Jan. 24, 2003

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BOUNCING BACK: For the first time this season, Miami's women's indoor track and field team will have to bounce back on Saturday in the Butler-Stan Lyons Invitational from something besides a first-place finish. The RedHawks will battle against nearly 20 other schools from the Midwest that range between the Division I, II, III, Junior College and NAIA ranks. The only other Mid-American Conference foe in Indianapolis, Ind. will be Marshall University.

"There will be a real diverse crowd of runners at the meet on Saturday," said head coach Rich Ceronie.

Miami will look for a strong performance after suffering their first defeat at the hands of Western Michigan this past week at the Bowling Green five-way race.

"In hindsight, just one switched place here or one inch more there could have brought the meet to a dead even contest," said Ceronie. "We can never afford to let any opportunity during a meet slip through our fingers; every athlete has the potential to make a difference."

ON RECORD: Junior Jenny Korrison continued her strong season last weekend at Bowling Green by moving to the ninth fastest person in Miami indoor history in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.18. Korrison has had quite a bit of success this year after she set a personal best time in the mile-run on January 11th at Cincinnati.

RECORD SETTERS: Junior Lauren Collins and sophomore Tabitha Schwartz set Miami indoor track and field records for their efforts at Cincinnati on Jan. 11. Collins threw the shot put 48'0" and broke her own record of 47'11" that was set during last year's Mid-American Conference Championship meet.

"Lauren had her work cut out for her as she beat one of the premier throwers in the Midwest in Jodi Borges of Dayton," said Ceronie. "She was able to surpass Borges on her last throw and set a new Miami record and walk away with an important win."

Schwartz also broke her own record when she pole vaulted 11'6" to beat her mark of 11'1" 3/4, which she also set at the MAC Championship meet last season. Schwartz earned her 11'6" mark on her second attempt at that height, but placed second behind Ohio's Jill Meranda who had less misses than the young RedHawk.

"Tabitha missed her first attempt but came back on her second to get a good drive into the pole and then was patient enough to allow the pole to bend before exploding off pole over the bar for a new record," said Ceronie.

MIND GAMES: Although the indoor track and field season is young, Miami is very well experienced at success in the classroom. Of the RedHawk's 43 student-athletes on the track & field and cross country squads, 27 earned a 3.0 grade-point average or higher last semester. The Red and White turned in a 3.28 team GPA to earn first-team academic all-America honors, which are usually awarded to around only 40 teams out of 321.

Senior Kristen Fryburg led the charge of academic prowess by earning individual academic all-America status. To receive this honor, a student must place on the all-region team in cross country while tallying above a 3.25 GPA.

"This is a great honor for her," says Ceronie. "Only about 50-60 cross country athletes out of 4,000 receive this honor, so its pretty special."