UNCG opens indoor season at Dick Taylor Invitational
UNCG at Dick Taylor Invitational, Jan. 13-14, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Storylines:
- After nearly two months off from competition after the cross country season, UNCG will return to action this weekend as it makes the short trip down I-40 for the Dick Taylor Invitational. The meet will mark the opening competition for the Spartans during the indoor track & field season.
- The meet will begin on Friday afternoon with the women's weight throw at 4:30 p.m. The running events on Friday start at 5 p.m. with the 60 meter hurdle prelims before wrapping up for the night with the men's distance medley relay at 7:55 p.m. Competition will resume again on Saturday with the 400 meters at 12 p.m. and finishing with the 4x400 meter relay for the men at 3:15 p.m.
- Fans can follow the UNCG track & field coaches on Twitter for updates during the meet by clicking here.
- UNCG is coming off an incredibly successful cross country season that saw the Spartans have their first-ever All-American. Paul Chelimo finished in 13th place at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America status, while teammate Joey Thompson also qualified for nationals and earned the Elite 89 award for having the highest GPA of all the male runners in the race. Two-time SoCon Runner of the Year Ashley Schnell also qualified for nationals on the women's side.
- The Spartans also enjoyed success at the SoCon Cross Country Championships as UNCG came away with both team titles. Chelimo won the men's race to earn SoCon Runner of the Year honors, while Schnell did the same on the women's side for the second consecutive season. Head coach Linh Nguyen took home SoCon Coach of the Year honors on both sides, as well.
- Last indoor season, Schnell captured the SoCon 3,000 meter title to become the first female runner in school history to win an individual title in track & field. Later that day, she joined teammates Shaina Sumney, Shannon Hall and Kerry Hartman to claim the SoCon title in the distance medley relay. On the men's side, Kenny Hinman earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors in the 3,000 meters, while Paul Katam earned the same distinction in the 5,000 meters.
- In all, Ashley Schnell set three school records during the 2011 indoor season and was a part of a relay team that also set a school record. She set a new mark in the 800 meters at the Tiger Paw Invitational and a new record in the mile at the Liberty Open. She was also able to set a new mark in the 3,000 meters at the prestigious Meyo Invitational and the distance medley relay team that won the SoCon title set a school record in that race.
- The Spartan men's team will be bolstered this year with the addition of Chelimo and fellow Kenyan Abraham Kemboi. As a freshman at Shorter University last season, Chelimo helped lead his team to an NAIA National Championship in indoor track by winning the national title in the 3,000 meters and as a member of the distance medley relay team. Kemboi came to UNCG after spending a season at Northwood University where he earned all-conference honors during the outdoor track season in the 1,500, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
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