1/21/08 – by Kevin Ullman - TeamXO.com - The Dempsey Indoor Preview at the University of Washington generally kicks off the track season for Team XO athletes. Several men and women were on hand scoring some great season opening marks at the indoor facility.

Olympic Trials qualifier Kyley Johnson has never opened a season as high as he did on Saturday when he cleared 7-2.5, just ¾ of an inch off his personal record. “I feel good, but haven’t been training like usual coming into this indoor season,” said Johnson, “I just wanted to see what was there, and am extremely happy with today’s clearance.

 

Mark Wieczorek finished 3rd in the men’s 800 meter run clocking a respectable 1:50.29. “I’m not extremely happy with my time today,” said Wieczorek, “and I hate to lose. But I think the time should still get me to Indoors (Nationals).” Jeff Fisher also ran the 800 and finished 4th in 1:51.63. In the women’s 800, Melanie Hardy opened her season nine seconds faster than at this meet last year with a 2:12.01 and 3rd place finish.

In the mile, 2007 Indoor Nationals qualifier Kalpanatit Broderick raced for the first time in ten months to finish fifth in the men’s mile with a time of 4:07.25. Jane Rudkin ran the women’s mile and finished with a one second personal record of 4:54.40.

XO will unleash more athletes at the next Dempsey Indoor meet, the UW Invite, on February 2nd.