As the weather turns colder, signaling an end to the cross country season, the men's and women's indoor track teams are busily preparing for competition.
Director of men's and women's track and field Michelle Eisenreich is looking ahead to a successful year.
"We definitely want to improve on our finishes from last season," Eisenreich said.
At the 2010 Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships, the men captured sixth place and the women finished fifth.
The squads will be assisted in achieving this goal by five coaches, three of whom will be in their first season with Brown track and field.
Coming from cross country, Tim Springfield will serve as an assistant coach for the distance runners. He previously coached at the University of St. Thomas, Division III, where he helped guide 14 middle and long-distance athletes to 45 All-American awards.
Specializing in sprints and hurdles, Assistant Coach Marc Mangiacotti comes to Brown from Wheaton College, also Division III. He coached eight NCAA National Champions and 53 All-Americans during his six seasons at Wheaton, of which he was co-head coach for the final two seasons.
Rounding out the new arrivals is Reuben Jones, previously with Coastal Carolina University, who will be a jumps assistant coach. Under his tutelage, the Carolina women earned six individual titles at the 2010 Big South Indoor Championships.
"They are all extremely well-qualified and very successful coaches, and we will see the program grow under their leadership," Eisenreich said. "Hopefully, we will see immediate returns, but we are guaranteed stronger programs down the line."
In addition to new coaches, the squads also welcome a "very well-rounded recruiting class, with strong talent in all of it," according to Eisenreich.
"We definitely have a lot of young talent… Look for some big things in track," said distance runner Caitlin Clark '11. "We are in a different place than we have been in past years — injury-free and physically and mentally prepared."
Though the teams welcome new talent, several valuable athletes graduated. Both Duriel Hardy '10, a winner in the 5-kilometer race at the 2010 Indoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championship, and Ariel Wright '10, a fourth-place finisher in the 3k at the championships, will be missed.
Cross country co-captain Matt Duffy '12 and sprinter Mike Mazerik '11 are among several returning athletes who are expected to step into leadership roles, according to Eisenreich.
Perhaps the most notable returning member of the team is Craig Kinsley '11. At the 2010 Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he threw 250 feet, three inches to become the national champion in javelin. He is only the third NCAA outdoor champion in school history.
"Personally, I would like to improve as much as possible and to make Team USA for the World Championships," Kinsley said. "Individually and team-wise, we're healthy as a team right now. There's a great shot at scoring in all the events."
With all of the incoming and returning talent to the track teams, Eisenreich emphasized the importance of finding success at the conference championships.
"Anything before that is an opportunity to tune up and evaluate where everybody's fitness and training is," Eisenreich said.
The work put in now will help ensure the squads find themselves in top condition for the season-opening Alden Invitational in Providence on Dec. 4.
