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Jan. 21, 2003

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University women's track and field team will open its first indoor season under first-year head coach Heather Van Norman on Saturday, Jan. 25, competing at the LSU Purple Tiger Invitational. That meet will be the first of six indoor competitions leading up to the Conference USA Championships, which begin Feb. 28 in Houston.

After taking over the reigns of the Green Wave track and field programs this past summer, coach Heather Van Norman is ready to measure her team against some of the top programs in the nation in 2003.

"I am very excited to get the track and field season going," Van Norman said. "I am anxious to see where we are in all of our events. Our focus is to improve in all areas and continue to our season-long goal, which is to perform our best at Conference USA and at the NCAA Championships."

Tulane has a pair of NCAA provisional qualifiers from last season leading it into the 2003 campaign. Sophomore Helmi Leppanen is a standout in multiple events, including the shot put and the high jump, while junior Eva Lustigova is among the best in the nation in the 800-meter run. Leppanen set a school record in the javelin during last year's outdoor track season.

The Wave also features a talented group of sprinters, led by sophomore Angel Dooley, the school record holder in the 55 meters. In addition to Lustigova, the middle-distance runners include veterans Carlyne Pradieu and Sheena Garwood.

"We want our athletes to listen to the coaching staff's plan and to go out and execute it," Van Norman said. "Whether we are competing against world-class athletes or competing against small universities, we want to follow through with the plan that is implemented beforehand."

Following the LSU meet, the Green Wave travels to the Houston Classic on Feb. 1 and the Nebraska Invitational on Feb. 7.