Women’s Track & Field Outlook

Oct. 31, 2000

By Anne MillerAsst. Sports Information DirectorThe Georgia Tech Game Program – October 28, 2000

At the start of a new millennium and with a new coaching staff in place, the 2000-2001 Clemson women’s track and field and cross country program is looking forward to starting a new era of excellence. Head coach Marcia Fletcher Noad, a former Tiger All-American, is excited about taking program.

She is equally as excited to be joined by an experienced and well-rounded coaching staff. Cathrine Erickson, a former All-ACC student-athlete at Florida State, comes to Clemson after coaching the men’s and women’s multi-event athletes and throwers at Mississippi for the past two years. Erickson will be responsible for the pole vaulters, multi-event athletes and throwers for the Lady Tigers.

Former Life University head coach Rana Reider completes the Lady tigers track and field and cross country staff. Reider will be responsible for the cross country, distance and middle distance athletes as well as for the sprinters and relay athletes. Fletcher Noad will work closely with the long and triple jumpers and hurdlers in addition to offering her leadership and guidance to the entire women’s track and field and cross country program.

“With the resources we have at our disposal and the coaching that Rana, Cathrine and I can give this team, there is no reason why we can’t win many ACC championships and be considered on of the top women’s track and field and cross country programs at the Division I level,” said Fletcher Noad. “We have very high expectations for this team. The seniors have been through a lot of changes and it is time for their potential to be realized and for them to be able to appreciate their experience of having been a Clemson student-athlete. Winning championships will make all of the changes worthwhile. We really do have a powerhouse of athletes here. There are potential ACC and NCAA scorers as well as ACC and NCAA champions across the board.”

Cross Country/Distance

The 2000 Clemson cross country team will be led by three potential All-ACC performers. Senior Erika van Reenen and Jennifer Meador along with junior Perry Fields are expected to lead the team and be the top performers for the Tigers on a regular basis. Fletcher Noad will also look for freshman Renee Keydozsius to lead a group of five freshmen. The rookie class will be rounded out by Kristi Toothman, Jennifer Zawislak, Evan Ross and Heather Nichols.

The cross country upperclassmen that includes senior Shannon Schoppman will also be the nucleus for the middle distance and distance events during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. Schoppman will primarily run the 1500m while Van Reenen will run the longer ditsnce events from the 3000m indoor to the 5000m and 10,000m outdoors. Fields and Meador will concentrate mainly on the 800 and 1500m events.

Rookies Keydozsius, Toothman, Nichols, Ross and Zawislak will compete in a wide variety of events ranging from the middle distance to the longer distance events. Fellow rookies Rebecca Forshey and Tiffany Charles both competed in the middle distance events in high school. Sophomore Diane Schillow, who was injured during the cross country season, will provide additional depth in the middle distance events as well.

Sprints/Relays

The Lady Tigers will have many strong competitiors in the sprint and relay events. The Clemson sprint crew will be led by four seniors, including Olympians Michelle Burgher and Cydonie Mothersill. Burgher won a silver medal in Sydney as a member of the 4x400m relay team while Mothersill was a member of the Cayman Islands Olympic team. Weston is a former All-ACC performer and All-American in the 4x100m realy and the 4x400m relay.

Shekera Weston and LaShonda Cutchin have both attained All-American and All-ACC status and will be looked upon to repeat those accomplishments again this year. Weston is a silent yet intense competitor while Cutchin is a very versatile competitor. She can compete in any event from the 100m to the 800m.

Junior Terri Robinson,a former ACC Champion and All-ACC in the 60m indoors and the 4x100m and 4x400m outdoor relay, returns to add depth in the sprints and relays. Sophomores Marcia Smith and Shannon Murray will also provide depth for the Tiger sprinters.

Hurdles

Senior Nyjla Littlejohn and junior Kyana (Keke) Elder will lead the Lady Tigers in the hurdle events. Littlejohn will compete in the 400m hurdles outdoors and the short hurdles and 800m indoors. She will also most likely help out with the 4x400m relay teams. Keke will run the 60m hurdles and sprinting events indoors and the 100m hurndles and sprinting events outdoors. Both Littlejohn and Elder could also earn themselves a spot on one or both phenomenal relay teams.

Sophomores Lauren Nicholson and Laura Cartlidge return to add depth in the 400m hurdles for the Lady Tigers.

Field Events

Sophomore Lauren Nicholson returns to lead the Clemson high jumpers. Freshman Katie Pickett will also compete in the high jump as well as the heptathlon.

Senior Mandy McLane is an All-ACC performer in the pole vault and will also participate in the heptathlon. Sophomore and ACC Champion Joana Costa will also compete in the pole vault and heptathlon events. Sarah Ellis will round out this dynamic vaulting crew. Junior Sheri Smith is expected to be a top triple jumper and along with senior Terri Robinson could be very competitive in the long jump as well.

Junior Jamine Moton will be the key to the throwing events for the Tigers. As a sophomore, Moton set Clemson records in the hammer and 20-pound weight. She is a four-time ACC champion and an eight time All-ACC performer. Moton will lead Clemson in the shot put, discus, hammer and weight.

Sophomore Nichole Parrish will add some experience and depth in the shot put, discus, weight and hammer events while freshman Mary Gosselin will complete this throwing threesome.

Overall

If the new women’s track and field staff has anything to do with the outcome of the season, the Lady Tigers will be among the most competitive teams in the nation.

“This coaching staff has very similar philosophies and we have all experienced a lot of success at different levels. We are really excited about the potential that exists here at Clemson. We want this team to be successful and it is our job to motivate and educate our student-athletes to achieve their potential. The current cross country season and the upcoming indoor and outdoor track seasons will be very exciting and promises to be a positive experience for everyone involved with our program,” said Fletcher Noad.