SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg men's and women's track and field teams kick off the indoor portion of the 2006 season on Saturday, Jan. 14 with a meet at Kent State University.

The Tigers have outstanding depth and talent on both the men's and women's teams in 2006, led by a pair of aspiring national qualifiers - senior middle distance specialist Anna Finkelstein (Whitehall, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) and sophomore sprinter/jumper Nicole Bailey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day).

Finkelstein has multiple All-North Coast Athletic Conference designations to her credit, and she nearly reached the NCAA Division III provisional cut in the 800 meters. Bailey was a sensation in her inaugural collegiate campaign, earning three All-NCAC honors each in the indoor and outdoor championship meets, and ranking among the top 20 in the nation in the indoor 55 meters, just missing out on a trip to the national meet.

On the men's side, the team leaders are sophomore middle distance specialistMike Echols (Springfield, Ohio/North), the team's leading finisher in every cross country meet the last two years, junior Andy Karcher (Oceola, Ohio/Bucyrus Wynford) in the throwing events, senior sprinter/jumper Gregg Carter (Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville) and senior hurdler Tom Smith (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson). All four athletes have earned multiple All-NCAC honors in their collegiate careers.