Mary Washington and Salisbury have long been the standard bearers for Capital Athletic Conference track & field.  The two schools have combined to win 35 of the 37 men’s and women’s team championships in CAC history. 

UMW won the first 16 CAC women’s titles before Salisbury captured the crown for the first time last year.  On the men’s side, Salisbury’s 2010 championship was its seventh straight and 12^th since 1994 while UMW has won six championships.  York is the only other member to win a CAC men’s track and field title – in the first two years of the CAC (1991-92).

Salisbury graduated all three competitors that combined to gain second place in the 2010 NCAA men’s championship, but will return several first-team All-CAC honorees to this year’s men’s and women’s lineups.  Mary Washington, like Salisbury, will have depth and championship experience throughout the lineup to support its run at team titles in 2011.

But there are reasons to think the balance of power may be changing.  York, in its first season under a full-time head coach (Erick Camodeca), Hood and Wesley have been steadily building stronger programs.  Two new teams competing in the CAC this season - first-year member Frostburg State and first-year varsity program Stevenson – both have athletes that will challenge for All-CAC recognition

Several teams opened the outdoor season at Salisbury last week or are competing in meets on spring break trips.  The teams will have about six weeks to prepare for the 2011 CAC Championships, which will be held Saturday, April 16, at York College of Pa.

Here is a look at each team heading into the 2011 outdoor season.

FROSTBURG STATE

The Bobcats men’s team is poised for a stellar outdoor year this spring after a solid indoor season. The Bobcats, which sent four athletes to the ECAC Indoor Championships, have a large roster with loads of talent that should make an immediate impact in their first season in the Capital Athletic Conference. Junior Chauncey Manson (sprints) grabbed All-ECAC honors during the indoor season and will be an integral part of the Bobcats’ successful relay teams. Junior Wes Jacobs (mid-distance) grabbed two wins and four top-five finishes, while competing in just four events during a successful indoor season. Junior Gavin Caupp should compete for a conference championship in the distance events after recovering from an injury that kept him from competing during the indoor season. In the throws, freshman Ronald Troutman should continue to improve on his indoor season distances as he adapts to collegiate competition. Frostburg State opens the outdoor season at Lynchburg on March 19.

The FSU women’s track & field team is optimistic for the upcoming outdoor season after a strong finish during the indoor campaign. Despite low numbers on this year’s roster, the Bobcats have talent in every event. Former All-American Emily Furr (jumps) and freshman Morgan Carroll (sprints) are ready for outdoor action after competing in the ECAC Indoor Championships, last weekend. The two combined for 24 top-10 finishes and six wins during the indoor season. Senior Danielle Wivell-Wagner (throws) will compete for a league honors in the field events, while classmate Jessica O’Neil (distance) returns from an injury and will look to regain her form that earned her All-CAC honors in cross country in the fall. The FSU women open the outdoor season at Lynchburg on March 19.

HOOD

The Hood men’s team is solid up front and are led to a pair of two-time All-CAC performers, senior sprint captain Ola Komolafe and junior vaulter Chris DiGangi.  Senior jumps captain Justin Everett and freshman hurdler Nick Aldana have also been finishing consistently in the top two in the early part of the season.  The Hood men feature an expanded roster of 27 with only two seniors; however, depth is still an issue.

The Hood women should be solid across the throws, led by two-time Maryland scholastic shot champion Meghan Rose and complimented by Nalla Tejera, Brianna White, Krista Zerby, and Lauren Shaak.  The Blazers should also score well in the long sprints and hurdles lead by junior captain Emma Arneson, sophomore transfer Kathryn Papuchis, and two returners from last year’s All-CAC 4 x 100 meter relay, Megan Cahill and Jessica Talley.

MARY WASHINGTON

Mary Washington will send a relatively youthful team into action this spring, but veteran senior returnees Matt Geller, Scott Matthiessen, and Daniel Piccolo will look to lead a resurgence for UMW to the top of the conference standings. The Eagles will again rely on depth and strong efforts from the throwers and distance runners during the outdoor meet season.

Mary Washington boasts a very youthful squad in 2011, and will look to return to the top of the CAC standings. The Eagles will look for strong efforts from its distance group, led by seniors Kristy Witek, Sarah Dawes, Madalyn Crowell and freshman standout Liz Green. The jumpers, led by Nicole Ditto, and throwers will also look to help push the Eagles to another CAC title come April.

SALISBURY

The Salisbury University men’s team will be led by five returning All-CAC performers from last season as it begins the drive for an eighth-consecutive CAC championship. Senior Chris Barnard and junior Trent Seawell were each first-team performers and will lead a group of distance runners that won the 2010 cross country title and will be looking to pick up another conference title in April. Barnard was the top performer in last season’s 3,000-meter steeplechase while Seawell was the conference champion in the 10,000-meter run. Senior Brandon Lane was a first-team All-CAC performer in the high jump and second-team performer in the triple jump. Sophomore Corey Blain returns for his second season, having placed second in the CAC high jump and junior Jay Drenner will look to improve upon his second-team performance in the shot put.

The past two Capital Athletic Conference Women’s Track & Field Rookies of the Year Chelsea Tavik (2010) and Jennifer Houghton (2009) will lead Salisbury into the 2011 season as the Sea Gulls look to defend the first CAC title in program history. Tavik will hit the outdoor season fresh off her appearance in the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, competing in the shot put event. Tavik claimed CAC individual titles in the javelin and shot put in 2010, while Houghton took the hammer title and placed second in both the discus and shot put. They are just two of seven individual All-CAC performers that return for the 2011 season. Senior Kristin Stromberg was the top finisher in last year’s 5,000-meter run while junior Becca Stinner claimed the title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Salisbury also returns three second-team All-CAC performers in junior Rachel Holtzman (hammer) and sophomores Claire Lawrence (800-meter run) and Anna Steinman (5,000-meter run).

STEVENSON

Stevenson begins its first season in the CAC after reinstating track and field as an intercollegiate sport after a five-year absence. During the indoor season, the Mustangs had several newcomers emerge, including sophomore Cyril Wallace in the sprint events as well as cross country veterans, senior Josh Michael and sophomores Patrick Cristaldi and Avior Zynda in the distance events. Junior Josh Danza, a three-year member of the men's soccer team, and freshman Josh Clute also had a productive winter season on Stevenson's relay teams.

Stevenson begins its first season in the CAC after reinstating track and field as an intercollegiate sport after a five-year absence. During the indoor season, the Mustangs were led by freshman Julie Egonu who posted victories in the 55 and 60 meters. She was also the team's top long jumper. Other notable performers from the winter included sophomore Jenna Cimino and freshman Erika Fisher, both of whom are also on the women's soccer team. The team's distance runners include members of the cross country team, including sophomore Jessica Britton and freshman Elizabeth Carino.

WESLEY

Wesley should be led by the jumping duo of Chris Donisi and David Frasier.  Donisi is a former CAC Champion and All-American, while Frasier produced some impressive marks during the indoor season.  Brandon Wright joined the squad upon the completion of football season and qualified for the ECACs in the 55-meters.  Josh Milton was also a late addition and has been impressive in the sprints as well.  Robert McCloskey should lead the throwers after a fifth place finish in the weight at the Mason Dixon Indoors

Wesley has perhaps its highest hopes in the program’s brief history after school records fell in 15 events during the indoor season.  Freshman Tamisha Thomas qualified for the ECACs in the hurdles, setting records at both 55 and 60 meters.  Arvantis Smith, also a freshman, set records in all three jumping events and the 200-meters.  Tristin Burris established new marks in both the 800-meters and the mile. 

YORK

The York men's track & field squad enters the 2011 outdoor season with tremendous hopes and aspirations after last season's third-place finish at the Capital Athletic Conference Championships. Fourth-year head coach Erick Camodeca has quickly assembled a team of outstanding talent and potential that will look to break through this year. Thrower Zach Raywood (javelin) and jumper/sprinter Phil Cavaluchi (long jump) each won CAC titles last season and highlight an impressive group of quality student-athletes. Jerry Bowers and Ben Edwards are two in particular that could make noise this season and at the CAC Championship meet. Freshman distance runner Tim Hartung, who took fifth overall at the CAC Cross Country Championships this fall, is another who could quickly become a top performer. The Spartans, who are slated to host this season's CAC Track & Field Championships on April 16, will look to post a tremendous home performance and snag one of the top-two spots.

The 2011 season is one of change and opportunity for the York women's track & field program. Head coach Erick Camodeca takes over the reigns of the women's program and has quickly brought his style to the Spartan squad. Middle-distance runner Mandy Parshall returns to the team as she will look to defend her back-to-back titles in both the 800- and 1500-meter runs. Parshall, who was also the conference's cross country champion and CAC Cross Country Athlete-of-the-Year, will look for another strong season and possibly a bid into the National Championships. Senior Caitlin Rizzardo, the three-time CAC pole-vault champion, will look to finish her career with another title in her signature event. Additionally, Camodeca has brought in a slew of talented student-athletes who should be able to score points for the Green and White right away. With their combination of experience and talent, the Spartans, who are slated to host this season's CAC Track & Field Championships on April 16, will look to break out of third and take one of the top two slots at the CAC Championships this season.