Temple University Athletics
Friday, December 1
Staten Island, N.Y.
Temple University
vs
Fastrack Season Opener
Photo by: Jonathan Kolbe
Track and Field Looks to Raise the Bar in the 2017-18 Season
11.29.17 | Women's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA – Entering its fourth season under the direction of head coach Elvis Forde, Temple women's track and field is looking to make great strides in the coming year. The squad will kick off its indoor season on Friday, Dec. 1 at the Fastrack Season Opener.
"When I arrived at Temple, I said that by my fourth season I expected to see our team make a transition, reaching more success than it had then," said Forde. "Part of that was the expectation that everyone on our staff would recruit athletes of quality. The past couple of years we have brought in 16-plus freshmen and more than half of them, we consider high-caliber performers."
Returning to the track this season are senior Katie Pinson and juniors Crystal Jones, Katie Leisher, and Sylvia Wilson. Last season, Pinson broke her own school record in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:43.50 at the Larry Ellis Invitational in April. The senior also contributed to the record-setting distance medley relay team at Penn Relays. The squad will look to her to step up as a senior to aid the program in reaching its goal of success in middle distance events.
Jones was named a 2017-18 co-captain for the team. As a sophomore, Jones set a program record in the pentathlon at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships with a mark of 3,528 points. The performance earned her a spot on the podium and Jones brought a second place medal back to north Philadelphia.
"For Crystal, the lights are coming on more and more every year," says Forde. "She has huge expectations for herself this season and if she meets those expectations, it will benefit our program tremendously. We are looking forward to her dominating some events, which she has the ability to do, such as the indoor pentathlon and the high jump. Crystal is a multi-talented athlete that will go far this year."
Leisher will enter the track and field season coming off a great cross country season. This fall, she served as women's cross country's top runner in several meets, highlighted with a top-10 finish at the American Athletic Conference Championships where the junior placed seventh overall to earn All-Conference honors for the second year in a row. Last year, Leisher broke the 5000m program record, previously held by Jenna Dubrow ('15), at the American Indoor Championships.
"We definitely see that bright light come on in Katie," says Forde. "We are expecting a great indoor season from her building off of a tremendous cross country season."
In 2016, Wilson was the 60m hurdle champion at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships. After a standout freshman season, the Ellenwood, Ga., native sat out in 2017 due to injury. As the 2017-18 season approaches, the now co-captain is projected to make a gradual impact.
"Our only track and field champion besides Blanca Fernandez ('16), is Sylvia," says Forde. "We are looking forward to her joining the fray again. She would be a huge addition in regards to returning to competition off injury and concerning high quality performance. We are remaining cautiously optimistic that her healing process is coming along and are looking forward to her getting back out there."
Key sophomore returners for the season include Millie Howard, Ebonee Jackson, Grace Moore and Mariah Slade.
Howard made several notable contributions to the track and field program as a freshman. During the indoor season, she set the 1000m run record with her time of 2:52.02 at the Artie O'Connor Invitational. At the American Outdoor Championships, Howard earned third place in the 800m. Her top-three performance qualified her for the NCAA East Regional Preliminaries.
"Last season, Millie was a standout," says Forde. "We will rely on her heavily when it comes to middle distance events."
As freshmen, Moore, Jackson, and Slade, proved to be great talents. Last season, Moore topped Pinson's 3000m steeplchase record at the Larry Ellis Invitational with a time of 10:41.68. While Jackson and Slade both suffered injuries during their freshman campaign, the coaching staff can see their potential. Forde is looking forward to each of them continuing to grow in their respective events.
"Grace is a huge talent. We are looking forward to helping her be the kind of successful athlete that we believe she can be," says Forde. "Ebonee has been putting in some good work. The expectations are now that as a sophomore, she can be much more valuable to the program. The same goes for Mariah, who had also battled some injuries as a freshman. Having them both healthy this year will definitely make a difference in the success of the program."
The freshman class is made of up state champions and district champions as well as All-Conference and All-East cross country honorees. With outstanding high school, international, and Division I cross country performances under their belts, this year's freshmen are expected to make an immediate impact on the track.
The 2017-18 indoor season track and field season is highlighted with competitions at the Penn State National (Jan. 26-27), the Villanova Invitational (Feb. 3), and the American Athletic Conference Championships (Feb. 23-24) in Birmingham, Ala.. Each will feature national caliber athletes, posing great competition for the Owls. This outdoor season, Temple will host the Temple Owls Invite on April 13. The American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships are set for May 10-12 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"As a coaching staff, we have to do our best coaching and teaching job," says Forde. "The task is on us to be the kind of mentors we need to be in helping to instill the discipline that the team needs to succeed. We want to make them realize that they are here because they are skilled and have talent, but at the same time, they have to believe in their abilities more than we do. The bar is set high."
"When I arrived at Temple, I said that by my fourth season I expected to see our team make a transition, reaching more success than it had then," said Forde. "Part of that was the expectation that everyone on our staff would recruit athletes of quality. The past couple of years we have brought in 16-plus freshmen and more than half of them, we consider high-caliber performers."
Returning to the track this season are senior Katie Pinson and juniors Crystal Jones, Katie Leisher, and Sylvia Wilson. Last season, Pinson broke her own school record in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:43.50 at the Larry Ellis Invitational in April. The senior also contributed to the record-setting distance medley relay team at Penn Relays. The squad will look to her to step up as a senior to aid the program in reaching its goal of success in middle distance events.
Jones was named a 2017-18 co-captain for the team. As a sophomore, Jones set a program record in the pentathlon at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships with a mark of 3,528 points. The performance earned her a spot on the podium and Jones brought a second place medal back to north Philadelphia.
"For Crystal, the lights are coming on more and more every year," says Forde. "She has huge expectations for herself this season and if she meets those expectations, it will benefit our program tremendously. We are looking forward to her dominating some events, which she has the ability to do, such as the indoor pentathlon and the high jump. Crystal is a multi-talented athlete that will go far this year."
Leisher will enter the track and field season coming off a great cross country season. This fall, she served as women's cross country's top runner in several meets, highlighted with a top-10 finish at the American Athletic Conference Championships where the junior placed seventh overall to earn All-Conference honors for the second year in a row. Last year, Leisher broke the 5000m program record, previously held by Jenna Dubrow ('15), at the American Indoor Championships.
"We definitely see that bright light come on in Katie," says Forde. "We are expecting a great indoor season from her building off of a tremendous cross country season."
In 2016, Wilson was the 60m hurdle champion at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships. After a standout freshman season, the Ellenwood, Ga., native sat out in 2017 due to injury. As the 2017-18 season approaches, the now co-captain is projected to make a gradual impact.
"Our only track and field champion besides Blanca Fernandez ('16), is Sylvia," says Forde. "We are looking forward to her joining the fray again. She would be a huge addition in regards to returning to competition off injury and concerning high quality performance. We are remaining cautiously optimistic that her healing process is coming along and are looking forward to her getting back out there."
Key sophomore returners for the season include Millie Howard, Ebonee Jackson, Grace Moore and Mariah Slade.
Howard made several notable contributions to the track and field program as a freshman. During the indoor season, she set the 1000m run record with her time of 2:52.02 at the Artie O'Connor Invitational. At the American Outdoor Championships, Howard earned third place in the 800m. Her top-three performance qualified her for the NCAA East Regional Preliminaries.
"Last season, Millie was a standout," says Forde. "We will rely on her heavily when it comes to middle distance events."
As freshmen, Moore, Jackson, and Slade, proved to be great talents. Last season, Moore topped Pinson's 3000m steeplchase record at the Larry Ellis Invitational with a time of 10:41.68. While Jackson and Slade both suffered injuries during their freshman campaign, the coaching staff can see their potential. Forde is looking forward to each of them continuing to grow in their respective events.
"Grace is a huge talent. We are looking forward to helping her be the kind of successful athlete that we believe she can be," says Forde. "Ebonee has been putting in some good work. The expectations are now that as a sophomore, she can be much more valuable to the program. The same goes for Mariah, who had also battled some injuries as a freshman. Having them both healthy this year will definitely make a difference in the success of the program."
The freshman class is made of up state champions and district champions as well as All-Conference and All-East cross country honorees. With outstanding high school, international, and Division I cross country performances under their belts, this year's freshmen are expected to make an immediate impact on the track.
The 2017-18 indoor season track and field season is highlighted with competitions at the Penn State National (Jan. 26-27), the Villanova Invitational (Feb. 3), and the American Athletic Conference Championships (Feb. 23-24) in Birmingham, Ala.. Each will feature national caliber athletes, posing great competition for the Owls. This outdoor season, Temple will host the Temple Owls Invite on April 13. The American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships are set for May 10-12 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"As a coaching staff, we have to do our best coaching and teaching job," says Forde. "The task is on us to be the kind of mentors we need to be in helping to instill the discipline that the team needs to succeed. We want to make them realize that they are here because they are skilled and have talent, but at the same time, they have to believe in their abilities more than we do. The bar is set high."
Players Mentioned
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Multis
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
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