BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The CSU Bakersfield women's track and field program is ready to begin their much-anticipated 2022 season next Friday night at Northern Arizona University. With a combination of returning athletes in leadership roles and impressive first-year additions, the Roadrunners are ready to compete this season.
"Our schedule is set up to prepare us best for the Big West Championships and get our top performers to the NCAA's," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Marcia Mansur-Wentworth. "I am optimistic and excited about the upcoming season. The event coaches are working hard to prepare the team to be their best."
Last season the Roadrunners opted out of the indoor season, in what would have been the first time not participating in the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships in seven years.
Bakersfield's indoor season opener will begin with the Friday Night Axe 'Em Open at J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. Wingfoot Finish will time the meet although the start time and others teams featured are still to be announced by NAU.
Vault
Redshirt sophomore Miranda Miller is returning for the Roadrunners this season. Miller reset the program vault record twice with a personal best (4.00m) finishing third at the Fresno State Invitational and second at the Long Beach Throws/Jumps. She earned All-Big West honors in her first-year at CSUB at the 2021 Big West Outdoor Championships. This season, Miller has her eyes set on an NCAA qualifying mark.
Alexa Schacher and Kassidy Neptune will also be returning this indoor season for the vaulting group. Coach Mansur-Wentworth is looking forward to the squad expanding in NCAA qualifying marks.
Graduate senior Julianne Finch eagerly waits for the start of the outdoor season (2/26) in her final year of eligibility. Finch has five All-WAC honors including a silver and bronze medal and will be chasing an NCAA qualifying standard in Spring to cap her career at CSUB.
Hurdles/Sprint/Mid-Distance/Distance
The Roadrunners return three student athletes to the hurdles group. Redshirt sophomore Riley Slayton, who currently holds the school indoor record in the 600m, returns for retribution in the hurdles after a down year in 2021. Sophomore Juila Stein is expected to have an impressive second year for Bakersfield coming off nine top five finishes in her first year. Kailee Yoshishige, a redshirt freshman, is another student athlete returning for CSUB while freshman Jaztyn Greer will be making her debut this season for the Roadrunners.
The sprint group is led by graduate senior Mariah LeSure, one of CSUB's top sprinters all-time. During the 2020 indoor season, she earned a new personal record and finished third overall in the 60m at the WAC Indoor Championships. LeSure, who opted out of the 2021 season, is looking for an explosive year in her final campaign with the `Runners. Coach Mansur-Wentworth has praised LeSure's work ethic in the off season and anticipates her and freshman Nerissa Thompson to make an impact in sprints and relays.
The middle distance group gained a runner in freshman Neyda Martinez, who is coming off a solid cross country season.
For the distance group, graduate seniors Alejandra and Bianca Frausto are returning for their final seasons this Spring. Aj and Bianca look to improve on their distance times and move up the ranks in the record books.
Jumps
CSUB returns a small group of high jumpers in Hannah Walker, Mallory Elick, and Jaylen Christensen. Ellick and Christensen opted-out of competition last season while Walker's best performance in 2021 was a season best mark at the CSUN Red and Black Invite placing first in the event (1.53m).
Throws
Jessi Solis and Kayla Prince return for their redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior seasons for Bakersfield this year. Both Solis (46.72m) and Prince (43.86m) posted personal bests in the hammer throw at the 2021 Big West Outdoor Championships. Coach Mansur-Wentworth is enthusiastic about the potential growth noting the pair "made progress last year despite lacking fall conditioning." The two returners will be joined this season by redshirt sophomore transfer, Madison King.
Friday Night Axe 'Em Open
Complete meet information will be available here. Check back to Gorunners.com following the event for a full recap.
~GoRunners.com~
