January 29, 2001
The 2001 Bluffton College track and field squad will hear their first starting gun of the season Friday night as the indoor schedule gets underway at Ohio Wesleyan University. A host of returning student-athletes, including all four 2000 MVPs, highlight the talent pool that Head Coach Mark Bluman has to work with this spring as the Beavers aim to take a step closer to the top of the Heartland Conference.
"I have trouble sleeping at night thinking about the potential of this group," said Bluman as the team spent another week conditioning indoors. "In my three years here this is the most talented group of athletes I've been around."
And in that group are all four of last season's MVPs, including senior Dawn Daniels and sophomore Laura Anderson on the women's side and seniors Aaron High and Eric Wilson on the men's side. Daniels and High were named the MVPs of the track events, while Anderson and Wilson were named the MVPs of the field events.
Daniels set the BC record in the 1500 last season, while Anderson set a new record in the hammer throw.
"Dawn would like to make her 1500 record untouchable," said Bluman, "and she has the 800 and 3000 school records within reach. Anderson can make a run at school records in the javelin, shot put and discus, too."
High placed in the 110-meter hurdles at the HCAC championships last season, and Wilson is the highest returning high jumper in the HCAC this season.
According to Bluman, the enthusiasm of the group is impressive. "These kids want to improve. They want to represent the school well. The first day of practice everyone was here 15 minutes early and they come down to the track office during the day and check their workouts."
And with the increasing success of the BC track program, that enthusiasm is sure to continue. "We've set eight outdoor school records the past two years," said Bluman, "and we've set numerous indoor records. I expect to have many more broken this season."
The indoor season will provide a good experience for both the veterans and newcomers. "We'll see how they react to game-day situations," said Bluman. "We have a lot of new faces, so it'll be interesting."
Helping coach those new faces are two additions to the track and field program. 1995 BC graduate Vance Nofziger and Nathan Sprunger join the BC squad along side Bluman this season.
"They both bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm," said Bluman. "Of my three years here they've been the most knowledgeable assistants I've had."
Bluffton will compete in indoor events throughout February and early March before entering the outdoor season in mid-March.
