After a difficult 2000 campaign plagued with injuries and inexperience, the RedHawk track and field program enters the 2001season with much more individual experience and greater depth in certain events.

Head Coach Warren Mandrell knows his team is better now than last season. A more experienced list of returners combined with a talented class of newcomers should give Miami the means for a successful season.

The 2000 squad had only 23 returning participants, and 15 freshmen, which meant a third of the team had no collegiate experience.

"Our team has the chance to grow up, get stronger and mature a great deal," Mandrell said. "I think we are going to be much more competitive."

The RedHawks have 29 returnees and 17 newcomers, which will provide depth in certain events but also a great deal of experience at handling the ups-and-downs a season can bring.

"A lot of the younger guys have now been through it (a season)," Mandrell said. "I think they are going to be pretty tough having done this." Miami's strengths rest in the distance events. The distance runners participate on the RedHawks successful cross country team during the fall, which gives them big meet experience.

"We should score in every running event," Mandrell said. "We are going to be solid in all the events from the 400 meters and up."

Junior David Bonner is one of Miam's top returning sprinters. Bonner boated the fastest times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes last season, and will participate on the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. Bonner, senior Riley Oliver and sophomore DeLeon Johnson return on the 400-meter relay squad, which finished eighth at the MAC Championships. Bonner, Oliver, Johnson and senior Nick Iagulli are Miami's 1,600-meter relay team, are back to try and better their third-place conference finish last season. Along with a competitive 400-meter relay team, Mandrell has two strong relay teams.

Senior Jeff Godsey returns in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He finished sixth in that event last season at the MAC Championships. Seniors Nick Andrews and Ernie Ziegler are potential MAC scorers in the 1,500-meter and the 10,000-meter runs, respectively. Andrews was second in the MAC's 1,500-meter run and will move to the top of the list in contending for a championship in 2001. Javin Tucker had the top time last season in the 400-meter hurdles and will be called on to handle the 110-meter hurdles.

"When he (Tucker) lines up this year, he is going to be in great position to score," Mandrell said. The freshman class is expected to step in and be a major contributors this season for Mandrell's squad. Ryan Schreck and Tyrone Hale will help in the sprint races. Schreck was an Ohio State Champion in the 400-meter dash in 1999 and 2000, while Hale was a state champion in the 400-meter dash in Minnesota.

Richard Collins, Robert Paffe and Nickolas Somerville will provide added depth and strength in some of the field events. A two-sport star in both track and field and football at Ridgedale High School, Collins won pole vault championships at the Central District Indoor and Outdoor Meets, the Southeast Regional and the Ohio State Track and Field Championship in Dayton during his junior season.

Paffe and Somerville add depth to the long jump category. Paffe finished fifth at the Ohio State Track and Field Championship for Archbishop Moeller. Somerville was a regional champion in the long jump, and advanced in the Indiana State Track and Field Championship while attending Lawrence Central.

Junior Mike Adams returns to Mandrell's squad in the 100-meter dash after sitting out the 2000 season due to a football injury. Junior Robert Frazier should provide the RedHawks even more depth in the throwing events. After sitting out the 2000 season due to spring football, Frazier looks to improve on his fifth-place discus finish at the 1999 MAC Outdoor Championships.

The jumping events rest primarily on the shoulders of senior Randy "Skip" Williams. Williams had the top jumps for Miami in the long, triple and high jumps last season, and Mandrell feels he will again be a top contender this year at the MAC Championships. Williams finished fifth in the high jump and sixth in the long jump in last year's MAC meet.

While there are still some question marks lingering for the Miami Track and Field team regarding experience, the opportunity for the RedHawks to have a successful season looks promising.