DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) - The North Carolina Central University men’s and women’s track and field teams worked hard throughout the fall in order to lay the foundation for a successful indoor and outdoor season.  Head coach Michael Lawson has been pleased with the teams’ fall training. “When we left for the winter break our student-athletes had high spirits,” said Lawson. “We are confident that the solid work done during the fall will show when we return to competition during the New Year.”

The 2012 season will mark the Eagles first attempt to earn a track and field Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship since making the move to Division I. After a strong finish in the conference championship for the Lady Eagles cross country team, Lawson believes that the team has gotten a good look at the stiff league competition.  “The MEAC is a well-respected conference,” Lawson said. “They are already established and have some extremely dominant teams. We are still looking to make a name for ourselves in the conference, and I believe that our group of student-athletes has the potential to give these MEAC veteran squads a good challenge.” 

When asked specifically about the freshmen, Lawson said, "I'm ready to see our freshmen preform this season. We are definitely going to be at a different level from where we have been, especially on the women's side." Amber Brooks, the Tampa, Fla., native who was a rookie standout during cross country season, placing 15th during the MEAC championship and named to the All-MEAC team, will be looked at to keep the competition high in the distance events during the winter and spring seasons.  "Amber came out extremely strong during cross country,” he said. “I think she is going to be exciting to watch." 

Along with the team’s youth, the Eagles also have a lot of solid experienced student-athletes going into this season. During last year’s outdoor season, Ashley McCoy led the Lady Eagles in the sprints. McCoy had her best outing during the March 11-12, 2011, Coastal Carolina Invitational in Conway, S.C., where she ran a time of 24.27 seconds in the 200-meter dash and an 11.96 in the 100m, which at that time was the 11th fastest time in all of Division I. “Ashley will continue to be extremely successful,” Lawson said. “She has already posted one of the top times in the nation during our first indoor competition. We are looking for her to lead our younger ladies this season.”

Also on the women’s side, Lawson looks to senior Dreanna Wallace to help lead her youthful teammates. “Dreanna shocked us all at the conference tournament for cross country (finishing 13^th overall and being named to the All-MEAC team),” said Lawson. “Her experience and her leadership will definitely help our team this season.”

On the men’s side, Lawson looks to senior middle distance runner Jamar Jones to be a leader on the track. “Jamar will be a solid leader for our men,” Lawson said. “He is very experienced and should perform well this season.”

Jumper Nana Atakora-Bediako will also have a huge impact on the Eagles this season, Lawson noted. Atakora-Bediako already has had success during the indoor season, finishing first in men’s triple jump at the Christopher Newport University Holiday Open this past December. Atakora-Bediako’s winning triple jump leap was 14.84 meters (48 feet, 8.25 inches).

Lawson is excited for the winter and spring seasons, and is hopeful that the hard work from his student-athletes will help contribute to the teams’ overall scores.  "Moving into the outdoor season is where we will really make some noise,” he said. “Our student-athletes will have had some time to develop and sharpen their skills, putting them in a great position to be successful in the MEAC.”

The men’s and women’s track and field teams return to action this weekend, Jan. 13-14, when they head north to Blacksburg, Va., to compete at the Virginia Tech Indoor Track and Field Invitational.