Track & Field
2008 Preview/Recap

Trinity University Tigers track and field has developed into one of the most successful programs on campus.

Observers of the program can look at last year’s results, where both the Tiger men’s and women’s teams captured the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

The championship trophies were hoisted in the friendly confines of E.M. Stevens Stadium, where the 2007 meet was held.

Trinity’s women won their second straight SCAC title and seventh overall, as well as the fourth in the past five years. The Tiger men won their fifth overall championship.

“As a team becomes successful, people want to be part of that group,” said eighth-year head coach Jenny Breuer about recruiting efforts. “There has been a tremendous commitment from the university to upgrade the program.”

Coach Breuer received accolades as SCAC Men’s and Women’s Track and field Coach of the Year. It marked the fourth time in the last five years Coach Breuer was elected the conference women’s track and field coach of the year. She became the first coach in the SCAC era to win the award four times. It was also Coach Breuer’s second men’s track and field coach of the year honor. Coach Breuer was also named the South Region Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Three Tigers went on to represent Trinity at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Graduate Kate Dawson ran the women’s 400-meter hurdles and Zach Byars, who also earned a degree from Trinity, competed in the men’s decathlon. He was a two-time SCAC Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

A strong returnee from that distinguished group is junior Emilie Loeffler of San Antonio (O’Connor), who was named the 2007 SCAC Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Before the hometown fans, Loeffler won four conference titles: 10,000 meters (37:25.20), 1,500 meters (4:41.26), 5,000 meters (18:14.50) and the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:53.07). Loeffler advanced to the NCAA Championships were she competed in the 1,500 meters. In 2006, Loeffler was a competitor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Along with Loeffler, six All-SCAC women’s performers will lead the way in 2008. Senior Leda McDaniel of Albuquerque, N.M (Sandia), was third in the SCAC 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:08.87). Junior Elizabeth Eder of Fort Worth, Texas (Nolan Catholic), was runner-up in the 5,000 meters (18:23.14) and 10,000 meters (37:25.66). Sophomore Lisa Bowers of Riverdale, N.Y. (Fieldston School), earned all-conference honors as part of Trinity’s second-place team in the 4x100-meter relay (49.22 seconds).

Two members of the Tiger women’s cross country team made an impact on distance running. Junior D’Ann Arthur of Colleyville, Texas (Covenant Christian Academy), won the 2007 NCAA Division III South/Southeast Region meet and was named the regional runner of the year. Arthur was a finalist in the SCAC track and field 5,000 and 10,000 meters. First-year Caitlin Masse of Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch), was named the SCAC Cross Country Newcomer of the Year. 

“Cross country had an impact on the track distance events,” said Coach Breuer, who also led the cross country team to the regional championship and No. 23 national finish. “We are coming off our best-ever cross country season and it shows.”

Coach Breuer is assisted in cross country and track distance runners by Brantley Lutz.

The SCAC field events were also successful for the Tigers as two student-athletes received all-conference honors. Sophomore Elizabeth Tweedy of Austin, Texas (Westwood), was third in the long jump (16 feet, 8.75 inches) and runner-up in the triple jump (36 feet, 3.50 inches). Senior Jocelyn Stokes of Thorndale, Texas (Thorndale), placed second in the discus throw (111 feet, 9 inches).

A total of eight returning All-SCAC men’s track and field athletes will provide depth for the Tigers’ squad.

Junior Todd Wildman of Dallas (Jesuit College Prep) received a provisional men’s qualifying time in the 60 meters for the 2008 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. The meet is slated for March 14-15 at Ada, Ohio. Wildman was a provisional qualifier for the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the high jump and 110-meter hurdles. He captured the SCAC high jump event (6 feet, 5.50 inches) and the 110-meter hurdles (14.98 seconds). Wildman was all-conference in the 400-meter hurdles with a third-place finish (56.23 seconds).

Sophomore Chass Armstrong of Boerne, Texas (Boerne), also a product of the cross country team, won the SCAC 1,500 meters (3:57.81). Senior Joe Macrini of Houston (Memorial) took the 400-meter dash (50.65 seconds) and was part of the second-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:24.87).

Three junior members of the conference championship 4x100-meter relay team return to defend their title: Tyson Cannon of Jacksonville, Texas (Jacksonville); Evan Reville of Oklahoma City (Casady School); and Raymond Clark of Beaumont, Texas (West Brook). The winning time was 42.19 seconds. The versatile Clark also picked up All-SCAC recognition with a third-place finish in the discus throw (138 feet, 11 inches).

Sophomore Donald Wesson of Lubbock, Texas (Monterey), won the shot put with a mark of 49 feet, 1 inch. He was runner-up in the discus throw (141 feet, 3 inches). Junior Casey Pikla of San Antonio (Fort Collins, Colo.), finished in second place in the pole vault (14 feet, .50 inches).

“The men’s team will be strong on the sprints,” added Emily Urban, who coaches the sprinting events. “There will also be good middle distance runners and throwers.”

In addition to Coaches Lutz and Urban, three other assistants bring expertise to the program.

Jerheme Urban (Emily Urban’s husband), a former Trinity star and currently a member of the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, coaches sprints, horizontals and the javelin throw.

Francisco Leon is the coach of Tiger pole vaulters.  Joe Meno coaches the throws, including the shot put and discus.

The Tigers open their campaign March 1 at Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas. The Texas State Open in San Marcos, Texas, is on the schedule for March 7. Trinity will compete in the UTSA Relays March 14-15 in San Antonio and the Rice University meet March 28-29 at Houston. The Texas Relays in Austin are on the slate for April 4-5 and the David Noble Relays, in San Angelo, Texas, on April 12.

DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., will host the SCAC Championships April 25-26.

The Tigers, though, won’t be finished because they will compete May 2-3 at the Houston Invitational. The North Central meet, in Naperville, Ill., will take place at two different times,  May 8-9 and 15-16.

The NCAA Division III Championships will be staged May 22-24 at Oshkosh, Wis.