Jan. 22, 2008

Coach Smolka Interview: Weekly Preview

BOCA RATON, FL - After a great performance at the season-opening Purple Tiger Classic, the Florida Atlantic University track team wants to continue that success at this weekend's Tom Jones Classic.

In their first competition of the indoor season, the Owls had two athletes set school records as Caitlyn Bowne set a new mark in the long jump and Yanique Booth provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Three other Owls also set personal records at the meet as Brandi Prather (400 meters), Christina Dutko (mile) and Toni Jackson (mile) all lowered their personal bests. Head track coach Alex Smolka said the team's showing was a pleasant surprise.

"I think we were hoping to perform as well as we did, but probably not expecting it. I think that our practice facility is helping us right off the bat," said Smolka.

Booth had a provisional qualifying time for the second year in a row, Coach Smolka said that experience is the key to his veteran sprinter's success.

"Yanique has been to enough of these big meets against big schools, that she can ignore everything else and focus on running her race."

The Tom Jones Classic will bring runners from all across the region to participate. The meet named in honor of the former University of Florida women's track coach who died last March after battling cancer. The meet will be held in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and live results will be available at halfmiletiming.com.