Amy French

After consecutive fourth-place finishes at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships (outdoor), a veteran College of Wooster women's track & field team has its sights set on the top-three of the nine-team league as well as sending multiple student-athletes to the NCAA Div. III Championships.

Wooster, which also came in fifth at the conference's indoor meet a year ago, has been represented  at nationals the last two years by now-senior Abena Boamah-Acheampong. The high jumper has won four conference championships in her specialty (two indoor, two outdoor), as well as one in the triple jump, and was a 2011 All-American (outdoor) after clearing 5 feet, 5.75 inches to tie for eighth-place at NCAA's. This season, the coaching staff is looking for her to consistently hit 5 feet, 6 inches or better.

Another jumper, sophomore Ellen Sandin, also is a defending conference champ. She hopes to build on her three all-NCAC performances in her first year, highlighted by winning the indoor long jump (17 feet, 2.25 inches) and the outdoor triple jump (33 feet, 9.5 inches).

The Fighting Scots have a number of other veterans who have proven to be conference scorers in the field events. Junior Amy French is a multi-event athlete who was runner-up in the NCAC pentathlon (2707 points) during last year's indoor season, then followed with top-10 finishes in the high jump (4 feet, 11.75 inches), triple jump (32 feet, 2.25 inches), heptathlon (3150 points), and 100-meter hurdles (16.44) outdoors, while classmate Kendra Shehy tied for third in the outdoor high jump (4 feet, 11.75 inches) and added a sixth-place in the 400 hurdles (1:09.44).

Senior Veronique Jones headlines the team's throwers. She has produced points throughout her career, including last May's sixth-place conference showing in the shot put (35 feet, 9.5 inches).

On the track, Wooster is traditionally strong in the distance events and in relays. This year's group will likely be paced by senior and two-time Academic All-American® Erin Plews-Ogan. Following her all-region and all-NCAC cross country campaign this past fall, Plews-Ogan is ready to lead the distance medley relay team, which set a conference record (12:31.33) in 2012, and then look to improve upon her top-50 time nationally from last spring in the 3000-meter steeplechase (11:16.91).

Also returning from the record-setting DMR team is senior Taylor Morgan, a middle distance specialist. In addition to her relay contributions, she has the ability to score individually at the NCAC meets in the 800 and 1500 meters. Junior Chelsea Denlinger will complement Morgan in those races, while sophomore Lauren Buyan will complement Plews-Ogan in the distance events, including the steeplechase after her fifth-place NCAC run last season (12:02.52).

There a number of others to keep an eye on, as the Scots have impressive depth. Junior hurdler Jensen Buchanan finished fifth in the conference's outdoor 400-meter hurdles (1:08.68) and will factor in the multi-event competitions, along with sophomore Jocelyn Lion, senior middle distance runner Rebecca Craig scored last year in the indoor mile (5:28.89), and senior Stephanie McShane highlights a group of sprinters that also includes sophomore Ashley Huddson and junior Kara Johnson.

"We have great numbers out for the team, balance across the team, and a great mixture of team leadership and exciting younger women," summarized long-time Wooster head coach Dennis Rice.