FULLERTON, Calif. - FullertonTitans.com caught up with Cal State Fullerton Track and Field head coach John Elders as his Titans prepare for the start of the Indoor Track and Field season this week.
The Titans are scheduled to open the 2015 season at the University of New Mexico Lobo Collegiate Meet in Albuquerque, N.M. on Jan. 24.
The team will be traveling to Seattle, Wash. and Flagstaff, Ariz., in addition to Albuquerque this season. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Ark. On Mar. 13-14.
FullertonTitans.com – "Update the Titan Track faithful on what you are looking forward to this year as the indoor season opens this week in Albuquerque, N.M."
John Elders – "I'm really excited about our squad this year. They are young and talented and have worked really hard during the fall and winter. The opportunity to compete indoors will give us an opportunity see how the hard work is paying off."
FullertonTitans.com – "Five school records fell a season ago, Tejera Dial, Ana Valdovinos, Elizabeth Claustro, Arianna Fuentes and Taylor Frank all return this season as new school record holders, what does this group bring to your team on and off the track."
John Elders – It was a lot fun to have all those school records set last year. All of those athletes return this year and should be even better. Their success was no accident; they all have talent, great work ethic, and are good examples to their teammates off the track. That's a good recipe for success for the Fullerton program."
FullertonTitans.com – "Give us some insight on the new faces that fans will be seeing this year out on the track."
John Elders – "Look out for Janaya Shorty. The sophomore is not new, but she sustained an injury early in the indoor last year so she didn't compete very much. She ended up as one of the top sprinters in the Big West at the end of the outdoor season, and she he is ready to run fast in the 200m & 400m indoors. Tyler Hardge (Hurdles) & Laura Haman (Jumps) are two freshman to look for. Jessica Flores (throws) is a JC transfer that should dramatically strengthen our throws squad.
FullertonTitans.com – "This is your 27th year as the head coach of Titan Track and Field, talk a little bit about what it means to you to lead this group of student-athletes."
John Elders – "First, I've been truly blessed to coach here for so long. I don't take it for granted and I'm thankful every day for the opportunity to be a part of the Titan Athletics family. I really am passionate about our sport and about helping young men and women develop as students, as athletes, and as young adults. This is a great group of student-athletes and I'm just glad to have a small part in their future successes."
FullertonTitans.com – "Looking forward as the Track and Field season opens, what are your goals as a team in 2015?"
John Elders - "As I said before, we have a young group and we want to see were they're at with all the hard training. Our goals this season is to have all our athletes produce indoor PR's, improve on the school records set last year and then add a few more. We would love to improve on our MPSF Championship point total from last year and qualify at least one student-athlete to the NCAA Indoor Championships."