28 Jan 2013
Sports Editor
Quentin Hope / Staff Writer
Senior distance runner Josephine Adams and junior high-jumper Shahaf Bareni shattered school records at the Howie Ryan Invitational, as UNT track and field continued to build its success in the early indoor season.
Some players consider the indoor season as practice for those competing every weekend against other top runners in the nation, but Adams and Bareni competed at a new level over the weekend.
“Last week was her [Bareni] first full week of training that she had, she’s so far ahead of where she was last year,” head coach Carl Sheffield said. ”And Jo [Adams] is probably the most fit that she’s ever been.”
Adams’ record-breaking day puts her at the top of the list as the fastest 1,600-meter runner in the Sun Belt Conference. She earns a spot in the record books, knocking off Leana Hocking’s 4:50:42 indoor record set in 1980, with a time of 4:49:48.
“I wasn’t too tired afterwards and coach was really happy,” Adams said. “I think the first thing he said to me was, ‘You broke the school record!’ So it was nice to hear that.”
Bareni’s hope to rewrite the woman’s indoor high jump record came to fruition, as she jumped 5 feet 10 inches, taking down Deidra Wesley’s 5 foot 9 inch record jump, set in 2006.
“It was a long day, but that was my target goal,” Bareni said. “Afterwards I was exhausted.”
Along with Adams, other distance runners had breakout days. Sheffield emphasized how much time the coaches have put in working their distance runners, and it’s starting to pay off.
“They’re our bread and butter right now,” Sheffield said. “They are the reason we are where we are right now.”
UNT track and field is looking forward to the remainder of the indoor season as it can now feel the momentum shifting in its favor.
“Compared to last week we’re probably at 82 percent,” Sheffield said. “This coming week we should be closer to 90 percent.”
The team hopes to continue its success this week as it travels to Lubbock, Texas for the Red Raider Open February 1-2.
