PAGE 42E AUGUST,1996
KUED • SPORTS
LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
Jayhawks enter fledgling league without Kloster, Heeb, Swartz
Schwartz eager for start of Big 12
BY GARY BEDORE
JOURNAL-WORLD ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Big 12 is going to be a strong conference in cross country and track.
So says Kansas coach Gary Schwartz, who isn't afraid of the new challenge beginning this school year.
"Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor all have strong track and field programs on both the women's and men's sides," Schwartz said."Texas Tech is at the bottom of that list, but they have had some strong teams, too.
"I believe adding them will help us. It'll hold higher marks up there for us to shoot at. It's something that's come at just the right time for our program. We've done a lot with our program, but now we
WOMEN'S TRACK
want to step it up to the next level."
KU enters the new league without four-year standout Kristi Kloster, who won the NCAA Indoor title in the 800 last year. Others lost to graduation include distance standouts Sarah Heeb, Melissa Swartz and Erin Howerton, plus spinner Dawn Steele-Slavens.
"We'll really miss Kristi. She is what college athletics is all about," Schwartz said of Kloster."She did so much for our program even having her a shortened period of time (because of leg injuries).
"That's one of the things about college athletics. You hate to see them go, but they move on and your program moves on, too through recruiting."
Through recruiting, the Jayhawks have added spinter Tamra Montgomery of Kansas City East High; spinter Madineh Hazim of Topeka West and thrower April Kockrow out of Rushville, Neb.
Some talented athletes return. Candy Mason, a junior from Nevada, Mo., notched third in the heptathlon at the Big Eight Outdoor. She was fourth in the pentathlon at Indoor. Also back is Amber Mounday, a senior heptathlete from Valley Center, who notched fifth in the heptathlon at Outdoor and seventh at Indoor.
"Candy was healthy all year long and had a really good spring," Schwartz said. Kim Feldkamp, a senior from Seneca; Marlea Woodman, a sophomore from
Belleville; Lisa Beran, a junior from Hays and Jenny Gordon, a junior from Marysville, return in the weight events. Feldkamp placed fifth in the shot at league Indoor and sixth in the javelin at Outdoor, while Woodman was fourth in the discus at Outdoor and ninth in the shot put at Indoor.
"We've got a strong group of throwers," Schwartz said.
Others who return and could make an impact in cross country and track distance events are: Whitney Ace, a junior from Emporia, who placed eighth in the mile at league Indoor and 59th at league CC; Erin Anderson, a junior from Mt. Prospect, Ill.; Erica
See Schwartz, page 43