Friday, March 28, 2008
Mavericks in Position for Solid Outdoor Track & Field Season
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DOBBS FERRY, NY - The Mercy College track & field team is geared up for the start of the outdoor season. With a strong class of newcomers to join an already talented core of upperclassmen, Mercy is poised to make some noise at several meets this season.
"We've added some first rate student-athletes including a couple All-Americans to the program," head track & field coach Darryl Bullock said. "Their success in their particular events will just get the word out around Mercy College of the quality athletes we're bringing in."
David Hunte (Labrea, Trinidad & Tobago), a transfer student from Globe Institute of Technology, is expected to make a tremendous impact right away. Hunte brings international experience and documented success in the triple jump. Freshman Jonathan Reyes (Brentwood, NY) is an accomplished sprinter and will be a major part of rebuilding the sprint program. Other male sprinters expected to contribute include senior Eric Duffy (Carmel, NY), juniors John Benvin (Thornwood, NY) and Lyndon Walters (Queens, NY), sophomore Richard Price (Thornwood, NY) and freshman Benjamin Latchford (Solihull, West Midlands, UK). Duffy and Latchford will also compete in the javelin for the Mavericks.
Bullock knows that he will also have some diamonds in the rough that will emerge as the season progresses. "I know what the potential is of these student-athletes, I just want to see it realized," he said.
The Mavericks will look to senior Peter Yarema (Northport, NY) to be a key member of the distance runners. Bullock believes that Yarema is primed to have a solid season with some new personal bests to be accomplished. "He's found that fire again and I'm thrilled for him," said Bullock, who is in his 32nd year at Mercy College.
Seniors Thomas Cannariato (Goshen, NY) and Daniel Reeves (Babylon, NY), and junior Issiaka Sow (Bronx, NY) will all be counted on to perform in distance events as well.
On the women's side, junior Katelyn Klobus (Averill Park, NY) will anchor the Mavericks in the distance events. Klobus has steadily improved and is getting recognized around the East Coast Conference (ECC) for her outstanding contribution to Mercy's program.
"She's running very well," Bullock said. "I'm looking for her to get All-Conference status in the 800-meter event."
Sophomore Sasha Atkins (Bronx, NY) will be a strong runner in the sprints. As an All-American in high school, Atkins has made some major strides in becoming one of Mercy's better sprinters.
Junior Jessica Fabian (Whitehall, PA) will run in the middle distance events as well as compete in the javelin, an event she picked up last year. For the men, juniors Kevin Gibson (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Jose Gomez (Monroe, NY) will compete in the middle distance events.
Mercy has also added to its depth in the jumping events by bringing Joon Hoon Lee (New Haven, CT) and Joon Yeob Lee (New Haven, CT) on board. Joon Yeob is expected to be a major competitor in the long jump. Sophomore Tyrik Overton (Tarrytown, NY), who broke several school records in his freshman season, will compete in the high jump.
Last season, sophomore Janet Wong (Vancouver, Canada) became the first Mercy athlete to compete at the ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Championships. She competed in the women's javelin and should make it back to the championships again this season. Bullock is also hopeful of bringing a few more athletes this time around. With a much improved group of sprinters and jumpers, the Mavericks have the potential to bring as many as three-to-five athletes.
With both the men's and women's program looking strong, Bullock believes that a successful season is on the way. If the head coach's plans come to fruition then Mercy has the opportunity to surprise many of its competitors.
"We had strong finishes coming out of cross country and some strong early times this year, so I'm optimistic," Bullock said.
