ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's track and field squad had another banner year in 2009.  The team won the indoor Heptagonal Track and Field Championships, their seventh first place finish in the last eight years.  Outdoors the team was second, having their consecutive league win streak snapped at seven.  The group claimed twelve individual event first place finishes and set Ivy League all-time bests in the pole vault, long jump, discus, 60 meters and the 4 X 100 meter relay.  The Big Red also registered top finishes at the ECAC and NCAA East Regional championships and were headliners at Tennessee's Sea-Ray Relays, California-Northridge Invite, California-Irvine Open and the Penn Relays where junior Stephanie Pancoast won the coveted 3000 meter steeple-chase event. Senior Jeomi Maduka was a two-time NCAA All-American in the long jump while two other Big Red athletes competed at the National Meet.

The squad graduated a small but potent group of individuals who will be sorely missed.  Many times All-American Jeomi Maduka was among the nation's top athletes and set numerous records in the sprint and hurdles.  Maria Matos won seven league crowns in the indoor 20 pound weight and discus while Erin Folger was a league runner-up in the javelin.  Erin Payne, Janice Nsor and Tameka Royal were mainstays in the sprints helping the Red win both 4 X 400 and 4 X 100 meter crowns in 2009.  Aeriel Emig, Amanda Wheat and Tammy Wynne helped lead the always strong middle distance unit while Fiona Cundy was the teams top 5000 meter runner during the past year.

While the Red suffered these key losses to graduation the coaching staff is optimistic about the team's fortunes in 2010.  An outstanding nucleus of decorated athletes returns along with one of the best recruiting classes in quite some time.  The returning squad includes 6 Heptagonal champions and many that were close last season.  The sprint-hurdle group returns hurdler Jessica Weyman and sprinters Melissa Hewitt, Megan Williams, Kelsey Reimnitz and Kate Backel.   League scorers Lauren Tanz, Krystal Williams, Taylor Baird, Danielle Silas and Molly Glantz return to bolster a deep unit.

The middle distance/distance events are loaded returning top 800 meter runners Katie Murdoch and Kim Standridge while top milers Kerri Lyons and Caroline Heidt are back, all are Ivy League scorers and NCAA regional qualifiers.  Steeplechase record-holder Stephanie Pancoast heads a young distance group that will see an influx of new faces from the Class of 2012.  As usual the field events will be deep.  All-time Ivy League record-holder Natalie Gengel returns for her last go around in the pole vault while junior Kim Lienhoop , many times Heps scorer, should dominate the Red's horizontal jumping.  Junior Cassie Schweighofer, Ivy League discus and shot-put scorer as a freshman, leads a young but powerful throwing group while sophomore multi-eventer Karen Schillinger continues her impressive development and was a conference scorer as just a frosh last year.

In all, the team's combination of talented returners and another solid year on the recruiting front should translate into another competitive campaign for the Big Red.

SPRINTS
Cornell hopes to repeat the sprint success of the recent past by welcoming back a strong contingent of experienced athletes.  The 2009 group recorded two scorers in every sprint event at the conference meet and captured both 4 X 400 relays and the 4 x 100 as well, setting an all-time Ivy League mark of 45.71.  The short sprints return a bevy of talent headlined by sophomore sprint sensation Melissa Hewitt.  She was impressive at 60 meters recording the second fastest time ever run in league history at 7.46.  Outdoors Hewitt won two league titles and recorded personal bests at 100 meters – 11.72 and 200 meters 24.46.  Her running mate should be senior Krystal Williams.  She had a dynamite year finishing third in the league 60 meters at 7.66, helping the Red to a 1-2-3 sweep.  Her best 100 meters is 11.92 and she recorded a personal best 24.95 for 200 meters.  Junior Mecha Santos could be the break out sprinter of 2010. She showed flashes of brilliance during the outdoor year, just missing the 100 meter dash final at the Heps and running some electrifying 4 X 100 meter legs. Highlighted new frosh are Sheveena Rowe and Mercy Gbenjo.  Rowe was among New York states best hitting 11.98 for 100 meters while Gbenjo was a sprint finalist at the Nevada state meet. 

The long sprints are again solid for the Red, a trademark of the past eight years. The team returns four athletes that combined to win both the indoor and outdoor 4 X 400 Heptagonal championships. Senior co-captain Jessica Weyman returns to anchor the group after posting multiple scoring efforts at 400 meters.  She ran 55.48 last season and looks to improve on that mark in her final season for the Red.  Senior co-captain Megan Williams had a dynamite junior year and has won five Heps championships.  With bests of 56.40 at 400 meters, 25.12 for 200 meters and 12.09 at 100 meters Williams has the best range on the team.  Seniors Kate Backel and sophomore Kelsey Reimnitz are veterans who have run 56 seconds for 400 meters and should be counted on in the Reds relay efforts.  Backel was fourth in the league 400 meters as a sopohomore.  Returners Molly Glantz and Danielle Silas also have solid credentials as do two incoming freshmen, Libby O'Brien and Mari Giurastante.  O'Brien was a scorer in the Illinois state meet and anchored her 4 X 400 relay to a state title running 55.8.  Giurastante is the New York state champ at 400 hurdles and has great speed and endurance to run great open races.

HURDLES
The youth movement from last year was a rousing success in the short hurdles as an outstanding veteran group now returns for the Red in 2010.  Junior Lauren Tanz had a break out year as a sophomore setting personal bests in both hurdle events.  Tanz was third at 60 meter hurdles indoors in the Ivy League championships running a best of 8.86.  Outdoors she finished second in the 100 meter hurdles at Heps running a best again of 14.26. Her two sophomore team-mates had incredible first years as well!  Danielle Silas burst onto the Ivy League scene finishing fourth indoors and seventh outdoors running personal bests 8.86 and 14.46.  Taylor Baird, another of Cornell's super-frosh, was sixth indoors at 8.88 and fifth outdoors at 14.40.  The trio looks to continue their improvements in 2010.

The long hurdles return NCAA Regional qualifier and Heptagonal champion Jessica Weyman.  She reached the NO#2 all-time effort at Cornell last spring running 59.71. Sophomore Molly Glantz returns after a fantastic frosh year that saw her run a personal best 62.37 finishing sixth at the Ivy League championships and qualify for the outdoor ECAC meet.  Newcomer Mari Giurastante is a New York state hurdle champion and has a personal high school best of 61.78.  This should give the Red a tough trio of long hurdlers in 2010!

JUMPS
The jumps group could again be pivotal in the Reds success in 2010.  Traditionally strong, this group will count on its success from returning veterans and exciting new-comers.  The horizontal jumps should be led by junior “jumping jack” Kim Lienhoop.  She will be looking for her first individual jump titles after being a regular Ivy League scorer in both the long and triple jumps.  With bests of 19-4 ¾ and 39-6 she returns with the most experience.  Sophomores Melissa Hewitt and Jessica Wilson have jumped 18-10 and 18-8 in the long jump respectively and give the Red a strong trio here.  New frosh Savannah Johnson is one of the nations top high school triple jumpers having hit 40-5 last spring. Sophomore Kristin Brandt returns from injury and has done 39-2 in the triple jump to complement the group.  Other contributors should be Liz Walker, Laura Bowler and frosh long jumper Rebecca DeLong, one of Pennsylvania's better HS jumpers.

The pole vault returns Cornell's best ever in senior Natalie Gengel.  The two time Heptagonal champion is an NCAA qualifier and holds the all-time Ivy League best at 13-3 ½.  Sophomores Samantha Brady and Kerry McDermott had solid initial collegiate seasons.  Brady was a Heps scorer indoors while McDermott reached a personal best 11-8 outdoors.  Newcomers should impact as New Hampshire state champion Lindsey Patterson enters Cornell with a best 12-5.  Maryland transfer Nicole Corey has all of the tools to be an important cog on a deep and talented vault group for 2010.

The high jump continues to look for its own identity with only returner Renee Mercedes having collegiate experience. She has a best of 5-5 and will be joined by two freshmen, ready to make their mark for the Big Red.  Sonate Dan-Princewill has scaled 5-6 and should impact immediately as has newcomer Ailish Hanly, a 5-5 jumper from Massachusetts.  Horizontal jumper Kim Lienhoop was a 5-5 jumper in high school may be asked to go vertical in some instances.

MULTI-EVENTS
Sophomore Karen Schillinger had some eye-opening performances in her first collegiate season in the multi-events.  She reached a personal best 3342 for the indoor pentathlon and was a league scorer outdoors, finishing fifth at the Heps in 4232 for the heptathlon.


WEIGHTS/THROWS
The graduation of seven time Heps Champion (weight and discus) and three time NCAA qualifier (discus) Maria Matos along with four time Heps scorer Erin Folger in the javelin will surely be felt. Not only for their contributions on the field but their leadership off.  Looking to step-up will be a mix of veteran and freshman throwers.  Leading the group will be junior Cassie Schweighofer.  Schweighofer, who missed all of last year with an injury, emerged as one of Cornell's most versatile throwers her freshman year . An NCAA Region qualifier in the discus, 160' and a 45' shot putter Schweighofer will look to return to the form that made her one of the best throwers in the Ivy League.  Senior Kristen Rhinehardt a Heps scorer in the weight with a best of 51', and Sophomore Erin Rossi a Heps finalists in the hammer at 151' will look to lead a talented group of freshman throwers.
The thrower who covers the most events is Victoria Imbesi, a New Jersey champion in the Javelin with a best of  151' and Group Champion in the discus at 134' she also has a shot best of 43'. Imbesi should have an immediate impact on the league. Fellow freshman Claire Dischong, 149' in the discus and 11'3 in the pole vault should also be an immediate help.  Providing additional support will be javelin specialist Brittany Dombrowski 128' and shot and discus thrower Emily Koppleman 39' and 126'. Newcomer, junior, Andrea Faldermeyer will also look to contribute in the hammer.

MIDDLE DISTANCE
A series of bad-luck injuries that struck an accomplished group of athletes could have slowed the Big Red down in 2009, but a number of younger athletes stepped up and performed admirably while maintaining Cornell's tradition of success.  In the absence of NCAA Regional qualifiers Kerri Lyons, Kate Murdoch and Kim Standridge along with relay mainstay Lindsay Broyhill, the Big Red still managed to achieve significant success on the League and Regional level in 2009 and with so many younger athletes stepping in to fill the void, the team's depth for 2010 should be a real strength.  Senior Caroline Heidt continued her consistent, reliable ways in 2009, reaching the indoor Heps final in the mile; a past Heps scorer, she is looking forward to a strong senior year as well.  Classmate Jeanell English had a break-out year as a junior and will look to continue to contribute along with Broyhill, Lyons, Murdoch and Standridge, all of whom are All-East performers  Juniors Lauren Bariexca and Alana Levy have demonstrated they are capable of being key contributors and will look to have a greater impact as they enter their final two years at Cornell.  Sophomore Meghan Brown had a terrific freshman year and qualified for the Heps 1500 final.  Her classmates Bry Bonavita, Molly Glantz, Emma Clarke, Janel Parker and Christine Curtis could also contribute .  Among incoming freshmen, Alyssa O'Connor of Oregon, Marie McKenna of Pennsylvania, Liz Reamer and Kathryn Buchan of New York, Sarah Cariati of New Jersey and Maria Catanzarite of Indiana have run between 2:12 and 2:15 and have the credentials to contribute right away in the 800, 1000 and 1500/mile.

DISTANCE
Building on significant national success over the past five seasons (Kate Boyles '05, Emily McCabe '06, Toni Salucci '07 have competed at the NCAA Finals in the 5000 and Robyn Ellerbrock '07 and Stephanie Panocast '10 have competed at the NCAAs in the steeplechase), the distance group had a terrific season in 2009 with numerous alterations to the all-time top 10 lists, a slew of NCAA Regional and ECAC qualifiers and tremendous depth.  Indeed, with eight returning runners under 18:00 for 5K and eight under 10:25 in the 3K, the group is among the deepest in the League and the East.  Senior captain Stephanie Pancoast, the Penn Relays champion in the steeplechase, and an NCAA competitor, will lead the way.   Classmate Erin Roberts and junior Maura Carroll have also qualified for the NCAA Regional meet in the steeplechase and are amongst Cornell's all-time top 10 in the event.  Roberts has scored three times in the Heps in her event, making the steeplechase another strongpoint for Cornell in 2010.  In addition to the steeplechasers, junior Katie Sullivan broke into Cornell's all-time top 10 in the 10K as a sophomore and is an ECAC qualifier who should help in both the 5K and 10K.  Classmate Kristin Sellers has improved dramatically and sophomores Christine Smith and Shelby Herman will contribute as well.  Keep an eye on a great group of freshmen, including New Jersey standout Katie Kellner, Kelsey Karys of Massachusetts, Cara Costich of Connecticut and New Yorkers Genna Hartung and Kate Rosettie.