St. John's University Athletics
Women's Cross Country, Track & Field 2003 Preview
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
A new day is dawning for Coach Jim Hurt's Red Storm women's cross country, track & field team in 2003-04. New sprint Coach Pete Zinno will count on ALL EAST 200m & 400m performer Shernette Hyatt-Davis and sprinter Judy Williams (11.89) to lead a young Red Storm squad. Hyatt-Davis placed in both the 200m (23.88) and the 400 (54.14) at the ECAC Championships last spring while Williams (11.89) has been the mainstay of the short sprints and relays for Red Storm teams. Senior Denise Raab (14:45 - 4,120), handled most of the leadoff chores last year and should be a scorer for the Storm in the hurdles and muli-events. Junior National qualifier sophomore Kay-Dian Reid (55.48) and classmates Thamara Cherisme (58.20) & Tarashon Broomes (58.40) were also members of the 4 x 400m last year that should be one of the best in the East in 2004. Sophs Erin Wills (12.1), Kellie Jo-Durie (24.9), and freshmen Vanessa Sessa (56 / 24.5) & Jennifer Lewis (Penn Relays 4 x 100m champion from Upper Darby, Pa.) make up a formable sprint corps for St. John's.
St. John's has had a long history of developing nationally recognized throwers that has produced 11 national titles in the past 15 years. Virginia (Young) Coleman who joins the Red Storm staff to handle the throwing events won a number of those national titles. Juniors Blessing Egwu (Big East scorer in the 20lb Wt.), Brandy Bradford (143' Discus / 52 Wt.), Judy Owens (132' Discus), and Grace Zollman (Junior national qualifier) are poised to be a major force in the throwing events. Junior Liz Aube (130' Discus) and sophomores Tetee Kuyateh (Ranked 3rd on US. HS. 20lb weight throw list 48'), and Nenjae Gibson add quality to the throws.
NCAA ALL REGIONAL and Big East runner-up triple jumper Alina Abromava has graduated so senior Sophie Sylvain (19'1), junior Sophia Bazile (NY State TJ Champ 37-7"), and newcomer Kelli Brown (Penn Relays Triple jump scorer) will try to add to SJU jump tradition that has produced five NCAA ALL-AMERICANS since 1991. Sophomore sprinter Kelly Jo Durie (5'3") will also high jump for the Red Storm.
Senior Taniesha Lewis (56 / 2:14), and sophomores Jasmine Barreto (4:50 / 2:18), Aja Williams (4:49 / 2:18), Shamere McKenzie (57 / 2:18), and Sophia Jackson (57 / 2:21) will contribute in cross country, the middle distance events, and long relays. Senior Jen Lebowitz (USA T & F Junior National 3,000m & 5,000m finalist as a freshmen) Nassau Community College transfer junior Kathleen Maher and sophomores Dominque Ficolora & Lauren Walsh, will hold down the longer distance events for SJU. Bucknell transfer Vanessa Augeri (2:16) & freshmen Shani Spence (2:16) will bolster the 4 x 800m relay.
Once again the Red Storm schedule is one of the best in the United States. Early meets include the Fordham lid-lifter in December, and then quad competitions at Princeton and with Army at West Point , and the Terrier Invite at he Boston University Armory in January. February opens the championship season with the Millrose Games Madison Square Garden, Metropolitan Championships at the Armory, the Armory Collegiate Invitational, and the Big East Championships at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The ECAC Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston and the NCAA Championships in Arkansas conclude the indoor season.
The Outdoor season kicks off in March at the Miami Invite in Coral Gables, Fl., the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fl. and Monday Meeting I at DaSilva Field. The Storm then travel to The Texas Relays in Austin, Tx., before hosting the Metropolitan Championships. The Penn Relays in Philadelphia and Monday Meeting II at DaSilva Field close out the month of April. May is championship month with the Big East at Piscataway, NJ., the SJU Classic at DaSilva Field, the ECAC at Yale University in New Haven, Ct. and the NCAA Regional Championships at Gainesville, Fl.. The NCAA at Austin, Tx., the USA Jr. Champs in Buffalo, NY., and the USA Olympic Trials at Sacramento State U., Sacramento, Ca. finish out the schedule in June and July.