By Kevin Liao, Spiked Up Psyched Up; Posted January 26, 2012
The heart of the indoor track season begins this weekend with a multitude of major meets across the country – the U.S. Open Track & Field at Madison Square Garden, Penn State National Meet, Boston University Terrier Invitational and Texas A&M Mondo Challenge.
For those on the West Coast, the center of indoor action again lies at the Dempsey Indoor Stadium with the University of Washington Invitational.
Jerry Schumacher, coach of the Oregon Track Club-Portland, one of America’s top training groups, has several athletes using the meet as rustbusters for the indoor season.
Lisa Uhl headlines the women’s 5000 meters on Friday night. The 2010 NCAA 5,000 and 10,000 meter champion opened up her season two weeks ago at the UW Indoor Preview, winning the 3000 meters in 9:10.36. Uhl’s primary challenger will be Renee Metivier Baillie, who is best known for her 2010 U.S. Indoor 3000 meter title.
The Schumacher duo of Matt Tegenkamp and Andrew Bumbalough will take the track in the men’s mile. Also entered are 2008 Olympian Ian Dobson and veteran miler Jon Rankin, now representing the Cayman Islands.
Lopez Lomong will get in some speed work in the 800 meters rather than his 1500/mile specialty. Mark Wieczorek, the fifth place finisher at USA’s in 2011, will also contest the race. Wieczorek ran a 1:49.87 for 800 meters and 4:05.58 for the mile at the UW Preview meet two weeks ago.
The 3k’s at Washington are always top-notch and this meet is no different. World 10,000 meter silver medalist Sally Kipyego leads the way for the women. She has an indoor 3000 best of 8:48.77 that could go down on the Dempsey’s fast oversized track. Other entrants of note are Angela Bizzarri, a three time NCAA champ while at Illinois, Malindi Elmore of Canada, former UW All-American Katie Follett, steeplechase specialist Bridget Franek, UW sophomore and former Foot Locker champion Megan Goethals and Washington prep standout Maddie Meyers.###
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