Alumni Newsletter - Jan-Feb 2013 2.0

7/30/2019 Alumni Newsletter - Jan-Feb 2013 2.0

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Volume 3: January/February 2013 Contents:

Meet Recaps: NCAA XC Regionals, Bucknell Bison Open

Feature: Indoor Track Event Previews

Catching Up With: Britney Foreman, Sara Parkinson , Ashley

Fountleroy


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Saturday Dec. 1st

Bison Opener Bucknell University

Saturday Jan. 5th

Penn State Relays Penn State University

Friday Jan. 11th

Gotham Cup NYC Armory

Saturday Jan. 19th

Terrapin Invite PGSLC, Landover, MD

Friday Jan. 25th

PSU National Invite Penn State University

Saturday Jan. 25th

PSU National Invite Penn State UniversityPatriot Games George Mason University

Friday Feb. 1st

NB Collegiate Invite NYC Armory

Saturday Feb. 2nd

NB Collegiate Invite NYC Armory

Monday Feb. 11th

America East Champ. Reggie Lewis Center, MA

Tuesday Feb. 12th

America East Champ. Reggie Lewis Center

Saturday Mar. 2nd

IC4A/ECAC Champ. BU/RLC, Boston, MA

Sunday Mar. 3rd

IC4A/ECAC Champ. BU/RLC, Boston, MA

Friday Mar. 8th

NCAA Champ. Univ. of Arkansas

Saturday Mar. 9th

NCAA Champ. Univ. of Arkansas

Weve reached our third volume in what we intend to keep going

throughout the school year every two months. We are keeping the same format

of articles that we introduced in the last volume with more slant towards the

former womens team members and track & field events since the last volume

was very distance and male oriented. In the next volume we will have a more

even blend to the events. Additionally we are still experimenting with the visual

format of the newsletter and we hope to have hit it right on this one.

Take special note of the alumni events listed to the right as we are

hoping to get a larger contingent, across many generations back to campus for

not only our inaugural banquet but also the return of the Big Dawg Invite. Also

look for information in the newsletter for instructions on how you can sponsor an

event at the Big Dawg Invite. For example, via a personal contribution, the first

sponsored event so far is the Dr. Charles Brown Mens Javelin Throw. Please

contact Coach David Bobb if you are interested in sponsoring an event.

We are also in the process of rebuilding our alumni database with

updated email addresses. So if you did not receive this newsletter directly to your

inbox, check your spam folder first, and if you still did not receive it, please email

me your updated email address. If you have email of other alumni and you feel

comfortable passing them along so we can stay in contact that would be great.

Please spread the word as well to other alumni about our efforts and hopefully by

the start of next year we are reaching 75% of our alumni.

Matt Gittermann

[email protected]

The Track and Field Banquet is a new event designed to bring together

alumni, current team members, and future members of the UMBC Cross

Country and Track & Field Teams. It is a great opportunity to reconnect

with old teammates, network with other alumni, and meet the current

team and coaching staff.

After a ten year absence, the Big Dawg Invite returns to the campus of

UMBC with a slate of teams including Duquesne, Bucknell, Howard, and

many others. An alumni tent/reception will be held with drinks and

snacks. Coupled with the banquet, its a great weekend to come back to

your alma mater


3/6

David Bobb Matt Gittermann Peter KoumlelisHead Track & Field Coach Head Cross Country Coach Assistant Track & Field Coach

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

410-455-6588 410-455-1324 410-455-1282

NCAA Mid Atlantic XC Regional:

The cross country teams wrapped up their season competing at the Mid-Atlantic Regional held on the Penn State University Golf Course. The mens

team finished 14th

while the women finished 26th

. Leading the men with a 41st

place finish was Brandan McGee whose time of 31:29.35 was the second fastest

time in school history for 10,000 meters. Juniors Jake Albino and freshman Hassan Omar also broke into the Top 10 All Time with times of 32:02 (62nd

) and 32:22

(80th

) respectively. For the women, Julie Gessler, ran a personal best 23:18 to lead the women over 6,000 meters.

Bucknell Bison Opener:

Mercedes Jackson breaks her own school record in the 60 meter dash in 7.47 seconds. Ebonique Jones (7.76), Tessa Seale, and D Nique Phillips also

recorded Top 10 All Time marks in the 60 meter dash.

Ebonique Jones won the long jump with a personal best 18-5 jump

Amanda Deller won the weight throw and shot put

Chowan Brightful finished second in the 60 meter hurdles and third in the high jump

Kirsten Jones, Sarah Daly, Cody Mezebish, Essence Fredericks, and Ashly McClure all finished in the Top 8 at the meet

Yao Adantor threw a IC4A qualifying 15.74 meters in the shot put

Trae Proctor finished 2nd in the hurdles with a new personal best 8.03 to qualify for the IC4A meet

Freshmen Redatu Semeon and Andrew Kereszetes finished 2nd

in the 3,000 meters and mile respectively

Aboshioma Obemeata and Mo Drammeh finished second in the triple jump and high jump respectively

4 Cross Country Runners Named to America East All Academic Team:Junior All-Conference selection Brandan McGee (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) headline

a group of four Retrievers named to the America East All-Academic Team, the conference

office announced on Tuesday afternoon. McGee was joined on the mens team by classmate

Vinny DiSalvo (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville), as well as sophomore Eric Schuler

(Columbia, Md./Reservoir) while junior Kirsten McGovern (Sykesville, Md./Century)

represented UMBC on the womens squad. With four athletes named to the two teams, UMB

ties Hartford and Stony Brook for the most athletes recognized.

For McGee, the honor comes just two weeks after placing seventh overall at the

conference meet in Durham, N.H. where he earned a spot on the America East All-Conference

squad. In the classroom, McGee has accumulated a 3.39 grade-point average while double

majoring in economics as well as health administration and policy.

After not competing in the first two meets of the season, DiSalvo scored in four of

the final five competitions for the Retrievers, including the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

Championships at Penn State last week. The junior has been diligent in his studies as well,earning a 3.79 GPA while studying for a degree in mechanical engineering. In his first two yea

at UMBC, DiSalvo has earned a spot on the Presidents List twice for having a perfect 4.0 GPA

during the semester and also garnered semester academic honors on one other occasion.

Meanwhile, Schuler competed in six meets this year, missing only the Towson

Invitational, scoring four times, one of which came during a 16th place finish at the America

East Championships. In the classroom, Schuler earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during his freshman

year at UMBC, earning a spot on the Presidents List during the Fall 2011 semester.

McGovern represents the womens team after leading the team once this season

and scoring in six of the Retrievers seven competitions. In her first two years in Baltimore,

McGovern has compiled a 3.94 GPA while studying for a degree in environmental science. In

addition, the junior has been working towards a minor in linguistics and earning an honors

college certificate. McGovern has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during three of her four terms at

UMBC, garnering a mention on the Presidents List as well as a spot on the Deans List .
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Indoor Track and Field Preview:In her first season, Mercedes Jackson re-wrote the record books during both the indoor and

outdoor season, taking home multiple Conference titles and Newcomer of the Year awards in the

process. With expectations higher in her second season, Jackson spent the summer on campus working

out and appears to be far ahead of last year. "We've tried to instill in our athletes that it takes a lot of

hard work to be successful," revealed Coach Bobb, "but it takes even more work and effort to maintain

that success." With Conference success probable, a larger stage for success might be in the works as

Coach Bobb said, "that the Conference meet remains the number one priority, however, there is a

definitive goal for her to reach the National meet."

Joining her will be a plethora of young talent with depth in every single event. With Jackson

in the shorter events (60m and 200m dashes) will be fellow sophomore Ebonique Jones. As a freshman,

Jones had a great year, scoring in the long jump, 60 meter and 200 meter dashes at the Indoor

Conference Meet and scoring in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes, while running a leg on the

Conference Champion 4x100 meter relay at the Outdoor Conference meet. In the lone hurdle eventduring the indoor season, senior Chowan Brightful returns after a breakout season that saw her finish

fifth indoors in the 60 meter hurdles and fourth outdoors in the 100 meter hurdles. As the fastest

returner in the Conference, she could contend for a Conference title.

The 200 meter dash could be a big event for the Retrievers, with not only Jones and Jackson

returning scorers, but with a strong core group of long sprinters adding more depth and impact. Junior

Kirsten Jones, a multi-time scorer in the 200 meter and 400 meter dashes in both the indoor and

outdoor Conference returns. Sophomore Briana Young was one of only two Conference runners to

score in both the 200 meters and 400 meters in last year Championships, and she followed that up with

a sixth place finish in the 200 meters at the Outdoor Championships. Sophomores Kalane Abbey and

Blossom Metevier will add even more depth to these events and should factor into the scoring.

Additionally, look for freshman D'Nique Philips to make an immediate impact.

Moving up to the 500 meter dash one finds junior Deborah Adelola and sophomore Paulette

Fogle in the conversation for Conference points. They finished sixth and eighth respectively last year

with some of the fastest times in school history and both will be looking to move further up the ranks.

Combined with Kirsten Jones, Abbey, Young, and Metervier, you have a deep group of talent that

should contend for the Conference 4x400 meter title. "Our hopes are not to only score a lot of points

with our depth, but also to score high and monopolize as many points as possible on the women's side,"

said Coach Bobb.

Leading the men will be senior Trae Proctor, the two-time defending Conference Champion

in the 60 meter hurdles. Proctor blew out the field last year in the finals and crept ever so close to being

the first Retriever to dip under eight seconds in the event. The leading returner in the short sprints is

senior Sean Cooper, who placed fifth in the 60 meter and sixth in the 200 meter dashes respectively.

The IC4A qualifier continued his success in the outdoor campaign scoring in the 100 meter and 200

meter dashes.

Joining him this year will be senior Denny Long who red-shirted indoor and outdoor track

after making an initial splash at the Bison Opener last season. His time from that meet alone would have

put him in contention for top three at the Conference meet. Additionally, transfer Jenove Blanfort

(Virginia Union) could add a potent punch to the addition of Long. Together they could contend for the

Conference title in the short sprints. To fill out the depth, returners Kyle Baker and Pat Balderson will be

looked upon to get into the scoring fray in the shorter sprints, while newcomers will be relied upon to

fill the void left by graduate Josh Hewitson.

Things to Watch For This Season:

Sophomore Mercedes Jackson has a

legitimate shot to make a run at the

national meet. With a PR of 7.48, she

would need to drop down to about 7.30 to

qualify

Trae Proctor will be looking for his third

consecutive Conference Championship in

the 60 meter hurdles

The womens sprint team as a whole, on

paper is one of the strongest in team

history. With their depth, look to see how

many points they can rack up at the

Conference meet

Catching Up With: Britney Foreman

A graduate of Chesapeake High School in Pasadena, Maryland, Britney Foreman made an immediate impact on the UMBC track team, initially

breaking the 60 meter dash record in her inaugural season. She would go on to improve upon that mark, along with setting school records in

the outdoor 200 meter dash and lending a leg on the school record 4x100 meter and Spring Medley Relays. A three time MVP for the

womens team we caught up to her where she is currently working as a financial anal yst for a computer science firm.

What was your favorite athletic memory of UMBC? When I ran my personal best in the 200m dash and 4x400m split (2010). Coming into

college, the 60m and 100m dash were my primary races that I did the best in. However, it turned out that I ran my best in the 200 meters

(24.4). I put in extra work in lifting and doing 400m workouts and it definitely paid off. My final year, I was able to split 57 in the 4x400m relay.

Who was your coach and what do you remember of their coaching style? Coach Bobb and Coach Torge. Coach Torge would provide the lifting workout and

would trust the athlete to get it done. Sometimes he would come with us to the weight room and provide any additional assistance if needed. Coach Bobb

always provided the workouts and let us know what our goals were. This was very helpful. It helped us stay focused and set our goals early on in the season. He

was always accessible to talk or discuss anything athletically or academically. I truly enjoyed training under Coach Bobb. He listened to his athletes and tried his

best to create workouts that helped us reach our goals while paying attention to our personal needs.

Are you involved in the sport still in any capacity? If so, how? No. I will go on long runs from time to time but I am no longer training or competing.

How do you feel that UMBC (academic/athletically/etc.) prepared you for life after college? UMBC prepared me very well. I learned dynamics of working on a

team and being a leader amongst my peers by being a team captain. Also, I learned the importance of hard work and how it always pays off in the end. These

are attributes that I apply every day at work and in graduate school.
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Indoor Track and Field Preview::

After an injury-plagued freshman season, junior Cody Mezebish broke out in her second year, with a surprising and near ECAC qualifying fifth place finish in the indoor

800 meters at the Conference meet. Her 2:14.95 represented the second fastest time in school history and a three second personal record at the time. During the

outdoor season she lowered her time to 2:14.2 and this past fall she was the leading running for much of the cross country season. "With the progress she made last

year, coupled with the strong cross country season, there is no reason why she can't contend for a top three position," said Coach Matt Gittermann, "she is definitely

going to lead a strong core of mid-distance runners for the women." Joining her will be Sarah Daly who just missed out on making the finals of the 500 meters at last

year's Championships and moved up to the 800 meters during the outdoor season. This fall she was a constant varsity contributor for the cross country team. Returner

Mary Katherine Kulp should add depth in the 800 meters through mile, while a slew of newcomers could make a huge impact on the mid-distance events. "I believe we

now have the talent to contend for the 4x800 meter relay not only this year but for the near future."

The longer events will feature Julie Gessler who had a strong end to her cross country team leading them across the line at the Mid-Atlantic Regional and freshman

Nicole Dawson who was a consistent top three runner for the Retrievers in the fall. Sophomore Alyse Gibson and freshman Harmony Roche should add depth to the

events.

In the mid-distance events for the men, Andrew Smith returns after two successful seasons running 800 meters, including a fourthplace finish last year. In the mile,Jake Albino, who missed last year's indoor season due to injury will lead the team in the mile, after a fourth place finish in the 1500 meters at the Outdoor Conferencemeet. "Both Andrew and Jake have the talent to contend for top three positions in the 800 meters and the mile," said Gittermann, "and they should form the bookends

on a formidable DMR (distance medley relay)." Look for freshman Andrew Kereszetes to make an immediate impact in either the 1,000 meter or 800 meter runs.

The distance events will be led by a crew of runners whose depth propelled the cross country team to a third place finish at the Cross Country Conference

Championships. Leading the men will be the All Conference Cross Country Performer Brandan McGee whose seventh place finish led the men at the Conferences and

set school marks for the 5,000 meters and 8,000 meters during the fall. The Conference Champion in the spring in the steepler, he is looking to extend that success

indoors. The lone distance senior Todd Cowing will look to improve upon his 12th place finish in the 3,000 meters last year when he set a personal best 8:32. Returners

Vinny DiSalvo, Tommy Eldridge, and Eric Schuler will add to depth along with freshmen Hassan Omar and a crew of impact freshmen.


Its conceivable, that every schoolrecord on the mens side is in play

to be broken over the next two

years, with only one senior on the

roster

The womens 4x800m relay has set

itself up to be contending for the

Conference title for the next couple

years and could potentially go under

the 9 minute barrier

The mens distance medley relay

could develop into a regional power

over the next two years, potentially

capable of a Top 50 or Top 25

National Ranking

Catching Up With: Sara Parkinson

Sara originally came to UMBC from Longborough University in England as a netball player who dabbled in track and field. She

was only on a one year exchange program and was supposed to leave at the end of the year, however, she decided to stick around

and become the most decorated female distance runner in school history either holding or sharing in six school records. She was a multi-time

All Conference Runner in all three seasons and won the Conference title in the 5,000m at the Indoor Conference Meet her junior year. Currently she is living in

New Zealand working in a clothing store (to maintain a visa) while working as an intern at a Fashion Company (Dissh) and magazine (Raw Ink).

What was your favorite non-athletic memory of being at UMBC?

Having the chance to live and study in a foreign institution so far away from home is an experience I will never be able to have again. It was the chance in a life

time and when I ever hear of anyone wishing to study abroad I always tell them to do it! My whole American experience will be a favorite chapter in my life. I

miss many things about it still today.

Are you still active in the sport?

Yes, of course!!! I still run, 5-6 times a week (now i take a couple of days off a week). I was training before I moved to Australia a month ago, I was mainly

doing longer distances from 5 km to half marathons. I feel like you need to be in great shape (i.e., running is your number one) priority to run anything below 5

km decently, well maybe thats just me. I did take a break immediately after running at UMBC as my body needed it. I took about 6-7 months off from running

but I still did other sports like netball and tennis. I picked it back up though after Christmas and came 10th in the Edinburgh half marathon last May in a time of

83 minutes, I have also recently run a 10km in under 38mins on the road, so I still love running I guess i am just a little slower. I plan doing marathons

eventually...after I get a full time job!

What did you take from your time at UMBC?

It's funny you ask this question because my time at UMBC as a runner has come in very handy on a number of occasions. Having been interview for a number

of jobs/attended assessment days, they often ask you to talk about something you are passionate about. I always prepare a two minute presentation on what

running as a NCAA athlete has taught me about myself and life including the importance of hard work and determination, how to lead, the importance of

taking risks, and how to believe in the hard work I put in order to overcome perceived obstacles.


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Indoor Track and Field Preview:Throws:

Senior Amanda Deller is looking to become the second America East

athlete to win four straight shot put titles during the indoor season and could

possibly be the first athlete ever to win all shot put titles over a four year

period. During the outdoor season she crept even closer to the fifty foot barrier

despite a lingering injury. Additionally she swept all the throwing events indoor

by not only taking home the weight throw title, but Field Performer of the Year

Award as well. Depth will be hurt by the loss of perennial All-Conference

performer Chrissy Robinson, but junior Emma Mayne returns from injury and

freshmen Jen Nelson and Nneoma Edokobi could step right in.

For the men, senior returner Cameron McDearmon should lead theway after sixth place finishes in the shot put and the weight throw at last year's

championships. With a school record toss of 61'-9.5" during the regular season

with the weight, that type of performance suggests that he can contend for a

Conference title. Joining him will be transfer Yao Adator (Maryland), whose

past performance in the shot put could make him a contender for the

Conference title. Fellow transfer Thor Serafenas (Clemson) will add top three

potential to both the shot and the weight. Ray Stinsman returns and adds depth

after just missing out on the scoring in the shot put and weight throw last year.

"The talent is there to sweep all four throwing events across both genders,"

said Coach Peter Koumlelis, "we just to put in the early season work so we can

harvest those performances at the Conference meet."

Jumps, Vaults, and Multi's:

Senior Shioma Obemeata returns in hopes of obtaining the

Conference title he was so close to getting last year in the triple jump finishing

second in both the indoor and outdoor Championships. Additionally, Obemeata

will be looking to extend beyond his specialty to include both the long and high

jumps, events he could potentially score in. Also returning is junior Dosu

Teyibo, whose improvements in the jumping events led to a sixth place finish in

the triple jump and just outside the scoring in the long jump in Boston last year.

Finally, multi-time IC4A qualfier junior Mo Drammeh will return in the high

jump, having finished second last year in the event.

For the women, ECAC qualifier and school record holder Chowan

Brightful will look to contend for a Conference title in the high jump after

finishing third last season. Additionally, she could add depth to the long jump,

an event that saw Ebonique Jones finish eighth last year but had regular season

jumps that suggest she could be a factor in the top three. Newcomer Caitlyn

Davis could provide depth in the high and triple jumps, but should make an

impact in her best event, the pole vault.

The men's heptathlon should continue to be a strong event for the

Retrievers. Last year, sophomore Eric Ezenwanne finished fourth in his first yearcompeting in the multi-events. With more practice under his belt in the events

he was just introduced to last year, he could contend for the top spot in the

Conference. Joining him will be junior John Rybak who was a spot outside of the

scoring last year, though he did finish fifth in the open 60 meter hurdles. Add in

freshmen Vincent Rentzch, who could potentially score not only in the

heptathlon but also in the shot and triple.


It is possible that the throws team

could sweep the mens and womensthrowing events at the Conference

meet

Three men are in range of scoring in

the heptathlon, an event that has been

historically strong for UMBC

Look for the newcomers, both

transfers and freshmen, to come in

and make an immediate impact at the

Conference meet

Catching Up With: Ashley Fauntleroy

During her time at UMBC, Ashley put together one of the most

successful careers in school history winning nine Conference

Championships in the shot, weight, discus, and hammer. A three

time America East Field Performer of the year, her discus mark is still

the school mark. Currently she works in the International Sales

Operation at Under Armour in Baltimore.

What was your favorite athletic memory of UMBC?

My senior year, being undefeated in indoor and outdoor conferencemeets and wrapping up the season with the UMBC Most

Outstanding Athlete award for 2007-2008. Also, I have a lot of good

memories of the UMBC track team in general. I think i ts rare to find

a track and field team with the family dynamic that UMBC had/has.

Who was your coach and what do you remember of their coaching

style?

I was coached by Gary Crago for 3 years (freshman junior) and by

Andrew Torge my senior year. Coach Cragos coaching style was very

technical and firm. I remember him pushing me to learn the

rotational technique in the shot put. I put up a lot of resistance

towards this change during my freshman year but, Coach Crago was

adamant that I learn and master the technique. Although it took a

lot of trial and error, it worked out for the best in the end.

Coach Torges coaching style was enthusiastic to say the least. I

believe his enthusiasm and encouragement brought me to a newlevel. He really helped to build my confidence and made me feel like

I could accomplish just about anything. Im thankful for both of

them.

Are you involved in the sport still in any capacity? If so, how?

Not currently. I coached throws at Wagner College from 2009-2011.

Once the weather warms up again, Ill be back out on the field

throwing discus and hammer for fun.

How do you feel that UMBC (academic/athletically/etc.) prepared

you for life after college?

UMBCs high academic and athletic standards provided some of the

greatest challenges I have experienced thus far. Surpassing these

challenges helped to build the confidence and skills that I needed to

succeed as a graduate assistant at Wagner College and earn my

MBA. The coaching I received/observed at UMBC from my throws

coaches as well as Coach Bobb, Coach Flowers, and Coach Cantor,

helped to develop and mold my coaching technique. Everything

seems easy when I compare it to what I exceeded at UMBC. Im

always proud to say that Im a UMBC alumnus.

Alumni Newsletter - Jan-Feb 2013 2.0

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