-= NMSU PANORAMA - Winter 2006 =- Aggie Sports: Records Keep Falling to Track and Field Star

Aggie Sports

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Records Keep Falling to Track and Field Star

By Rachel Gallagher

Senior track and field star Erin Streater has been literally outdoing herself every year since she started at NMSU. In the past three years, the kinesiology major from Orange, Calif., has broken at least one school record a year in the indoor and outdoor shot put and hammer throw.

And despite breaking all three of her own records last season and being named the Sun Belt Conference Field Athlete of the Meet during the NCAA Regional Meet in May 2005, she wants more, including a bid to nationals. She missed qualifying in shot put by only three centimeters, placing 10th in the region. She finished 13th in the hammer throw.

"I want the marks to be better," Streater says. "So I've got to work on that."

Streater first made her way into the university's record books with a 46-foot-3-inch indoor shot put throw and a 47-foot-three-quarters-inch outdoor shot put throw her freshman year. During her sophomore season, she claimed the hammer record with a mark of 176 feet 1 inch.

Last season she shattered the records, marking a 48-foot-5-inch indoor shot throw, a 49-foot-3-inch outdoor shot throw and a 181-foot hammer throw. She credits Richard Ulm, assistant track and field coach, with helping her improve.

"From where I was my freshman year to now, there's so much I've learned because of him," Streater says.

Ulm, who began coaching Streater during the 2005 season, says he has worked with her on a variety of performance issues from her throwing techniques to her mental approaches in competition.

"I'll expect a lot more out of her this season because last season she had to learn a lot," he says. "I think the ability is definitely there and we're going to keep working for it."

Although she was frustrated with her regional performance, Streater says she is proud of her accomplishments.

"I'm hoping for a big improvement," she says, "I want to be able to compete in all three of my events and do well in all of them."

She also looks forward to competing in the Western Athletic Conference. NMSU made the switch from the Sun Belt Conference July 1, 2005. Official WAC indoor track competition begins in January.

"I think it's a better move for the school overall because having stronger opponents will bring out the competitive side of the team," she says.

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