Temple University Athletics
Saturday, December 1
Bethlehem, Pa.
10:00 am
Temple University
at
Lehigh Season Opener
Track & Field Opens Up 2018-19 Campaign with Lehigh Season Opener on Saturday
11.29.18 | Women's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA – Coming off its highest ever finish at the 2017-18 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships and a record-breaking 2018 cross country season, the Temple University women's track & field team is primed and eager to compete in the upcoming season. The Owls will kick off the 2018-19 indoor season this Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Lehigh Season Opener in Bethlehem, Pa.
Entering his fifth year at the helm of the program, head coach Elvis Forde has high expectations for what's to come in 2018-19.
"Understanding what the student-athletes on this team are capable of, it's safe to say the bar is set very high this year," explained Forde. "While we still lack depth in many events, the quality of our athletes has drastically improved since I first came to Temple. Our distance program has made exceptional strides, setting a solid foundation for where we would like to go. We have brought in new athletes that we hope will continue to lead us towards being a championship caliber team and contribute in many different events. I'm very excited to see all that this team brings to the table this season."
The senior class consists of three immensely talented student-athletes, as Crystal Jones, Katie Leisher and Ashton Dunkley are ready to make their marks during their final season on the indoor track in Cherry and White.
"All three of our seniors have significantly helped our team move up the ladder since their arrival," said Forde. "They have been great to the program, excelling both in the classroom and on the track. Watching them go out with a great deal of success in their final year would be a testament to how our program has grown, and I look forward to seeing all they accomplish."
Jones has been a key contributor to the growth of the program over the past three years, leading the squad as team captain for her junior and senior campaigns. Representing Temple in the multis events, Jones has earned All-AAC nods twice in her career and finished the 2017-18 indoor season as the fourth best pentathlon athlete in the AAC.
"Crystal has helped our team do some great things, and the expectations for her as a senior are that she continues to excel even past where she is now," said Forde. "If she continues to train as hard as she has to ensure she performs to the best of her abilities, she will be successful and move forward from there."
Leisher led the 2018 women's cross country team to its best year in program history, consisting of its highest-ever finish of fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional and its first ever ECAC Championship title. During the 2017-18 track and field seasons, the team captain notably set the school record in the 5000m at the Sam Howell invitational (17:01.36) and won the 10,000m at the 49er Classic.
"Katie epitomizes dedication and has worked extremely hard to get to where she is now," said Forde. "She molded into someone who truly understands what it means to perform at such a high level. Her legacy at Temple will always be her commitment to her team, and I look forward to seeing her improvements over the course of her senior season."
Dunkley, the 2017-18 Temple University Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, will return to the track this weekend to kick off her final two seasons in Cherry and White. At the conclusion of her junior year, Dunkley qualified for the finals in the 1500 at the AAC Outdoor Championships, running a personal best of 4:41.26. She also competed in four meets for the cross country team this past season.
"Ashton has represented our program in very high fashion, particularly in the classroom to define what collegiate athletics is all about," said Forde. "I hope to see her build off of her exciting finish during the 2018 outdoor season. If she thrives off of that energy, she will go out with the best season of her career."
The junior class consists of five standout student-athletes that have made a strong impact on the program thus far. Returning to the track are Millie Howard, Grace Moore, Madison Beecher and Ebonee Jackson. New in Cherry and White this year is junior transfer Kira Von Ehren, who looks to make an immediate impact after a stellar 2018 cross country season with Temple.
Howard has made her mark as one of the best middle distance runners in program history after her first two seasons. She currently holds two individual school records in the 1000m (indoor) and the 1500m (outdoor) and is a part of five relay records, including the indoor SMR, indoor DMR, outdoor 4x1500m, outdoor 1600m SMR and the outdoor DMR. On top of her various All-AAC honors, Howard was one of three Temple student-athletes to qualify for the NCAA East Region Preliminary in 2018, missing the NCAA championships in the 1500m by just one place.
"Millie is someone who just continues to get better and better," acknowledged Forde. "She has worked extremely hard to excel in the middle distance events, and we are looking forward to her having a really good year. She has set high standards for herself this season, and I know she will her exceed her own expectations."
After earning All-Region honors and becoming the first Owl in program history to capture the individual title at the ECAC Championships during the 2018 cross country season, Moore is on the right track to a stellar indoor track season. Last year, the team captain got on the podium twice at the AAC indoor championships in the mile and the 3000m.
"If the last two cross country performances by Grace are any indication of what her indoor season will look like, it's going to be a fantastic year," said Forde. "We look at her as a very bright spot for us based on her potential, and know that the sky is the limit when it comes to her achievements."
Jackson concluded her sophomore season with three top-10 finishes at the AAC Outdoor Championships, running the 100H, 400H and the 4x400 relay. She also helped the Owls break the outdoor SMR record at the 2018 Penn relays, and will be a key contributor for Temple this season.
"Ebonee is another student-athlete who has worked extremely hard and continues to get better," said Forde. "Her growth is positive, and we look forward to what she can do on the track this year. Madison Beecher is another who has worked very hard in practice this year, and we expect to see strides of improvement from her this season."
The sophomore class is made up of 11 student-athletes that look to improve after adjusting during their freshman campaigns. Key second-year returners include Michelle Joyce, Lucy Jones, Mallorie Smith, Aisha Brown, Sydney Williams, Helene Gottlieb and Kayla Nesbitt-McEwen.
In the middle-distance and distance events, the Owls will look to Joyce, Jones and Gottlieb to be key point contributors. The three 2018 all-conference cross country runners made an impact on the track in 2017-18, racking up multiple school records and numerous top-10 AAC championship finishes.
"Michelle is very businesslike and always gets the job done," said Forde. "We expect that she will translate her success from this cross country season onto the track, and look forward to watching her continue to improve. Lucy really stepped up to shine in cross country and her love for the sport is always contagious. Helene is a standout runner that we have loved to watch grow from freshman year to now. I look forward to watching each of them achieve some really special things this season, knowing how hard they work."
Smith and Williams are on the watch list to put points on the board for the Owls. The sophomore pair served as half of the SMR that broke the school record at the Penn Relays, and each contributed greatly in the sprint and hurdle events during their respective freshman campaigns.
"Mallorie is a very talented athlete, and we have already witnessed significant growth from her coming off of her freshman season," said Forde. "We expect some huge performances out of her, and know that she will be a big positive for our team. Sydney is another who we have very high expectations for, knowing that she will continue to rise and leave her mark this season."
After a standout freshman season, Brown is expected to continue to shine in the high jump this season. In her first year of collegiate competition, the dual-sport athlete qualified for the NCAA East Regional meet, earned All-AAC accolades for her second place finish in the high jump and finished the season ranked as the number one high jump freshman in the East Region. The sophomore duo of Brown and Nesbitt-McEwen are expected to make their marks in the high jump this season.
"We could talk about Aisha as both a person and an athlete for days," said Forde. "She has a goal in mind and she won't let anyone stand in the way, and I know she will do some really special things this season. Her commitment and dedication are off the charts, and we look forward to watching the progress come and helping her reach these goals.
Kayla showed up as an entirely new person this fall, and is ready to succeed this season. She is a talented athlete that is dedicating herself to training, and I look forward to good things happening from her to help our team."
Coming to North Philadelphia from all over the world, the Owls will welcome a contingent of state and district champions alongside high-class performers in their respective nations to make up their 2018-19 freshman class. With extensive experience and illustrious high school careers, the coaching staff has a great deal to look forward to with their newest, seven-person class.
The 2018-19 indoor season will feature eight meets, starting with the Lehigh Season Opener this Saturday. The Owls look forward to competing against national caliber student-athletes to illustrate their growth and potential, highlighted at meets such as the Villanova Invitational (Feb. 2) and the American Athletic Conference Championships (Feb. 22-23) in Birmingham, Ala. The outdoor season will begin on March 15 at the Charlotte 49ers Invitational, and the squad is set to host the second Temple Owls Invitational on April 5. The American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships are set for May 10-12 in Wichita, Kan.
Entering his fifth year at the helm of the program, head coach Elvis Forde has high expectations for what's to come in 2018-19.
"Understanding what the student-athletes on this team are capable of, it's safe to say the bar is set very high this year," explained Forde. "While we still lack depth in many events, the quality of our athletes has drastically improved since I first came to Temple. Our distance program has made exceptional strides, setting a solid foundation for where we would like to go. We have brought in new athletes that we hope will continue to lead us towards being a championship caliber team and contribute in many different events. I'm very excited to see all that this team brings to the table this season."
The senior class consists of three immensely talented student-athletes, as Crystal Jones, Katie Leisher and Ashton Dunkley are ready to make their marks during their final season on the indoor track in Cherry and White.
"All three of our seniors have significantly helped our team move up the ladder since their arrival," said Forde. "They have been great to the program, excelling both in the classroom and on the track. Watching them go out with a great deal of success in their final year would be a testament to how our program has grown, and I look forward to seeing all they accomplish."
Jones has been a key contributor to the growth of the program over the past three years, leading the squad as team captain for her junior and senior campaigns. Representing Temple in the multis events, Jones has earned All-AAC nods twice in her career and finished the 2017-18 indoor season as the fourth best pentathlon athlete in the AAC.
"Crystal has helped our team do some great things, and the expectations for her as a senior are that she continues to excel even past where she is now," said Forde. "If she continues to train as hard as she has to ensure she performs to the best of her abilities, she will be successful and move forward from there."
Leisher led the 2018 women's cross country team to its best year in program history, consisting of its highest-ever finish of fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional and its first ever ECAC Championship title. During the 2017-18 track and field seasons, the team captain notably set the school record in the 5000m at the Sam Howell invitational (17:01.36) and won the 10,000m at the 49er Classic.
"Katie epitomizes dedication and has worked extremely hard to get to where she is now," said Forde. "She molded into someone who truly understands what it means to perform at such a high level. Her legacy at Temple will always be her commitment to her team, and I look forward to seeing her improvements over the course of her senior season."
Dunkley, the 2017-18 Temple University Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, will return to the track this weekend to kick off her final two seasons in Cherry and White. At the conclusion of her junior year, Dunkley qualified for the finals in the 1500 at the AAC Outdoor Championships, running a personal best of 4:41.26. She also competed in four meets for the cross country team this past season.
"Ashton has represented our program in very high fashion, particularly in the classroom to define what collegiate athletics is all about," said Forde. "I hope to see her build off of her exciting finish during the 2018 outdoor season. If she thrives off of that energy, she will go out with the best season of her career."
The junior class consists of five standout student-athletes that have made a strong impact on the program thus far. Returning to the track are Millie Howard, Grace Moore, Madison Beecher and Ebonee Jackson. New in Cherry and White this year is junior transfer Kira Von Ehren, who looks to make an immediate impact after a stellar 2018 cross country season with Temple.
Howard has made her mark as one of the best middle distance runners in program history after her first two seasons. She currently holds two individual school records in the 1000m (indoor) and the 1500m (outdoor) and is a part of five relay records, including the indoor SMR, indoor DMR, outdoor 4x1500m, outdoor 1600m SMR and the outdoor DMR. On top of her various All-AAC honors, Howard was one of three Temple student-athletes to qualify for the NCAA East Region Preliminary in 2018, missing the NCAA championships in the 1500m by just one place.
"Millie is someone who just continues to get better and better," acknowledged Forde. "She has worked extremely hard to excel in the middle distance events, and we are looking forward to her having a really good year. She has set high standards for herself this season, and I know she will her exceed her own expectations."
After earning All-Region honors and becoming the first Owl in program history to capture the individual title at the ECAC Championships during the 2018 cross country season, Moore is on the right track to a stellar indoor track season. Last year, the team captain got on the podium twice at the AAC indoor championships in the mile and the 3000m.
"If the last two cross country performances by Grace are any indication of what her indoor season will look like, it's going to be a fantastic year," said Forde. "We look at her as a very bright spot for us based on her potential, and know that the sky is the limit when it comes to her achievements."
Jackson concluded her sophomore season with three top-10 finishes at the AAC Outdoor Championships, running the 100H, 400H and the 4x400 relay. She also helped the Owls break the outdoor SMR record at the 2018 Penn relays, and will be a key contributor for Temple this season.
"Ebonee is another student-athlete who has worked extremely hard and continues to get better," said Forde. "Her growth is positive, and we look forward to what she can do on the track this year. Madison Beecher is another who has worked very hard in practice this year, and we expect to see strides of improvement from her this season."
The sophomore class is made up of 11 student-athletes that look to improve after adjusting during their freshman campaigns. Key second-year returners include Michelle Joyce, Lucy Jones, Mallorie Smith, Aisha Brown, Sydney Williams, Helene Gottlieb and Kayla Nesbitt-McEwen.
In the middle-distance and distance events, the Owls will look to Joyce, Jones and Gottlieb to be key point contributors. The three 2018 all-conference cross country runners made an impact on the track in 2017-18, racking up multiple school records and numerous top-10 AAC championship finishes.
"Michelle is very businesslike and always gets the job done," said Forde. "We expect that she will translate her success from this cross country season onto the track, and look forward to watching her continue to improve. Lucy really stepped up to shine in cross country and her love for the sport is always contagious. Helene is a standout runner that we have loved to watch grow from freshman year to now. I look forward to watching each of them achieve some really special things this season, knowing how hard they work."
Smith and Williams are on the watch list to put points on the board for the Owls. The sophomore pair served as half of the SMR that broke the school record at the Penn Relays, and each contributed greatly in the sprint and hurdle events during their respective freshman campaigns.
"Mallorie is a very talented athlete, and we have already witnessed significant growth from her coming off of her freshman season," said Forde. "We expect some huge performances out of her, and know that she will be a big positive for our team. Sydney is another who we have very high expectations for, knowing that she will continue to rise and leave her mark this season."
After a standout freshman season, Brown is expected to continue to shine in the high jump this season. In her first year of collegiate competition, the dual-sport athlete qualified for the NCAA East Regional meet, earned All-AAC accolades for her second place finish in the high jump and finished the season ranked as the number one high jump freshman in the East Region. The sophomore duo of Brown and Nesbitt-McEwen are expected to make their marks in the high jump this season.
"We could talk about Aisha as both a person and an athlete for days," said Forde. "She has a goal in mind and she won't let anyone stand in the way, and I know she will do some really special things this season. Her commitment and dedication are off the charts, and we look forward to watching the progress come and helping her reach these goals.
Kayla showed up as an entirely new person this fall, and is ready to succeed this season. She is a talented athlete that is dedicating herself to training, and I look forward to good things happening from her to help our team."
Coming to North Philadelphia from all over the world, the Owls will welcome a contingent of state and district champions alongside high-class performers in their respective nations to make up their 2018-19 freshman class. With extensive experience and illustrious high school careers, the coaching staff has a great deal to look forward to with their newest, seven-person class.
The 2018-19 indoor season will feature eight meets, starting with the Lehigh Season Opener this Saturday. The Owls look forward to competing against national caliber student-athletes to illustrate their growth and potential, highlighted at meets such as the Villanova Invitational (Feb. 2) and the American Athletic Conference Championships (Feb. 22-23) in Birmingham, Ala. The outdoor season will begin on March 15 at the Charlotte 49ers Invitational, and the squad is set to host the second Temple Owls Invitational on April 5. The American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships are set for May 10-12 in Wichita, Kan.
Players Mentioned
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Multis
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Distance
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Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
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