The Team is Preparing for a Break-through Season that will Put them over the Top this year

(12/1/2005)

The Men's track and field team is looking to have a break-through year in this 2005-2006 track season. The expectations have never been higher mainly because 10 out of the 15 point scorers from last year's Division III Championships are returning. And also, there are more up-and-coming track athletes eager to step up and take control of the NESCAC. The track and field team has developed a strong base, and now they look to build to success that will put the team over the top.

Junior Fred Jones, a 2-time Indoor All-American in the both the triple jump and the long jump, will return to improve on that amazing feat. After losing graduate Nate Thompson, who scored in the long jump, Fred is looking to mentor and count on other young jumping teammates. Sophomores Kenny Kang, Dan Marcy, and Michigan transfer Jake Fromer are working to improve on their jumps. Hopefully, this unit will be set to make the Tufts Jumpers squad the deepest team in New England.

Expect some high-flying high jumps from sophomore Jeremy Arak and pre-season freshman standout, Theodore McMahan. This high-jumping duo could turn out to be one of the best tandems in Division III this season.
With his goal of clearing 15 feet, junior Justin Henneman will be leading the Pole Vaulters this year. Sophomore Cory Lewis will be right there with Justin, trying to help Henneman achieve his goal while setting pole vault marks of his own.

In the throwing events, senior captain Jason Galvin will be leading the Shot Put and Weight Throw. Galvin will be teamed up with juniors Ryan Byrne and Vincent Galatro to make powerful throwing marks in their events. Look for this group to have a break-out season under new coach, Ed Arcaro.

After coming off another successful Cross Country season, the distance squad is looking to continue that winning momentum onto the track. Last year's top distance runners, Nate Brigham, Aaron "AK-47" Kaye, Mike Don, and Brian McNamara, are now graduates who left for "the real world." So senior captain Matt Lacey is in charge of the distance squad this year. Matt is aiming to build on his national qualifying 5k and 10k times from last year. He will be running alongside junior Josh Kennedy, who is just coming off an All-American Cross Country season. Senior Matt Fortin, whether it's from the 1000m up to the 5k, will show us that he's more serious than he's ever been about being successful on the track. Kyle Doran and Neil Orfield are two more excited seniors hoping to step up and make final contributions on the track. Behind this strong and eager senior core, underclassmen like Chris Kantos, David Sorensen, and Justin Chung are willing and ready to carry their momentum over from their successful Cross Country season.

In the mid distances, Senior Pat Mahoney will show the whole area how to lead an 800m. He's coming off a career best 1:54 s in the 800. And don't be surprised if he runs a 600m or a 400 and leads the pack there also. Juniors Nate Cleveland and Ciaran O'Donovan will also be looking to make some noise in those mid-distance events. And if you add in Sophomore Anyenda Inyagwa, this unit could make a fast 4 x 800 team.

The sprinter squad this year will be led by senior captain Trevor Williams, who's looking to run a sub-50 second 400m this year. Behind Trevor in the 400 will be the multi-talented sophomore Nate Scott. The 400 guys also better look out for juniors Dustin Virgilio and LeQuan Hunter, who both have been training to have a break-through season.

Juniors Mickey Ferri, Nehemiah Green, and Sophomore Marcus Boggis are short sprinters making tremendous strides in Tufts? up-and-coming events, the 55 meter and 200 meter dashes. Look for those two guys, along with pre-season freshmen standouts Marvin Walker and William Forde, to have a break-out year on the track!

Hurdlers Jamil Ludd and Dave McCleary have been working hard to team up and create dangerous a 1-2 punch in the 55 meter-hurdles this year.

The journey to success at DIV III's begins this Saturday when the Tufts Men's Indoor Track & Field team starts the 2005-06 season at the annual Husky Winter Carnival hosted by Northeastern University.