Five to watch in 2008
12/10/2007 12:00:00 AM
Dec. 10, 2007
Five to Watch Gallery
With the official start of the indoor track and field season only one month away GoFrogs.com once again gives readers an inside look of five individuals ready to shine this indoor season. This week GoFrogs.com looks at Jessica Clarke, La'Quinta Ross, Stormy Harrison, Brittany Blaylock and Danielle Selner.
Jessica Clarke enters the 2008 indoor season after competing at Central Arizona the past two seasons. At CAC, Clarke helped the Vaqueros win back-to-back national championships. Clarke was a regional champion in both the 100 and 200 meters while at Central Arizona.
"Jessica Clarke came in here during the fall and got off to a bumpy start. She has since got herself together and got on the right track. It has been hard, but she is making adjustments. There is always a learning curve when you are transferring in and she is working hard, but not working smart. In the beginning she was resistant to change, but she has since been doing a better job and has come a long way. She has the ability to help us in both of the relays and be a good conference and regional level individual. If she makes the subtle changes that she has to make then that will dictate on whether or not she is going to be a national level competitor," said head coach Darryl Anderson.
La'Quinta Ross was a multi-sport standout at Greenville High School and could be a diamond in the rough for the Flyin' Frogs this winter. At Greenville, she posted personal best marks of 19 feet, 8 1/4 inches in the long jump, while also soaring 39 feet, 3 inches in the triple jump. If Ross can improve on those numbers this winter, she could become someone to watch out for once the indoor conference championship rolls around in February.
"La'Quinta Ross is a Texas girl that is coming in and working hard both on the track and in the classroom. She has been limited in the fall because of shoulder surgery, but has looked really good on the runway. We are now at the point where she can start to do some in-air and takeoff work. Here training has been really good and she is an individual that is going to vie for a spot on both relays and the long-and-triple jump. She is a person as time goes on here that is going to have the opportunity to be very special here," said Anderson.
Stormy Harrison could have a big-time indoor season this winter after competing for Cisco High School in 2007. Harrison was a four-time state champion in the shot, while also collecting state medal honors in the discus. She will look to add to her already impressive resume at the collegiate level this indoor season.
"Stormy has worked with coach Kenneson all fall and as he says is a caged tiger ready to be let out. She has been aggressive and has been pushing really hard this fall. She has thrown 49 feet in the shot this fall, but we have some inconsistencies that we have to try and hone in on. Her inconsistencies are normal though and she is one that will compete for us in the shot and the discus. We think she will give us a prescesence in the discus and we are excited about her potential and possibilities," said Anderson.
One year into her TCU career, Brittany Blaylock as a freshman placed fifth in the 200 meters at the 2007 MWC Indoor Championships and will look to increase her position this winter after training hard all fall. Blaylock closed out last spring as a member of the 4x400 relay team that won the MWC Outdoor title. Look for Blaylock to continue to improve this winter and once again be a major part of both relay's this season.
"Brittany has had some issues this fall, but has gotten herself back together and trained very well. She has to elevate her game and get more consistent in her lifestyle. She has a lot on her plate, but she is learning how to handle it. Her ability to focus is very short and she has to be a consistent performer on a day-to-day basis on and off the track. She is one that will help us in some areas and has to be an everyday performer," said Anderson.
Danielle Selner comes into the 2008 indoor season following a solid cross country season for TCU. Selner, who finished second among TCU runners in four different meets this fall, including the final three meets of the season, posted a top finish of sixth overall at the UNT Invite. Last winter, she was part of a distance medley squad that placed fifth at the MWC Indoor Championships.
"Dani was a talented high school runner in the state of Texas and we feel like she has gotten more comfortable with what is going on within our distance program. I feel she can help us with the stability of our distance program and get some girls in that will be able to help us. It's not going to be an overnight transformation, but our distance program is going to be good and Dani will be a big part of that transformation. I feel she is going to have a good year and be a scorer at the Mountain West Conference and be a regional qualifier. She has made the right steps to have an improvement this year," said Anderson.
Players Mentioned
