Women’s track preview: young team, big potential

Photo by Josiah Garber

West Virginia University transfer Megan Mlinarchik clears a bar in practice Tuesday. Assistant coach Bob Natchigall coached Mlinarchik at nearby Broadway High School.

In 8th grade, Lorachel (Lori) Castro was the ugly kid with big glasses and frizzy hair. She was picked on by some of her middle school classmates in Dover, Del., but to some she was a friend they could bring their problems to.

A teacher noticed Lori’s affinity for helping her peers, and by the end of the year, she was trained in Conflict Resolution, and became a peer mediator with her school’s Students For Students club. Through SFS she helped many of her peers and began to feel more confidence as a leader. That confidence carried her onto the track, and eventually to EMU. Castro chose EMU over several other Delaware schools, mainly because she "felt wanted here." Head track and field coach Paul Johnson recruited the hurdler for track, but also knew she’d be a positive impact on the community. Castro was the recipient of one of six Hispanic Leadership Awards presented at the Hispanic Games in the New York Armory last winter.

Castro is one of Johnson’s multi-event freshmen that also double as excellent students. Nautica Coleman, an all-state hurdler and jumper from Harrisonburg High School, joins four other freshmen on the women’s indoor track roster. Rachel Manikus, a Chester,Va. native, will hurdle and jump, Kristina Robinson from Broadway, Va. is the team’s only sprinter, and Emily Reese, a Turber Ashby High School graduate, will continue a tradition of quality women’s pole-vaulters. Kendra Nissley, the number one runner on the cross-country team, will try to continue her success in the distance races. Sophomore Leslie Grant will run the 3000-meter run and 5000-meter run alongside of Nissley.

The biggest impact performer will likely be Megan Mlinarchik. The Broadway High School graduate spent the 2002-2003 season at West Virginia University. Johnson recruited Mlinarchik during her senior season at BHS, but watched the allure of Division I athletics and a sizable scholarship pull her away from the Shenandoah Valley. Her homecoming means a reunion with EMU sprint coach Bob Natchigall, her former BHS coach. Mlinarchik will high jump and pole vault. "Her career personal bests are both national qualifiers," said Johnson.

A pair of two-sport sophomores adds depth to the throws. Amanda Renalds will compete sparingly because of basketball obligations, but when she is in the shot put circle, competitors take notice. She finished fifth at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships last year. Connie Steiner played defense on the soccer team during the fall. She will throw the javelin and attempt to improve on her 3rd place finish in the pole vault during the outdoor season.

Junior Wendy Driver is the only upperclassman on the team. Like Castro, she was drawn to EMU for athletics but sees deeper meaning in the program. Admitted to the nursing program last year, she wakes at 5:30 many mornings and spends the day in clinicals. In the afternoon she practices for the long and triple jumps, as well as the 400m dash. "Track is a good way to cope with stress from my major," said Driver. The sport also "fulfills a spiritual need of mine to use my talents. God’s given me a talent and through that talent, I’m a light to other people."