In the past few weeks, the University of Memphis Track and Field teams have been preparing for what some think may be their best season yet.
The Lady Tigers are geared up and ready to sprint into action.
This year's recruiting class could turn out to be just what the Lady Tigers need to get moving.
Last year, the Lady Tigers finished at the bottom of the rankings at the Conference-USA outdoor championship. However head coach Brenda Cash seems very optimistic about the incoming freshmen.
"I am very excited about this year's recruiting class," Cash said. "Our team is young, but they are strong-willed and very determined. I am sure that they can get the job done."
The Lady Tigers are returning only two seniors, Kameilah Amaya -- who was last year's runner-up in the hammer at the C-USA outdoor championship -- and Zaneta Ivy, their premiere 400-meter hurdler.
"I think we are going to have one of the best seasons this year," Amaya said. "I have seen signs of team unity and that is what will help us to win."
Cash did some heavy recruiting in the off-season, but not all of it was done at home. She decided to look elsewhere to make her team a C-USA powerhouse.
Not only did she leave the city of Memphis, she left the whole United States of America.
Last year, Cash housed a special diamond in the ruff in Natalie Martindale from St. Vincent, an island in the Caribbean.
Martindale was one of Cash's premier sprinters and proved to her that athletes from that side of the world could be just as talented.
Martindale was a conference finalist both seasons she competed for The U of M.
She was also a member of the 2000 3rd place 4x100 meter relay team.
"I think that it is a positive move forward," Martindale said. "These girls have a lot of talent."
Lisa-Marie Hyman (Kingston, Jamaica), Cherishe Hollingsworth (Freeport, Bahamas), Leslie-Ann Daley (Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands) and Keenan Gibson (Trinidad and Tobago).
These athletes make up nine of the freshmen that were recruited.
All have participated in Track and Field for most of their lives and plan to do their very best this season.
"I am a little nervous about this year because I don't know anything about the conference or the competition that I will be up against, but I came to do my best," Hyman said. She is sprinter but will also specialize in the triple jump this season.
"This is her first season jumping and it is hard to gauge how well she will do, but I have confidence that she should fare well against her competition," said field event coach Steve Whistler.
Cherishe Hollingsworth will be competing in the high jump in the indoor season and the heptathalon in the outdoor season.
She has a lot of experience when it comes to competition.
Hollingsworth competed in the Central American and Caribbean Junior games and she has also competed in the Carifta Games.
"I look forward to competing at the maximum level this year," Hollingsworth said. "I think that we are working really hard and we will be able to perform at the top level by outdoor season."
Senior Carla Hardy -- who specializes in the weight throw, was sidelined last season due to a knee injury, but through determination and hard work has found a way to make it back to the ring.
"I have set high expectations for myself," Hardy said. "I hope this year is a lot better than last year."
The Lady Tigers will face some tough competition this weekend, mainly from teams like Southern Methodist, Arkansas, South Carolina, Ohio State, Alabama and Stanford all who placed in last year's National Collegiate Athletic Association outdoor championship.
Junior Barbara Wine is ranked 12th in the shot put going into the meet.
The Lady Tigers aren't the only ones seeing action this weekend.
The men will face the same teams and look to set a standard.
Delvit Rodgers is ranked third in the long jump going into the meet.
Rodgers posted a performance of 8.05 meters last season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Senior 400-meter runner Christopher Ingram thinks the best way to have a successful season is to give his best effort from the beginning.
"I am ready for the season to begin, I am working hard and I just want to do my best."
Head coach Glenn Hayes thinks this season will be very productive.
"We have a lot of good talent this year," Hayes said. "It's hard to tell how the conference will be this early in the season, but we should do well."
