The 2013 Aurora University Women's Track and Field team has been subject to a series of fortunate events. Despite facing tough competition throughout the indoor season, the Spartans have consistently displayed
flashes of greatness, shining brightest in late February when they cruised to the 2013 Northern Athletics Conference Championship with a total of 226 points, winning by 117 points and never trailing the meet after the opening event. After a heartbreaking second place finish in the 2012 NAC Indoor Conference Championship, AU now looks like a team to be reckoned with.
Due to a large contribution from freshmen sprinter
Liz Canaday (Springfield Southeast H,S./Springfield, Ill.), jumper
Elise Hinson (Riverview H.S./Sarasota, Fla.), jumper/runner
Ciara Marlow (Monmouth-Roseville H.S./Roseville, Ill.), distance runner
Lena Palmer (Yorkville H.S./Yorkville, Ill.), and jumper
Talia Sheedlo (Richmond-Burton H.S./Spring Grove, Ill.), the Spartan women have often looked unstoppable.
“With almost twenty events, collegiate track and field really is a team sport. Yet, when you have five athletes combine to score 105.5 points at a conference meet, it makes winning that much easier,” said
Head Coach
Ryan Chapman. “Not to mention, five freshman athletes.”
The “Freshman Fab Five” all qualified for high school state finals just less than a year ago. However,
Ciara Marlow had little time to practice early in the season due to her obligation to the AU women's basketball program. Despite all of this, Marlow won the triple jump at the NAC championship, with Hinson finishing second and Sheedlo coming in third.
“We do not necessarily strive to be the best at everything,” said Hinson. “We just strive to be the best at what we do.” Hinson was named the NAC Field Athlete of the Year and Freshman of the Year following the NAC Indoor Championship.
Each of these athletes have had their hands in a record or two since beginning the season with Canaday and Marlow setting NAC Championship Meet records in the 400-meter (Canaday) and Triple Jump (Marlow). Canaday won both the 200 and 400, and also anchored the Championship 4x400 relay that included Marlow and Palmer with a 59 second leg at the NAC championship. “Our 4x400 meter relay has a nickname for Liz,” claimed fellow relay member Palmer. “Liz Don't Lose.”
With the five freshmen leading the path, the AU women expect another conference championship this coming outdoor season. It certainly doesn't hurt that 18 additional Spartan athletes scored at the Indoor Conference Meet.
