The Flyers have certainly managed to get the job done under Steinwachs, notching a first-place tie last season after consecutive second-place finishes in the Atlantic 10 championships.
They’re expected to challenge favorite Charlotte for the women’s title at the A-10 indoor meet this weekend in Kingston, R.I.
“On paper, Charlotte is the best team. I’ve been charting it out, and there’s a 12- to 14-point differential (over UD),” Steinwachs said. “But in track, you never know. Anything can happen.
“Our girls are overachievers. We’ve done that every year. ... We don’t have all the resources Charlotte has. But it makes me proud to see how we compete,” Steinwachs said.
The Flyers are led by senior All-American Mallory Barnes, who’s already qualified for the NCAA championships in the weight throw and has the top A-10 distances this season in that event and the shot put. UD’s Kerry Allen has the league’s second-best mark in the weight throw, while Johnna Zaccari is No. 2 in the shot.
Katie Nageotte and Courtney Siebenaller are expected to nab the top two spots in the pole vault, while Maureen Bulgrin and Liz Coorey have the league’s two best times in the 3,000 meters. Jada Henderson and Brittani Reid will be counted on to provide points in the sprints and high jump, respectively.
The Flyers appear to be peaking with strong showings in the Akron and Findlay meets the last few weeks and are a unified bunch. Nageotte has agreed to compete in the A-10 meet in the 55-meter run to fill a spot for the team even though it will be contested around the pole vault, her best event.
“She said, ‘As long as we finish one-two in the pole vault, that’s all that matters,’ ” Steinwachs said. “We all want the same thing. It’s like a snowball going down a mountain. I just have to get out of their way.”
Contact this writer at (937) 225-2125 or
dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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