Concord Pulls Back Curtain on Indoor Season

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's and women's track & field teams prepare for the season-opening indoor competition when they travel to the Marietta First Glimpse Meet hosted by Marietta College Friday afternoon.

SEASON OUTLOOK
Among the returners for the Mountain Lions is junior Ian Gardner who has been on the podium a combined three times in his career between the indoor and outdoor conference championships. Gardner has medaled in the 400-meter dash in his career. The distance duo of senior Preston Prather and Logan Zuchelli lead a younger group of Mountain Lions in that particular discipline. Junior Ethan Board and graduate student Alex Watty are the top returners in the middle distance events.

Concord finished fifth at the Mountain East Conference Indoor Championships last season and was also fifth at the MEC Outdoor Championships in the spring.

For the women, the focus will be on the distance quartet of junior Madison Cornett, junior Erin O'Sullivan, sophomore Katy Walkup and graduate student Emily Wallace as all have scored points at the conference championships in the past. Wallace is a former winner in the indoor mile and O'Sullivan has earned a podium finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase outdoors. A strong throwing and jumps program also highlight the women's returners with sophomore Lilly Jackson, senior Alaina Mills and senior Taylor Perry leading the field events.

The CU women placed sixth at the conference indoor championships and finished seventh at the MEC Outdoor Championships.

MARIETTA ENTRIES
Junior Prince Bhebhe and Gardner will be among the entries for CU in the 500-meter dash along with freshmen Jaidyn Foddrell and Bradley Harris. Sophomore James Grayton, freshman Jacob Coy and junior Jonny Sweeney are scheduled to compete in the 400-meter dash for the Mountain Lions. Freshmen Shawn Bennett, Khamari Boler and Noah Williams all make their collegiate debuts in the shot put, highlighting the field events. Bhebhe, Foddrell, Gardner and Harris make up the top 4x400-meter relay for Concord. Coy, Grayton, senior Isaiah Jackson-Darby and junior Madoc Lathroum will run a second 4x400-meter relay.

Middle distance is showcased for the women's entries. In the 800-meter dash will be junior Baylee Bentley, sophomore Emma Jenkins and freshman Heidi Payne. The mile includes freshman Katie Howard, Jenkins and sophomore Colette Lindley. Along with the mile, Payne makes her debut in the high jump alongside Jackson. Freshman Abbey Humphrey, senior Shayla Short and graduate student and Averett transfer Abbey Wallace are scheduled to throw in the shot put competition.