2007-08 Track and Field Season Preview
11/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
The 2007-08 track and field season has the promise of being a renaissance year for
“I can’t wait for this season to start,” Moon said. “We have a great nucleus of good athletes, usually I have one or two, but this year I have a lot of them. The sky is the limit, and I just want to get out there and compete.”
Headlining the group of returning champions is senior Greg Gomes. The two-time reigning BIG EAST Indoor 500-meter winner has everyone asking the obvious question: Can he make it three in a row?
“That’s the first thing everybody wants to know,” Moon responds. “So I just try to avoid it because number one I don’t want to put any extra pressure on him, and two I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Can he do it? Absolutely, I think he’ll be better than ever this year. He’s in great shape and he has the right attitude. The thing about this sport is you don’t know how much better everybody else is going to be. I do know this, if anybody does beat Greg, they are going to have to run a great race. I’m not saying he’s unbeatable, but somebody has to do something fantastic to beat him, because he will not beat himself.”
Junior Rob Novak is also back and looking to build on his past success at Seton Hall. Despite injuries and illness at the end of the outdoor season he was still productive, winning the 1,000-meter event at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships. “Rob’s fully healthy now and I expect to see the Rob Novak from his freshman year,” Moon said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him be one of the best half mile and mile runners in the BIG EAST. He’s a tough individual, and I think the books have not been closed on the legend of Rob Novak.”
Another junior, James Gurr, shined in his first year with the Pirates, qualifying for NCAA Regionals in the 800-meter run. “James Gurr is a catalyst on this team,” Moon commented. “Last year was his first year running the 800 and he was outstanding at it. This guy can go all the way (to the NCAA National Championships), he’s so tough. I hope that rubs off on the rest of the team.”
For the women, junior captain Alexandra McCoy returns after a stellar sophomore campaign. “Alex is a coach’s dream,” boasted Moon. “It’s really an honor to coach her, her skills are fantastic. She improved so much from her freshman year to last season, and I think Alex will run even better in the 400-meter this year. The thing is when she wants something, she’s going to do whatever it takes to get it. With her and Jernail Hayes I have a great 1-2 punch.”
Hayes had a tremendous freshman year and has Moon believing she could be one of the best female athletes in the program’s history. “Jernail’s range is unbelievable, that’s what makes her great,” stated Moon. “She could qualify for the Olympic Trials today. We look for kids that are hungry, and she has that drive. That’s something you can’t put into them, it’s something they’re born with, and that’s what she has. I never have to call her to train, I come to work and she’s running on her own. I’ve said it before, but she’s so much like Flirtisha Harris, she’s either training academically or athletically and that’s amazing to see. I wish I could clone her.”
Seton Hall will also get back two fifth-year seniors Bryan Burney and Dominique Washington, after injury plagued seasons. Burney was All-BIG EAST in the 800-meter and NCAA Regional qualifier in 2006, and will add depth to an already loaded 4x800-meter relay team. “We were in the top five in the country in the 4x800 without
A two-time All-BIG EAST performer, Washington was dominant in the early stages of the indoor season in the heptathlon and high jump, but went down with an injury right before the BIG EAST Indoor Championships and it hindered her through the outdoor season. “What can I say about Dominique?” Moon said. “She’s going to control the BIG EAST. Even though she was hurt, Dominique was still so good last year, so I’m crossing my fingers and knocking on wood that she’ll stay healthy. Our goal with her is to build her up in the weight room so that hopefully she’ll not only do well with us, but will compete at the Olympic Trials in June.”
Even with the individual success the Pirates have seen recently, Moon hopes to take the team results to the next level. “In the BIG EAST you need quality and quantity to be successful with the size of the conference,” stated Moon. “I think we have both, and our goal this year is to crack the top four in the BIG EAST on both the men’s and women’s side. Last year our goal was just to qualify for the Big Dance (NCAA National Championships), now I think we are ready to turn some heads.”
Last year, the women’s 4x400-meter relay team placed fifth at the NCAA Regionals, just missing out on the National Championships. The men’s 4x400 qualified and placed 14th at the Regionals. Between the squads, only graduate Shakeema Martin is gone.
“I think my 4x800 and 4x400 men’s teams could be one of the country’s best,” Moon said. “The women’s 4x400 will go to the Big Dance this year, without a doubt”
Not only did Moon only lose one key piece of his relay success, he’s added more parts, as well. “I look at last year and I have a mile relay team coming back that ran a 3:07,” stated Moon. “And I could add two different athletes in there and not miss a beat. I have a women’s team back that ran a 3:37, and I have two athletes that can jump in there, too.”
“On paper we’re a better team this year,” Moon continued. “It’s my job and our coaching staff’s job to make us better on the track. I considered last year a rebuilding year, but my goal is always to win. That’s always there, so what we accomplished was fantastic. With the combination of the veterans and the introduction of some new athletes, this year should equate to a very positive season.”
Moon is also excited to show off the talents of his newcomers. “I have outstanding freshmen,” Moon said. “This is why I’m so excited, it’s because what we did last year, and now we have more quality athletes in more events, and we are even stronger in the events we had success with last year.”
For the men, Moon believes Nick Frimpong could win the BIG EAST high jump and triple jump. Mayo Alao adds depth to an already strong core of 400-meter runners. Alao was a soccer player and has only been doing track for one year, but has shown great potential. Dwight Parker joins Pawel Kornaszewski and Terrance Gallogly in the distance events, and should help Seton Hall pick up extra points. Matt Rendina will help in the sprints to add more depth in the team.
On the women’s side, Shakia Forbes is a high school national champion in the long jump. She is also a sprinter and will be used in the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays. Donna Alexander a triple jumper, will pick up extra points for the Pirates because the team did not compete in that event last year. Kristen Hardy is a sprinter who Moon believes should qualify for BIG EAST Finals.
There are also athletes returning that are ready to bust out and make an impact in the BIG EAST. “I have so many people that are going to surprise people,” Moon said.
“Jemel Williams got off to a slow start, but his love of training paid dividends and he was better at the end of the year. I think he’s one of the best 400-meter runners in the conference. Justin McKenzie ran pretty well in the 800, but he and Novak can really push each other. Last year was Chavanne Hubbard’s first year here. She was banged up, but she’s healthy now and can go in the 500 and 800. Imani Gilliam had a good sophomore year...last year she was hurt, but came on at the end of the year. Now she’s 100 percent and being a senior she’ll be a factor. Dionne Griffiths has been kind of quiet, but she should bust out in the long jump.”
It may seem like Moon has extraordinary expectations for the Pirates this year, but he believes his athlete’s times do not lie. “I feel like I say a lot of my athletes are amongst the best in the BIG EAST,” said Moon. “I hate saying that, but when I look at their times and compare with the top people in the conference, we’re right there.”
“Once again, we have to get it off paper and bring it into reality. What I like about the team is the enthusiasm, they want to get out there right away and try and beat somebody and that’s good. They want to say, Seton Hall is back!’ It’s very promising.”
