but it's going to be on a big track which is going to be kind of weird for them.”
Northwest returns a solid core of veteran leaders on both sides headlined by senior All-American sprinter Tyler Shaw. For the most part, though, the Bearcats will be a team reliant on underclassmen.
"Our teams are very young," said Lorek. "Our women's team has tremendous potential. Our men's team is kind of in a building process. You're definitely going to see some success out of people no one has heard of before."
Shaw, a six-time All-American, is the top returner for the men's team. He finished fourth nationally in the 60M hurdles last season and qualified for nationals in the 200M dash.
Sophomore hurdler Travis Manning, senior middle distance runner Taylor Overmiller and junior pole vaulter Will Haer give the Bearcats three other returners that scored points at the MIAA Championships last year.
The team's other main weapons are distance runners T.R. Pursell and Ryan Darling, multi-event/hurdler Zane Myers, jumper Porter Groves and multi-event/middle distance runner Seth Staashelm.
Groves finished fifth at the MIAA Indoor Meet last year.
A junior from Maryville, Staashelm is ranked sixth nationally in the heptathlon and earned an NCAA provisional mark at the Doane Multis before Christmas.
"His attitude and work ethic are tremendous," said Lorek. "He works very, very hard and he's very coachable. He's one of those guys that's allowed himself to improve because ego is not in the mix. He just wants to be as good as he can be and keep improving. I don't think he really worries too much about how he compares to someone else or really how good he is.”
Northwest Missouri State's indoor track season gets going this weekend when the Bearcats travel to the Nebraska Holiday Inn Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.
The Bearcats took part in two competitions prior to Christmas at Iowa State and Doane College, but this will be their first meet with a full squad present.
"Going into this first meet, I'm just expecting for us to be competitive," said Northwest Missouri State head coach Scott Lorek. "We really want to see where we are mentally and there's so many new things especially for our freshman. Not only is it their first college meet, but it's going to be on a big track which is going to be kind of weird for them.”
Northwest returns a solid core of veteran leaders on both sides headlined by senior All-American sprinter Tyler Shaw. For the most part, though, the Bearcats will be a team reliant on underclassmen.
"Our teams are very young," said Lorek. "Our women's team has tremendous potential. Our men's team is kind of in a building process. You're definitely going to see some success out of people no one has heard of before."
Shaw, a six-time All-American, is the top returner for the men's team. He finished fourth nationally in the 60M hurdles last season and qualified for nationals in the 200M dash.
Sophomore hurdler Travis Manning, senior middle distance runner Taylor Overmiller and junior pole vaulter Will Haer give the Bearcats three other returners that scored points at the MIAA Championships last year.
The team's other main weapons are distance runners T.R. Pursell and Ryan Darling, multi-event/hurdler Zane Myers, jumper Porter Groves and multi-event/middle distance runner Seth Staashelm.
Groves finished fifth at the MIAA Indoor Meet last year.
A junior from Maryville, Staashelm is ranked sixth nationally in the heptathlon and earned an NCAA provisional mark at the Doane Multis before Christmas.
"His attitude and work ethic are tremendous," said Lorek. "He works very, very hard and he's very coachable. He's one of those guys that's allowed himself to improve because ego is not in the mix. He just wants to be as good as he can be and keep improving. I don't think he really worries too much about how he compares to someone else or really how good he is.”
The women's team is bolstered by the return of distance runners Angela Adams and Katti Carroll.
Adams, the MIAA's cross country champion, sat out last year's indoor season. Carroll, a sophomore, finished second in the 3000M and third in the 5000M at last year's MIAA Indoor Championships.
"We're expecting a lot of productivity out of that whole group," said Lorek.
In the sprints and hurdles, Northwest returns a pair of talented sophomores in Samantha Fender and Ashli Mosby.
Fender was a provisional qualifier in the 100M dash last year during the outdoor season.
Mosby placed sixth in the 60M hurdles at the MIAA Indoor Championships.
Senior Kate Walter, who finished second in weight throw at the MIAA Championships, won't compete until the outdoor season this year.
