Chapman track set to open at Pomona-Pitzer
ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University track team will put its youthful roster to the test at the season-opening Pomona-Pitzer All Comers meet on Saturday. As the Panthers enter their first season of SCIAC competition, they will feature a roster of 28 athletes featuring 13 freshman and just eight returners.
Among the returning runners is last year's foursome of Kayla Heath, Nicole Jourdain, Launa Kressin and Lisa Peterkin. The group set a school record last season posting a time of 10:50.88 in the 4x800 relay. Each of the sprinters had strong individual showings last season as well and could prove to be a formidable quartet for SCIAC opponents.
Fellow sophomores Chanelle Astrof and Mia Montanile, who both excelled last season in the triple jump, will also return for the Panthers. Astrof posted a season-best 9.60 meters in the triple jump at the Soka University Peace Invitational while Montanile edged her out in the UCSD Trition Invitational with a 9.65 meter showing.
Czech Republic native Ema Solarova, who set a team-best mark of 10.29 meters in the triple jump at Occidental last April, is one of three international students on this year's roster. Joining Solarova on the diverse roster are Victorine Kulier of Austria and Maria Belen Meza of Ecuador, both competing in their first collegiate season.
Senior Peyton Collins stands out as the eldest and most experienced member of this year's team. Entering her fourth season, Collins holds the school record in the 400 meter hurdles (1:08.07) and was part of a foursome that set a high mark in the sprint medley (4:40.41).
Highlighting a talented freshman class is Baylor Hogan, a highly-touted sprinter from Rocklin High School. She posted school records in the 400m, 4x100, 4x400, 4x200 and sprint medley and has already been inducted into her high school's Hall of Fame.
Among the new faces on this year's roster is assistant coach Brett Halvaks, a former track athlete who graduated from Cal Lutheran in 2012. The Irvine, Calif. native specialized in long-distance running, competing in both track and cross country. Halvaks will assist head coach Anna Wlodarczyk who is entering her 21st season at the helm of the women's track team.
by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant
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