Arizona Throws 2020 Preview

In preparation for the start of the 2020 Track and Field season, the Arizona throwers have been putting in work on the field of Roy P. Drachman Stadium throughout the fall preseason. The past few months have made it clear that this group is not lacking in energy or work ethic.

"Compared to other years, I think this is probably the best start with throwing, with attitude and just the team getting along," said throws coach T.J. Crater. "It's the best energy there's been since I've been here. I'm really excited and I'm really enjoying working with them right now."

This group is made up of a mixture of freshmen, transfers and returning Wildcats.

"This is the smallest group I've had," said coach Crater. "It's a very tight group. The freshmen have been welcomed in by the upperclassmen and the two transfers have blended in very well and become leaders. It's like they've been together for five years. I've said this at practice: this is the most fun I've had in a fall in a long time. They've just been doing a really great job."

Leading this group is junior Jordan Geist. After a very short offseason, Geist returns to Drachman Stadium for a third year. The All-American spent his summer competing in the shot put at the NCAA Championships where he placed third as well as the Pan American Games where he took home the silver medal. Geist's preseason has him focused not only on 2020, but the bigger picture as well.

"With Jordan, I'm not in a rush to get him prepared to compete. What we are doing is focusing on preparing him physically with big picture stuff and really just trying to prepare him for the long run rather than just this season. He's as strong as he's ever been, his training is up, he looks great, his attitude is great and he's fit. We're just sticking to fundamentals and really working on concepts."

As a junior, Geist has stepped into a key leadership role for the group along with the other returners Megan Dulaney, Kaelyn Shipley, Jordan Spradlin and Jaisen Brown. However, it has not taken much time for the newcomers to settle into their own roles on the team.

"Israel Oloyede has been the emotional leader," said coach Crater. "He's always there and he never lets anybody have a bad day. He is a constant energy at practice and a positive influence. Aoife Martin has brought a maturity and a new perspective being a transfer from another school. The freshmen have done a great job. They have been very open to change, they are integrating well with the team and they have great attitudes."

While the newcomers are hoping to have a successful first season as a Wildcat, the returning throwers are looking to improve their marks from last season. Redshirt-senior Megan Dulaney last competed in the shot put competition at the 2019 Pac-12 Championships with a throw of 13.50m. Kaelyn Shipley set a PR in the javelin throw last April with a mark of 50.22m and went on to compete in the javelin throw at the NCAA West Region Preliminary Rounds. Jordan Spradlin also set a PR last April with a mark of 50.08m in the discus throw. On the men's side, Jaisen Brown is looking to improve his personal best marks of 14.95m in the shot put and 48.64m in the hammer throw.

With only a few weeks left in the preseason, the Arizona throwers will be back and competing again on January 10th at Friday Night Duels.

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Players Mentioned

Megan Dulaney: T; Redshirt Junior

Jordan Geist: T; Sophomore

Jordan Spradlin: T; Redshirt Freshman

Kaelyn Shipley: T; Sophomore

Jaisen Brown: T; Freshman

Israel Oloyede: T; Junior

Aoife Martin: T; Senior

Players Mentioned

Megan Dulaney
: Redshirt Junior
: T

Jordan Geist
: Sophomore
: T

Jordan Spradlin
: Redshirt Freshman
: T

Kaelyn Shipley
: Sophomore
: T

Jaisen Brown
: Freshman
: T

Israel Oloyede
: Junior
: T

Aoife Martin
: Senior
: T