Indoor track Begins 'Return to dominance'
The Chargers head to Findlay, Ohio for their season opener this weekend
Cody Ewers
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Sports
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Lundberg said the theme of this year's team is "Return to Dominance;" a call for his team to return to the long tradition of dominance Hillsdale's track and field program once enjoyed.
"Hillsdale's tradition of success is something that is special here, and I've been fortunate enough to be a part of some of that," Lundberg said. "We haven't fallen off, but we want to be a team that battles for titles like we used to."
The GLIAC is one of the best, if not the best conference, in the nation for Division II, Lundberg said, and the Chargers have their sights set on the top 3 teams in the conference: Grand Valley State University, Ashland University and Saginaw Valley State University.
A serious case of pneumonia, requiring surgery, forces one of the men's team captains and All-American in the hammer throw, Jason Stomps, out of this year's indoor season.
Lundberg is not discouraged as sophomore Justin Dailey displayed promise last season when he once out threw both Stomps and his fellow All-American Aaron Falk in a throwing event.
The men's team is further reinforced by team captain and junior Jared Krout's reliable performance sending him to every national competition for track since arriving at Hillsdale except his freshman outdoor season.
The women's track team speared by a strong throwing crew and led by junior Anna Leutheuser also look to improve the number of women headed to the big show.
This year the Chargers host an unusually high amount of home meets including the Charger Classic and the GLIAC Championship, in addition to two indoor invitationals and the Hillsdale "Gina" Relays.
Having not hosted the conference championship since 2004, Lundberg said the honor will give his team a welcomed edge in the final push to qualify for the NCAA Division II tournament - an event six Chargers, including high jumper Andrew Dodson, Krout and Stomps, look forward to seeing again.
"The GLIAC Championship is an event we're able to host about once every 5 years," Lundberg said. "It's a last chance meet and there's no better facilities for it."
Krout plans to improve the way the Chargers finish this year by building on his previous achievements.
"I'll try to continue the success I've had so far and try to be able to compete at a national level," Krout said.
"I'm disappointed on last year's conference finish," Krout continued. "Overall, as a team we didn't do well, I plan on improving my leadership because it trickles down and affects everyone."
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