Charleston Southern University Athletics
Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern opens indoor season on Saturday at Wake Forest Invitational
1/18/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Southern Buccaneers begin their quest for the 2013 Big South Championship with their first meet of the 2013 indoor season on Saturday. CSU will run in the Wake Forest Invitational at the JDL Fast Track
CSU finished third last season at the Big South's Championships and return a number of key pieces from last year's squad. Bucs' head coach Tim Langford has like what he sees out of his roster, especially a talented group of newcomers.
"I think we can have a productive indoor season." Langford said earlier this week. So much of it will depend on how our new freshmen perform. We can be really good if our freshmen improve their technique quickly, otherwise we'll just have some bright spots."
Junior Rozzie Johnson is the heir apparent to last year's Big South 60-meter and 200-meter champion Javon Young. Johnson finished second in both events last season at the Big South Championships and is a strong candidate to vie for both titles this season. The ultimate goal is a berth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. in early March.
"Rozzie was just behind Javon, who won everything, last year," Langford said of his junior sprinter. "I expect him to have a big year, and I think we can get national qualifying marks out of Rozzie Johnson in the 60, and possibly the 200."
Senior Dantwan Spreads is another Buccaneer sprinter hoping for an NCAA qualifying time. He was seventh at last year's Big South meet. He'll be pushed by freshman Jarad Jeter in the 400-meter. Both are running this weekend.
After sitting out a season ago, junior Edward Ponton could challenge in the 60-meter hurdles. He finished seventh as a freshman, but has returned in the best form of his career as a junior.
Braxton Drummond will lead the Bucs' jumpers during the indoor season. Drummond finished second at the Big South Champioships last season with a jump of 7.22 meters, behind teammate Lavon Allen, who will be back for the outdoor season.
"Braxton has a very good shot to be a national qualifier in the long jump," Langford added. "He'll have to work hard and keep improving, but he can get there."
Junior Avery Coe will try to improve on his second place finish in the triple jump at the Big South's last season, and will also compete in the long jump. Freshman E.J. Reddick will see his first his first competition as a Buc this weekend in the triple jump.
The Bucs added Jaque Carter from the football team for throws, and he'll make his debut this weekend.
"He's a big, strong guy who threw in high school, and will give us some points in the shot put," Langford said.
In the distance races, Tyre Hines is the frontrunner in a group that will be much better late in the season.
"Tyre is starting to come into his own," Langford said."Scott Morrison and Baxley Crosby should do well in the 800 when they get healthy.
This weekend's race is the first of three for the Bucs at the 200 meter flat track. CSU will run the Hilton Garden Inn and the Big South Championships both at the JDL Fast Track.
"We've got four regular season meets, including one more at the JDL in two weeks, then we're back there for the Big South Championships. We will see that track three times, so we should be very comfortable there for the conference meet," Langford said.
The Bucs will compete this weekend against a field which includes defending Big South champion Liberty and four other league schools. The field consists of Wake Forest, Savannah State, Liberty, Elon, Campbell, VMI, Furman, High Point, Davidson, College of Charleston, and UNC Greensboro, among others.
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