University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Track and Field Looking to Open Indoor Season Strong
1/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss track and field team travels to Birmingham to open their indoor season with a pair of meets this weekend. The Golden Eagles will compete in the Blazer Invitational on Friday, Jan. 13 and the Vulcan Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 14, as both meets will be hosted by UAB.
In his third season with the Golden Eagles, head coach Jon Stuart is looking to open the indoor season on the right foot after coming off a strong fall semester of training.
"We're doing back to back meets to open the season, and the goal is to get some good opening marks, develop some chemistry among the event groups, and set the tone for the rest of the season," said Stuart.
The 2017 squad is returning nine seniors who are all looking to open their season with strong performances to kick start the year. Joining the seniors is a number of returners including Lorenzen Burton and Danisha Jones who are both coming off great freshman campaigns.
Burton, who was a member of the 2016 C-USA Indoor Championship men's 4x400 meter relay team beating WKU and setting a school record, is looking to defend the relay title. Jones, who won the silver medal in the weight throw at the 2016 C-USA Indoor Championship breaking the school record, is looking to improve her distance and come out on top this year.
"The start of the indoor season is always exciting," said Stuart. "We had a productive fall training and now it's time get some results. Our team is filled with newcomers that will bring a dimension that we haven't had in the past. The experience of our new junior college athletes coupled with some talented freshmen has us anxious to see this team grow throughout the season."
Following these meets in Birmingham, the Golden Eagles with travel to Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the Vanderbilt Invitational that takes place Jan. 20 and Jan. 21.
