CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston track and field program has released it's 2014 schedule as announced by head coach Amy Seago on Thursday.
“We're excited with the way the schedule has come together,” said Seago. “We're in a new conference so we have certainly changed things around a little, but I expect us to compete at a high level. At the end of the day, it's all about our belief and our confidence.”
First up for the Cougars is the indoor season, which takes place from early January to late February.
“The Indoor season is our preparation for the outdoor season,” said Seago. “In a lot of ways it is a training mechanism for the outdoor season and since the Eastern College Athletic Conference championships (ECAC) is an event that you have to qualify for, I think our student-athletes will be sharp and competing at a high level by the time the outdoor season rolls around.”
The Cougars kick-off their campaign with a home-hosted intrasquad meet on Saturday, Jan. 11 before traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., the following weekend for the Joe Hilton Invitational, an indoor event on campus at the University of North Carolina, Saturday Jan. 18.
The trip marks the first of three excursions to Chapel Hill throughout the indoor season as the College will also be at UNC for the Tar Heel Open College meet on Jan. 25, as well as on Feb. 22., for the Dennis Craddock Invitational.
A trip to Winston-Salem for the UCS Invitational on Jan. 14-15 rounds out the regular indoor season before the ECAC Championships Mar. 7-9, and the NCAA Indoor Championships Mar. 14-15.
The Cougars will then start the outdoor season with the Palmetto Classic, a home event to be held in conjunction with the Citadel, in Charleston, on Friday, Mar. 7.
After a trip to Orlando to take part in the Black and Gold Invitational, hosted by the University of Central Florida on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 14-15., the Cougars head up the Kings Highway for the Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, hosted by Coastal Carolina the weekend of Mar. 20.
The College then heads to Columbia, S.C., on Mar. 28., for the Weems Baskin Invitational before a trip to Gainesville, Fla., for the highly-competitive Florida Relays Apr. 3-5.
Two straight in-state meets highlight the schedule prior to the CAA Championships, with the Carolina's Cup, hosted by Winthrop on Apr. 10., and the Gamecock Invitational, hosted by South Carolina, Apr. 19.
The conference championships will be held in Harrisonburg, Va., hosted by James Madison, May 2-3.
On the Cougars first experience in a CAA conference track and field championship, coach Seago is optimistic:
“In the Southern Conference we knew how we matched up and you could sort of predict where teams were going to finish. The Colonial on the other hand is a bit of an unknown quantity. I think some of our strengths match up well with some of the CAA's weaknesses, so there is an opportunity there for us. It will also be great to see a new venue – we're all looking forward to that.”
Following the conference championship, the Cougars head to Atlanta for a showdown with some of the region's top teams at the Georgia Tech Invitational, May. 16-17 before the NCAA East Prelims and the NCAA Track and Field Championships, May 29-31 and June 11-14, respectively.
Rounding our the 2014 slate are possible dates at the USA Jr./Sr. Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, IA, June 19-23 as well as the IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, OR., July 22-27.
We have grown tremendously,” said Seago. “If we truly believe that we can do great things – we can.”
Stay tuned to CofCSports.com for all things College of Charleston track and field, including a season primer and feature stories on student-athletes and coaches.
