The Aurora University Spartan indoor women's track and field team loses a lot of experience from previous years, but is filled with young talent looking to make an impact right away. Returning for his third

season as head coach, Ryan Chapman expects a lot of his team early on and throughout the entire season. The Spartans finished third in the Northern Athletics Conference Championships last season with a score of 112.5 points. AU looks to build on that momentum.

This year, the Spartans will rely heavily on senior throwers Lesley Brueggeman (Shipman, Ill. / Southwestern) and Theresa Pryor (Sugar Grove, Ill. / Kaneland). The duo are comingoff promising junior year campaigns. Other juniors who look to contribute are jumper Erin Blackburn (Amboy, Ill. / Amboy), sprinters Carly Blask (Baileyville, Ill. / Forreston), Brittany Pallar (Moline, Ill. / Moline) and Courtney Roberts (Joliet, Ill. / Joliet West).

Key sophomore returners include All-Conference jumpers Briana Deckard (Danville, Ind. / Danville) and Ainsley Richards (Plano, Ill. / Plano), as well asjumper Destini Williams (Racine, Wis. / Bradford). Thrower Kylie Lowe (Henderson, Nev. / Green Valley), and sprinter Ashley Mayer (Hampshire, Ill. / Hampshire) are also coming off a strong 2010 season.

Newcomers to the indoor track and field team who hope to make an instant impact are a talented group of freshmen. Middle distance runners Krystle Eskridge (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard East) and Kristen Jones (Northlake, Ill./Leyden) have impressive high school accolades entering their collegiate careers. Additionally, sprinter Tavia Carter (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North), jumper and relay runner Caitlyn Monigold (Davis, Ill./Dakota), and thrower Rebecca Rod (Genoa, Ill./Genoa-Kingston) should make instant impacts on the Spartans.

AU starts the season with a field-only meet at noon on January 14 at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.