OBERLIN, Ohio – On Saturday, Oberlin College track and field will open the 2015-16 indoor season when they travel to the University of Mount Union for the Purple Raider Toy Drive Invite. Following a second - and fifth-place finish from the Yeowomen and Yeomen, respectively, at the last year's North Coast Athletic Conference indoor meet, Oberlin track and field returns with goals of striving for both team and individual success in the upcoming season.
 
The 2014-15 indoor track and field season was capped off with a third-place finish in the men's 5,000 meters from then junior Geno Arthur at the NCAA Championships, while first-year thrower Monique Newton closed the indoor season as an NCAA qualifier in the women's shot put.
 
Distance
Arthur, a native of Camarillo, California, recently completed the cross country season with his second consecutive All-America finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships and is now hungry for success on the 200-meter loop.
 
"So much of Geno's game and success is based up on his confidence," said decorated head coach Ray Appenheimer. "His goal is to not lose a race for the remainder of his collegiate career and I'm convinced he has the abilities to do so."
 
Arthur will return to the 5k in 2015-16 and attempt to cement another All-America accolade to his collegiate resume.
 
On the men's side, Arthur will be joined by the company of classmate Samuel Coates-Finke, who will run the grueling 10,000-meters. Coates-Finke staved off injury to return for the end of the cross country season and will look to be an immediate difference maker this winter.
 
The senior duo will be accompanied by first-year Grant Sheely, who will hope to find the same success in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase as he did last year as a New York State High School Champion.
 
While the men gain depth and return a handful of vital point-scorers, the Oberlin women look much different than the runner-up squad from a year ago.
 
"We are going to be young this year, but I am excited to see what our first-years can do," explained Appenheimer.
 
First-years Vanessa LoChirco, Abigail Bellows, and Linnea Halsten, will make all make their collegiate debut between the painted lanes this winter after helping the Yeowomen to a second-place finish at the 2015 NCAC Cross Country Championships.
 
Two key returners from a year ago that will help lead the group will be Sarel Loewus and Emily Curley, both coming off a quality cross country season.
 
"Emily and Sarel have both been working hard through the fall," said Appenheimer. "Sarel is back for her senior year and is at the level of last year's seniors. Her skill set is complete and she is ready for the competition. Emily is another key upperclassman for the women this year. She brings experience, depth and talent to an already stong group."
 
"We may not have the fire power we possessed up front last year, but we have a diverse, brilliant core of men and women and we'll score a lot of points at the conference meet."
 
Throws
Throws Coach John Hepp returns nearly every point-scorer from a year ago and believes the future is bright for his group of gifted throwers.
 
"We have very talented a group, that works as hard as any skill other group on the team. We train very well together and push each other to be better," stated Hepp. "All our individual goals are high, but still very achievable. We don't settle for where we have been. Last year they exceeded all of my expectations and I don't see this year being any different."
 
During the 2014-15 indoor and outdoor seasons, Newton combined with fellow first-year Ana Richardson to break nearly every program throwing record at Oberlin and this year the duo returns to spearhead Hepp's unit. Newton won the shot put at the indoor meet, while Richardson claimed bronze in the weight throw. Both went on to All-NCAC laurels in the outdoor events as well.
 
"Even with their success indoor and then outdoor, last year, and the transition into our training regiment was an understandable shock to their systems," explained Hepp. "Now, both Monique and Ana have a good understanding of how we train and the effort that is expected of them every day to reach their full potential. They need to continue to improve and show more consistency to take that next step, but they are working hard on the little things, which is going to be the greatest difference."
 
Despite the Yeomen losing Conor Narovec to graduation, who had been a key leader for the throwers, Hepp returns senior Dan Bolotsky, who will take over for Navorec as captain.
 
"Conor was an anchor not just for the throwers, but the team," said Hepp. "As Dan steps into a leadership role, having Conor there as a leader and teammate in past years, gave Dan the perfect template for how he will lead as a captain."
 
Hepp also welcomes first-year Hank Sinn to the fold as well as Oberlin football players, sophomores Sam Meads and Avery McThompson and freshman Chauncey Simmons.
 
Mid-Distance
The mid-distance group will play a great compliment to Appenheimer's 3k of 5k harriers, guided by the 800-meter duo of Joshua Urso and Caracol Haley.
 
"I'm excited for the year and excited to see what this crew is capable of," said mid-distance coach Izzy Alexander.
 
Josh Urso was an All-NCAC performer in the 800-meter run at last year's NCAC outdoor championships will lead the mid-distance men's squad in 2015-16. Urso had a slow start in 2014-15, but will take momentum from the cross country season into January in hopes of solidifying another all-conference finish.
 
For the women, "Caracol learned a lot last year and I am excited to see her perform as a sophomore and build upon the knowledge she gained last year," said Alexander.
 
Assisting Haley will be classmates Sarah Urso, who will be a staple for the Yeowomen in the mile, and Mia Bates, who is returning from injury. First-years Halsten and Rebecca Chant will join Urso, Haley and Bates in hopes of elevating the depth and quality of the mid-distance brigade.
 
Sprints
Lilah Drafts-Johnson was the pulse of the Oberlin sprints squad, finishing third in the 400-meters and triple jump at the indoor championships in her first year. She then went on to two more All-NCAC performances at the outdoor championships and also an invite to national meet.
 
"Lilah did very well last year as a first-year, and now she is more seasoned, hungry to build on last year's successes and ready to compete," said sprints coach, Alisha Samuel.
 
The additions of first-years Imani Cook-Gist and Emily Kelly along with returners Rayna Holmes, Deidre Haren, Gwennie Gardiner and Sallay Kallon, the women have both depth and strength enter the 2015-16 campaign.
 
Senior Sam Black, sophomore James Tanford and junior Ben Venerdi will lead the men into the 2015-16 season as they attempt to make up for the loss of all-conference performer Jerry Choi.
 
Jumps
Pole vaulters Nathan Danko and Ave Spencer will return to the runway for the 2015-16 season after tallying quality points at last year's NCAC indoor meet with second-place finishes. Cook-Gist, Daniel Mukasa and Jahkeem Wheatley will join the veteran duo in the pole vault. First-years Fletcher Quigley, Ryan Gleeson and Megan Robinson will also contribute in the field events.
 
Schedule
After Saturday's lid-lifter meet at Mount Union, Oberlin will be back in action on January 8 when it host the annual Dan Kinsey Invitational. It will be one of two home meets on the season. The annual NCAC Championship meet is March 4-5 on the campus of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.