Dec. 3, 2009

Numbers have worked for and against the BU men’s track & field program for the past few years. While Terrier athletes have posted increasingly better individual marks, the number of bodies other conference teams field has been a factor with which BU has had to contend in past seasons, and will continue to do so in 2009-10.

“They are hard to beat because of sheer numbers,” said Director of Track & Field Robyne Johnson of the top teams in America East. “They put so many people in so many events that even if they don’t win every event, they’ll second or third you to death.”

However, with the returning talent from a fifth-place team in 2008-09 and an incoming class that is as diverse as it is talented, Johnson remains cautiously optimistic that the Terriers can climb the ranks of the conference standings if her team can perform at full capacity.

“The guys really want to be better, and they’re really competitive,” said Johnson. “We have made an effort in the last two or three years to really get some quality people in here and show that we can be a lot better on the men’s side.”

The strongest facets of last year’s team were the throwers and sprinters, and a blend of returning talent and incoming potential could make those two areas even stronger. Anchoring the Terrier throwing squad are senior Jan Bicanic and junior Dan Withrow.

Reigning team outdoor MVP Withrow came into his own in his sophomore season, winning the America East outdoor championship in discus with a throw of 50.35m and placing sixth in the shot put with a mark of 15.05m. The Dedham, Mass., native recorded a season-high mark in the discus of 50.87m in a seventh-place finish at the IC4As, and was one of two BU men’s athletes to compete at the NCAA Regionals. Bicanic, who captured the discus title at the conference championship in 2007-08, missed the early portion of last season but rallied to place third in the discus (48.99m) and fourth in the shot put (15.57m) at the AE championship.

“We need those two guys to perform for us and they have always done a good job,” said Johnson. “Dan is coming back, and each year he has set new personal records. He has learned very quickly and improved on his strength and is even trying to grasp the weight throw and is getting better at that.”

Sophomore Mike Murowchick is BU’s biggest threat in the javelin, and multi-eventers Rich Haigh and Sam Arsenault could factor in on the throws as well.

The Terriers’ sprint corps was plagued by injuries last season, but with a healthy crop of runners entering the 2009-10 schedule, Johnson is excited to see what her sprinters can do. Junior Joel Senick returns as the top performer from last season after a runner-up finish in the 400m at the AE championship with a time of 47.26, and a fourth-place result in the 200m, running a 27.71. Senick set personal bests of 10.60 (100m) and 21.20 (200m) this summer at the Canadian Championships and is poised to claim conference titles this winter and spring.

Despite missing the majority of last season with an injury, redshirt freshman R.J. Page is healthy and ready to make an impact on this year’s Terrier sprint squad. Add redshirt freshman Tewado Latty and Haigh to the mix and Johnson is confident that her sprinters can do some damage this upcoming season.

“Those guys coming back are definitely going to help us,” said Johnson. “They will comprise many relay teams, as many as possible. We are really looking forward to those guys being a part of our group.”

Providing a welcome boost to the sprint corps will be highly-touted freshman Duran Ward. A Washington state native, Ward captured the state title in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, and boasts personal bests of 10.81 in the 100m and 21.58 in the 200m. Tom Mayer joins the BU roster as a threat in the 400m and 400m hurdler Davis VanOpdorp will add depth as well. Freshmen Ibi Wilcox and Arsenault with join Haigh in the hurdle events where the Terriers will be looking to pick up extra points this season.

Another group that Johnson has high hopes for in 2009-10 is the middle distance and distance runners. While members of this crew compete in races throughout the school year, Johnson is confident that with proper attention to health and fitness, her distance runners can score points at meets through the winter and spring. Junior Eric Ashe, the top threat on the men’s cross country team, is a potential national contender in the steeplechase and other cross country runners such as junior Craig MacPherson and freshmen Elliot Lehane, Robert Gibson and Peter Gilmore can all score points for the Terriers this season.

“It is such a long season for the distance kids, they run cross country, indoors and outdoors,” said Johnson. “You have to maintain a certain level of competitiveness and being in shape, so it’s tough. We have so many good people; we’re really going to be set for middle distances.”

The jumps are a bit of a question mark for the Terriers heading into the season, having graduated long jumper Kodjo Wilder, who only started competing in track upon his arrival at Boston University. Haigh and Arsenault will handle most of the jumping duties as both will likely compete in the high jump and the long jump. Sophomore Justin Maes can also compete in the long jump and could also see some action in the sprints and sprint relays.

While the Terriers could be without a triple-jumper to start the season, the return of pole-vaulter Logan Moore could help BU’s scores. “Logan Moore is back after taking a year hiatus,” said Johnson. “He returns to our team as one of our good pole-vaulters along with Justin Maes. Maes also long jumps as well, so we are going to find somebody to put out there to attempt to get a point or two.”

BU will benefit from home field advantage during the indoor season as every event after the New Year, including the America East, New England and IC4A Championships, will be held at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center. The Terriers’ outdoor schedule kicks off March 20 at the Husky Invitational in Dedham, Mass., and features meets across the country, including the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla., the Sun Angel Relays in Tempe, Ariz., and the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. But wherever their regular season schedule takes them, the Terriers will remain focused on peaking at home for the America East Indoor Championships in February, and again in Durham, N.H, site of the 2010 Outdoor Conference Championship.

“We’re really shooting to have everyone healthy and put them on the line and see what they can do,” said Johnson. “I think if we can do that, then we will be much better than fifth place that we had last year.”