Sophomores add depth to sprints

Teams across the country yearn for the day when they have a strong and deep sprint core to help build a successful track squad. But coach Randy Heisler has been living this dream ever since sophomores Rose Richmond and Rachelle Boone signed at IU.\nThe Hoosiers had already acquired senior Lorraine Dunlop and juniors Danielle Carruthers and Tia Trent. The addition of Richmond and Boone added a new dimension to the sprint events.\nBoone, Richmond, Dunlop and Carruthers earned All-American honors at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Track Championships by placing seventh in the 4x100-meter relay. \nAlthough the four athletes said they expected a better finish, confidence levels for this year are higher, and Boone said she expects a top-three finish. Boone said she is gunning for time comparable to perennial favorites South Carolina, LSU and Southern California.\nBoth Boone and Richmond bring a potential to score large quantities of points in multiple events.\nBoone claimed All-American honors in the indoor 60 meters and 200 meters with fourth and second place finishes, respectively, at this year's NCAA Indoor Track Championship March 9 and 10.\nIn the first competition of the outdoor season, Boone provisionally qualified for the NCAA championship with victories in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100-meter relays.\nBeing strong in multiple events has its advantage for the team. But at the bigger meets, it takes its toll physically.\n"We don't do all the events every week, so it's not that bad," Boone said. "But when we get to a meet like the Big Tens, it's just exhausting. For the last race, you just give whatever you've got left." \nRichmond brings other abilities to the track besides running, and Heisler said he truly values her presence.\n"Since she got here as a freshman, she's done nothing but enhance what we thought she could do," Heisler said. "Anytime Rose competes, it doesn't surprise me to see what she's going to do. She helps us from so many ways, both in the running and jumping standpoint."\nAlthough jumping is her specialty, Richmond has the background to compete against the nation's best, and she said she feels Boone helps her greatly.\n"I love working with Rachelle because she pushes and inspires me to do better," Richmond said.\nHeisler said he also observed this type of attitude from Boone, the nation's second-ranked sprinter.\n"'Pleased' doesn't describe enough how I feel about Rachelle's achievements," Heisler said. "I think that Rachelle can be a model for so many kids on the team just by where she has come from as a freshman, and now she's No. 2 in the nation."\nAs sophomores, Richmond and Boone have performing left in their legs for IU, but Heisler said he sees the potential for much more.\n"If they want to continue their track careers after they graduate, they both have the ability to do that," Heisler said.