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Looking Towards the 2002 Track and Field Season
Jan. 7, 2002 The Michigan State men's track and field team has done some growing up over the past couple of years. The returning athletes and coaching staff are helping to strengthen all aspects of the team. With three returning All-Americans and adding Angela Goodman, the women's track and field head coach, to the mix makes for a promising season.
Senior Paul Terek returns to defend his Big Ten pole vault and heptathlon title during the 2002 indoor season. Terek set the school record in the pole vault several times during the 2001 season finally settling on 18' 2 3/4", which was also a new Big Ten record. Terek not only showcased in the pole vault, but also earned All-America honors and the Big Ten Championship title in the heptathlon with 5,685 points. During the outdoor season, Terek earned All-American honors for his decathlon performance. He won the Big Ten title with a record-breaking 7,695 points and followed it up with a fourth-place performance at the NCAA Championships with 7,645 points.
He believes he can take the experiences and ability from last year, add a few new technical improvements and repeat his championship performances. "I still want to win both the indoor and outdoor pole vault and multi-events (heptathlon and decathlon) at the Big Ten Championship," says Terek. "I honestly believe I can win a national championship in the vault." He realizes that this road may be challenging considering most of his competition is returning as well. He also remembers that he is part of a team and has a lot of confidence in his teammates and coaches. He compared the 2002 team to the team which won the Big Ten Championship in 1999. "That year our distance squad was stacked, we had a couple of hurdlers, but our field events were young," explains Terek. "Now, three years later, we have one of the top multi-event teams in the nation with one of the best pole vault squads. We also have (Steve) Manz who can win the shot put and then throw in some points from (Jeff) Kus in the high jump and Julien (Williams) in the long jump and we'll put up the points needed." Terek did not leave out the distance squad led by a returning All-American, junior Andy Lixey, and members of the nationally-ranked cross country team. A minor coaching change has been made to enhance the performance of this year's team. Head coach Darroll Gatson has added Angela Goodman, the head coach of the women's track and field team, to his men's track and field coaching staff for her expertise in the jumps. Gatson and Goodman have decided to combine coaching skills to benefit both teams in all areas of competition to strengthen overall team performances. With the help of volunteer coach Dawn Lewis and assistant coach Kyle Baker, the coaching staff will be completed with Jim Stintzi in charge of the distance squad, Will Wabaunsee coaching the field events, Goodman working with the jumpers and sprinters and Gatson coaching the middle distance runners and guiding the team as a whole to greater things during the 2002 season. 2002 Schedule
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