Eagles' season to get under way this weekend

By Karl Lyles - klyles@heraldonline.com

The Winthrop men's and women's track and field teams have busily gone about their workouts since they arrived back to campus from summer break. Except for the distance runners who ran cross country this fall, the rest of the team has been training for the indoor season.

It begins Saturday for the Eagles at the Appalachian State Opener in Boone, N.C. Three-plus months of training is long enough for these athletes; they're ready for some competition.

“This meet gives our team something to focus on in the fall,” Winthrop track coach Ben Paxton said. “It is extremely difficult to motivate our throwers, jumpers and sprinters without dangling a carrot. They can go up there and see what they can do. It is a reward for working all fall.”

The meet shows up regularly on Winthrop's schedule. It serves to whet the appetite. The next meet is six weeks away, again in Boone.

Throws coach Brett Best said his athletes are coming off a big strength phase in their training which helps explain how Winthrop has been able set some school records at this meet.

Ashley Howard is a senior who sat out last year with a torn patellar tendon. She is back to full strength now. Two years ago, Howard was the Big South Conference champion in the indoor weight throw.

Travis Coleman is the defending indoor and outdoor champ in the shot put. He will throw indoor this season and then redshirt the outdoor season. Billy Pearce has scored in every meet he has been in for Winthrop.

Keary Simms is the Winthrop record-holder in the indoor triple jump. Brittney Davis broke the school record in the high jump last year as a freshman.

Drew Franklin is a junior from Tampa, Fla. He will compete in the long jump and the 400-meter dash. Winthrop associate head coach Bobbie Schreiner said Franklin is “as fit as he can be. We are excited to see what he can do.”

Paxton said his sprinters are young “but so talented.”

Becca Holmes stands out among the seniors. She was third in the BSC in the indoor 60-meter hurdles two years ago. Last year, she fell in the conference race. She is anxious to prove herself again.

“This is a good meet for us,” Paxton said. “There will be a lot of good mid-majors and we generally look better in this meet than other teams.”

Other Big South schools cranked up the indoor season this week as well. Liberty hosted the Liberty Kickoff, where High Point, Radford and VMI all competed. Charleston Southern is at Clemson for the Roaring Tiger Invitational today. Winthrop and UNC Asheville will also be in Boone.