RENO, NEV. – The 2022 track season is just one week away, and we got two more coaches position groups to look over. This week's preview covering coach Shantel Twigg's group which includes sprinters, hurdlers, and pole vaulters.
Head coach Shantel Twiggs, who will be coaching her 19th season with the Wolf Pack, saw positive signs during the 2021 season.
"For what returned due to COVID and the limitations it presented, it went about as good as one could expect a school record, and an NCAA postseason." Twiggs said.
Sprints
For the first group, Twiggs will get to see some impressive veterans return and some newcomers to wrap up the position. The sprinters.
First up is junior Emily Costello, who had an impressive resume in 2021. Costello earned six Nevada all-time marks throughout the outdoor season. Broke the school record in the 400m dash with her time of 53.89, which qualified her for the NCAA regionals in the 400m dash. She moved to second all-time in the 4x400m relay, which won her bronze at the Mountain West Championships with her time of 3:44.17. Moved into second all-time in the 200m dash with her time of 23.83 at the West Coast Relays. Along with two more relay marks, she also moved into sixth all-time in the 100m dash at the West Coast Relays with her time of 11.68.
Returning to the Pack in her sophomore season is Lillian Gregg. During the 2021 season, she competed in seven meets during the season. Along with Costello, Gregg was on the 4x400m relay team at the MW Championships that won bronze and moved into second all-time in the event. During the season, her best time in the 400m dash was 57.49 at the Rice Twilight, while her best time in the 200m dash was 25.14 at the MW Championships.
Competing in her first season, Halyn Senegal will be joining the Pack. Senegal, who attended Saint Louis Catholic HS in Louisiana, won the indoor and outdoor LHSAA State Championships this last year. She became the first Louisiana track athlete to win the Indoor LHSAA 400m/800m double championship. Senegal was also a top 100 All-Time Female Indoor 500m runner, and was on the Milesplit USA Top 50 Females in 2021. The seven-time LHSAA State Champion will look to provide tons of high school experience in the collegiate scene.
Lastly, wrapping up the group is Sparks native Patrese Robinson. Out of Spanish Springs HS, Robinson's personal bests include a time of 26.67 in the 200m.
Hurdles/Sprints
The next group for Coach Twiggs will include four athletes who are sprinters as well. The hurdlers.
Sophomore Kylie Burton will be returning to the Pack this season after an excellent freshman season. She earned a personal best and third place finish at the Bobcat Invitational in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:02.77. Burton will look to improve during the 2022 season.
Also returning is Norway native Summer Steinsrud. Steinsrud's best times in the 100m (15.88) and 400m hurdles (1:05.66) came at the Mountain West Challenge. She also had one top-five finish at the Tri-Team Challenge in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.54.
The Pack will see experienced veteran Carolyn Ross join this spring as a junior. Ross previously attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City. At the university, she was a part of the 2017 WAC Championship team and was the 400m hurdles WAC Champion in 2019. Ross also holds the school record in the 400m hurdles. Personal bests include 59.73 in the 400m hurdles, which the time qualified her for the NCAA Prelims in 2019.
Closing the group is a transfer from the University of San Francisco, Sarah Marske. Marske holds records in the 60m hurdles and the 100m hurdles at the University. Some other stats include a time of 12.36 in the 100m dash, 24.85 in the 200m dash, 14.17 in the 100m hurdles, and 43.37 in the 300m hurdles.
Pole Vault
Lastly, Coach Twiggs and Coach Paul Helgar who specializes in the pole vault will coach this final group of five athletes.
The pole vaulters will see one returning member from the Pack, Samantha Irwin. Irwin's best mark during the season was 3.07m at the Mountain West Challenge where she finished in sixth. She also finished in fifth at the Sacramento State Tri-Team Challenge.
Three newcomers of the four in the group will be joining the Pack from different parts of Nevada. Hannah Watson from Overton, and have Shayla Pederson and Alyssa Carson from Las Vegas. The last newcomer joining the Pack will be Camrin Dolcini who attended Fortuna HS in California. The vaulters will be at the pole vault summit in Reno and will not compete in Washington.
With these new groups of athletes, Head Coach Twiggs is excited and optimistic for what's to come in 2022.
"Not knowing what's on the horizon, I am very optimistic about our future," Twiggs exclaimed. "We were able to get in a full fall training block where we saw leaps and bounds of improvement in speed, strength, power, and technique. We anticipate providing a substantial number of points to our teams overall point total to the MW Outdoor championships final score. We should see a serious assault on school records."
Coach Twiggs and her Pack will be prepared for the indoor season that starts in Washington, where they will compete in the Cougar Classic on Jan. 15.
