LANCASTER, Pa. - Just a few days before the start of the new campaign, the Ursinus College women's track and field team was picked fifth in the Centennial Conference preseason poll for the indoor edition.
Eight-time defending champion Johns Hopkins was a unanimous choice of the conference coaches with nine first-place votes and 81 points. Dickinson received the Blue Jays' first-place ballot and took second with 81 points, with Haverford (63) and Swarthmore (60) in third and fourth, respectively. The Bears were tied with Gettsyburg with 40 points, followed by Muhlenberg (36), Franklin & Marshall (29), Bryn Mawr (22), and McDaniel (9).
The Bears finished fifth at last year's indoor championship, but were just 15 points out of second. With an impressive cast of returning contributors, head coach Carl Blickle can rightfully set his sights high for the 2018-19 campaign.
Sophomore Gianna Speranza was one of the breakout stars of last year's indoor season, claiming a bronze medal in the high jump and joining sophomores Michela Coleman and Rachel Coleman for a silver in the 4x200-meter relay. Speranza also placed sixth in the 60-meter dash and 11th in the 200-meter dash, while the Coleman twins were part of the fourth-place 4x400-meter relay unit.
Seniors Brittany Gasser and Riley Engle were part of two record-breaking relays at the indoor championship.
Michela Coleman took sixth in the 200, and classmate Kira Miller was fourth in the 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Kateryna Swan placed fourth in the high jump and ninth in the long jump.
Ursinus brings back several near place-winners in the shot put. Senior Mikaela Bordonaro was eighth, junior Sophia Simoes ninth, and sophomore Vikki Rueda-Juarez 10th at last year's indoor meet. Senior Morgan Cope placed sixth in the pole vault.
Blickle will also count on contributions from 14 first-year student-athletes as the season gets underway Saturday at Franklin & Marshall's Diplomat Open.