This Friday, March 16, marks the beginning of the outdoor track and field season for ASU. The Sun Devils will compete in their first meet of the outdoor season at home when they host the Baldy Castillo Invitational.
This outdoor season brings many new additions to ASU's roster. Some athletes who did not compete in the indoor season will be making their season debuts at the Baldy Castillo Invite.
“I expect us put up some good marks that make it to regionals, and then eventually make it out of regionals and make it to nationals,” sprints and hurdles coach Devin West said. “I think we have a few pieces on the team that can score at the national meet, and we're putting those together as we speak.”
The Sun Devils are optimistic for the outdoor season due to the added roster support to the team during the nearly four-month season.
“The indoor season is very intense and it’s very short, and so it’s very difficult to come in and have an impact,” head coach Greg Kraft said. “My biggest apprehension is the youthful side of our team. They need to understand that this is a great opportunity for us [the Baldy Castillo Invite].”
Some new athletes to watch this outdoor season include:
Women
Grad transfer sprinter Alethia Marrero: Marrero transferred from Indiana State this year. She earned All-American honors in 2015 for the 800-meter run.
Marrero runs the 200, 400, 400 hurdles and the 800 during the outdoor season. She also ran cross country for the Sun Devils in the fall. Marrero will be making her season debut at the Baldy Castillo Invite this weekend.
Junior thrower Seri Geisler: Geisler transferred from Valley City State in North Dakota and competes in the javelin throw.
Freshman thrower Cerah Moren: Moren, a Pitman High School alumna, set the school record in the discus and javelin. She was a New Balance Outdoor All-American in the javelin in 2016.
According Kraft, Geisler and Moren are currently feeling some discomfort in their elbows, so they will not be competing in this weekend’s invitational.
Redshirt sophomore sprinter Sierra Irvin: She makes her return after missing the 2017 outdoor and 2018 indoor season due to injury.
“Being out for a year really put into perspective how important this is for me,” Irvin said. “So taking that year off, it really just helped me learn; making me more focused going into the season, because I know that individually, I am not at the point that I need to be, but I want to do as much as I can to help out with the relay [4x400- meter relay].”
Men
Redshirt sophomore sprinter Paul Lucas: Lucas transferred from Oregon State last year and competed in the 2017 indoor season for the Sun Devils.
Junior sprinter Richard Thiel: He will make his return to the track on Saturday after missing the 2017 outdoor and 2018 indoor season.
“I think from a comfort level standpoint, our team is way more comfortable outside with the 400-meter track,” Kraft said. “I think anytime you have people in a more familiar environment, they are going to be a little more confident.”
Reach the reporter at cncarte1@asu.edu or follow @CCydeni on Twitter.
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