2007-2008 Track and Field
Season Wrap-Up
As predicted, the University of the Cumberlands men and women’s Track & Field teams turned in impressive seasons. The Patriots competed well and won several events during the 2008 campaign. Superb team efforts helped the Patriots shine in the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Championships throughout the season. Both of the men and women’s teams faired well in the Mid-South Conference Championships. The Patriot women captured the MSC crown and the Patriot men come in 2nd. For their efforts, six Patriots athletes brought home MSC All-Conference Team honors. With their respective performances throughout the course of the season, setting new school records and reaching bigger goals, both squads have raised the bar for Cumberlands Track & Field.
The Patriots earned several other individual accolades, as five athletes qualified for the National Indoor Championships, and six qualified for the National Outdoor Championships.
Coach Floyd Stroud had a roster that was absolutely loaded with talent, and he put them up against some of the best talent in the country in Divisions I, II, and III, as well as NAIA. During the Indoor season, the Patriots competed in the Findlay University Invitational, Indiana University Invitational, and the DePauw University Invitational and Classic. The Outdoor season consisted of the Emory University Invitational and Classic, Duke University Invitational, Eastern Kentucky University Invitational, and Georgia Tech University Invitational.
Patriot junior Jordan Jeffers ( Fairview, TN) once again earned All-American honors for the Cumberlands. Jeffers got the label for his performance In the Men’s 200m dash. Throughout the course of the season, Jeffers consistently took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in the 55m, 100m, and 200m. He set the MSC record in the 200m with a time of 21.75. Jeffers was also named to the MSC All-Conference team.
Eric Tisdol ( Eastman, GA) also turned in a stellar season. The sophomore became the first Cumberlands Patriot to ever win an NAIA Outdoor National Title in a field event. Tisdol took first in the Men’s Long Jump with a distance of 7.25m at the NAIA Nationals. He opened eyes all season long in both the Long Jump and High Jump, topping the competition numerous times for 1st and 2nd place finishes. Tisdol set a Mid-South Conference and University of the Cumberlands James H. Taylor II Stadium record in the Men’s Long Jump, with a distance of 7.30m. He also collected an event best 24 points on that day, to earn the honor of the Mid-South Conference Male Most Outstanding Athlete. Tisdol was named to the MSC All-Conference team and named as MSC Athlete of the Week twice this season.
Senior Men’s Pole Vault specialist, Caleb Dodson ( Valparaiso, IN), saw his name atop many meet results during both the Indoor & Outdoor seasons. Dodson’s big moment came during the MSC Conference Championships, when he set both conference and James H. Taylor II Stadium records with a height of 4.65m (15-03.00 feet). The height was also a personal best for Dodson, as it earned him MSC All-Conference team honors.
Patriot senior Lemuel Holifield ( Johnson City, TN) was another key athlete for the Cumberlands. He used his speed to help the Patriots finish among the nation’s best this season. He was a blazer on the track; however, his most prestigious honor was receiving the MSC Champion of Character award.
Junior Josh Laughlin ( Bellbrook, OH), senior Brett Ratliff ( Pikeville, KY), and freshman Bob Evans ( Groveland, FL) had standout seasons for the Cumberlands. Each of the aforementioned athletes placed highly in several events throughout the season, and they helped the Patriots garner some admirable team results.
On the ladies side, Patriot senior Kelly Cozmanciuc ( Milan, OH) took over the reigns of team leader. She found herself atop numerous events throughout the year, winning and placing in the top three. Cozmanciuc received a handful of honors this season, including being named as the MSC Athlete of the week. She was dominant in the Mid-South Conference Championships, earning MSC All-Conference team honors, and earning the Female Most Outstanding Athlete award for collecting 32.50 points. There’s no question that Cozmanciuc’s absence will be felt in the 2009 season.
As predicted, freshman Rebecca Holcomb (Blancaster, OH) had a breakout season for the Patriots in Shot-Put and Discus. She placed highly in events regularly and was named to the MSC All-Conference team. Two more freshman that burst onto the scene, were Natasha Sydnor (Elizabethtown, KY) and Janelle McSurley (Wilmington, OH). For her efforts midway through the season, Sydnor received the honor of being named as the MSC Athlete of the Week. McSurley also opened up some eyes in the Pole Vault and other events, as she was named to the MSC All-Conference team.
Senior Whitney Brainard ( Somerset, KY) and junior Christina Stodghill ( Owensboro, KY) were two more athletes that helped the Patriot ladies capture the MSC crown. Both were staples in the success of the team.
Several Patriots were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, which means the athlete must be a junior or senior, and must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Earning the honor was senior Ronnie Bowling (Corbin, KY), Whitney Brainard, Kelly Cozmanciuc, and Christina Stodghill.
Coach Stroud will enter his 17th season as head coach of the Patriots in 2009, and will have both the men and women’s teams saturated with talent. It should be another successful year for the Patriots in 2009, as they’ll both once again be in contention for MSC titles.
[2007-2008 Wrap-Up] [2005-2006 Wrap-Up] [2004-2005 Wrap-Up]
