| Track and Field Season Preview 2007 The Patriots finished their 2006 season garnering several finishes in the top ten, and a conference championship. The team broke numerous school records and sent seven athletes to the national meet in 2006. With the addition of several new athletes, the teams plan to accomplish new feats and set even higher goals. Losing a few top athletes this past season will leave a small void for the team but many new recruits will fill the empty spots. The Patriots look to be strong in the distance, middle distance, and sprints. The Patriots return a strong sprinter who was out with an injury last season, Jordan Jeffers ( Fairview, TN). The Patriots also have six returning national qualifiers from last season; Marius Cozmanciuc ( Romania), who was also the leading scorer for the men and the most valuable athlete of the season, Caleb Dodson (Valparaiso, IN), Lemuel Holifield ( Johnson City, TN) and Josh Laughlin ( Detroit, MI) for the men. The Patriot ladies middle distance squad looks very strong this season, with Shelly Schnee(Milan, OH) being the top middle distance athlete along with Sister Kelly (Milan, OH), who both qualified for the National meet for the past three years. Shelly was the leading scorer in the MSC and named the most valuable athlete of the season as well. This past year, Kelly was the fourth leading scorer. Strong editions to the team are Derek Osborne ( LaFollette, TN) and Dereck Monroe ( Barbourville, KY) for the men and Zora Mefford ( LaFollette, TN) for the women. Key runners lost were Moses Cochran ( Thomasville, GA) due to an injury, and two athletes were lost due to graduation, Michelle Warnky, and Jared Tackett. Coach Stroud said, “I am looking forward to this year and conference once again. We have faced a few losses and I would like to keep the injuries down, but all in all, we are looking forward to a great season once again and look to see several promising national qualifying athletes again this year.” The indoor season at the Cumberlands begins in Findlay, OH on the 26 th of January with the outdoor season opening on the 24 th of March in Emory, GA at the Emory Invitational. 2006 Season Preview
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