The Georgetown Hoyas Track and Field team’s indoor season came to a close this past weekend at the NCAA Indoor National Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The men’s team struggled, and neither the distance medley relay nor 800 meter finalist senior Billy Ledder were able to place. The women’s team, however, found success and ended up with six total All-American honors. The women’s DMR placed seventh, anchored by junior Katrina Coogan who also placed fifth in the 3000 meter race. The final honor was secured by junior Andrea Keklak who placed fourth in the 800 meter race.
“We had a great indoor season,” Director of Women’s and Men’s Track and Field Patrick Henner said.
The women’s DMR began with junior Hannah Neczypor who then handed off the baton to senior Deseree King. The final two legs were run by freshman Sabrina Southerland and Coogan. As a junior, Coogan looks to continue to improve on a very impressive showing at nationals both in the outdoor season and next year. She already holds records in several events, including the anchor leg of the DMR, at four minutes and 32 seconds.
“For her the next big step is trying to win those type of races. I think the last two years she’s been very competitive in them,” Henner said.
Henner stressed the importance of experience and noted that a faster time isn’t necessary to actually place better in major meets.
“Setting a school record is fun,” he said.
Henner also had similar thoughts on the men’s team, whose performance at nationals is not necessarily indicative of their skill. Several athletes on the men’s team had run historic times earlier in the season, but failed to translate that into success at nationals, the first such trip for all of the members of the men’s DMR team. With experience, Henner expects the men to be able to compete at their best under the most difficult situations going forward.
Overall, the indoor season was a very successful one for both the men and women, and the future is still bright. “This is the most excited I’ve been about the young talent we have, on the men’s and women’s side” Henner said.
Georgetown begins their outdoor season on March 20 at the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Virginia.
