Spring Break
The Daily OrangeTrack | Orange falters after weekend airline crisis sends team into disarray
By McGhee Cost
Posted: 4/14/08, 10:50 PM EST Section: Sports
"We went through a lot to get to Georgia," Mark said. "I was pretty happy with what I did, given the circumstance."
"It's hard for the kids because they're focused on doing one event," Borozinski said. "It's kind of a letdown, but there's not much you can do about it. It's really just a learning experience with traveling."
Sprint coach Dave Hegland, who booked the flights with American Airlines, said he received little warning about the changes to the team's flight plans, receiving a phone call Wednesday night. After informing Borozinski of the problem, Hegland attempted to have the flights rescheduled, but to no avail.
"The team made the best of the situation," Hegland said. "They did a good job of rolling with the punches."
Despite the setbacks incurred by the chaotic flight schedules, the team was able to rally and put forth an effort comparable to those it has shown so far during the outdoor season. Mark led the way in Athens with her two NCAA regional qualifications, and Jillian Drouin, Kaity Lambracht and Uhunoma Osazuwa all posted NCAA provisional qualifying times in the heptathlon.
Members of the team who traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Tony Waldrop Open were able to avoid any hang-ups with American Airlines but had to endure stormy weather instead. Flings Owusu-Agyapong turned in the best finish of the meet, recording a first-place time in the women's 100-meter dash, but failed to secure an NCAA berth. Sprinter Aulton Kohn qualified for his second NCAA regional berth of the season with a third-place finish in the 100-meter dash.
The coaching staff was pleased with the results of the meets, which it considered to be critical elements of the outdoor season. Borozinski and Hegland were both impressed with the finishes and qualifications earned by the team in the face of the flight problems and weather difficulties.
"Everything went well as far as performances are concerned," Borozinski said. "Even if all of the issues with the flights would never have happened, I would have been satisfied."
mpcost@syr.edu
"It's hard for the kids because they're focused on doing one event," Borozinski said. "It's kind of a letdown, but there's not much you can do about it. It's really just a learning experience with traveling."
Sprint coach Dave Hegland, who booked the flights with American Airlines, said he received little warning about the changes to the team's flight plans, receiving a phone call Wednesday night. After informing Borozinski of the problem, Hegland attempted to have the flights rescheduled, but to no avail.
"The team made the best of the situation," Hegland said. "They did a good job of rolling with the punches."
Despite the setbacks incurred by the chaotic flight schedules, the team was able to rally and put forth an effort comparable to those it has shown so far during the outdoor season. Mark led the way in Athens with her two NCAA regional qualifications, and Jillian Drouin, Kaity Lambracht and Uhunoma Osazuwa all posted NCAA provisional qualifying times in the heptathlon.
Members of the team who traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Tony Waldrop Open were able to avoid any hang-ups with American Airlines but had to endure stormy weather instead. Flings Owusu-Agyapong turned in the best finish of the meet, recording a first-place time in the women's 100-meter dash, but failed to secure an NCAA berth. Sprinter Aulton Kohn qualified for his second NCAA regional berth of the season with a third-place finish in the 100-meter dash.
The coaching staff was pleased with the results of the meets, which it considered to be critical elements of the outdoor season. Borozinski and Hegland were both impressed with the finishes and qualifications earned by the team in the face of the flight problems and weather difficulties.
"Everything went well as far as performances are concerned," Borozinski said. "Even if all of the issues with the flights would never have happened, I would have been satisfied."
mpcost@syr.edu
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