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BLOOMSBURG—When Karen and Jim Brandt took over as coaches of the men's and women's track program at Bloomsburg University, hardly a word was ever mentioned about the team or the few athletes who competed. Those that did toil for the team did so on an old, worn track.

The husband and wife team knew that reviving the once proud program would not be an easy feat by any means. But, finally after four years of countless hours on the phone and hundreds of letters to serious student-athletes it seems as though all their hard work is finally paying off. Plus, a new track is in place leaving the program ready to reach new heights.

Karen Brandt, the head coach stated, “Jim (her husband) and I knew when we took over this program in 1999 that it would take three to five years to build it to a competitive and also a respected program. All our hard work, along with a great bunch of kids who work just as hard is finally starting to pay off.”

Right now the Bloomsburg track team is having the best recruiting season ever. Brandt stated, “Our athletes word of mouth is really helping out with the recruiting process this year. The kids are going back into there high schools and bringing quality top notch competitors that should help our program out tremendously and also for years to come.”

To be a Division II athlete takes a lot of hard work and dedication. “I hope the incoming freshman know what is going to be expected of them when they arrive here at Bloomsburg,” Brandt said. “Not that I don't feel all of them will have a hard time making a transition from high school to college but you have to take some responsibility once you get here. You are on a scholarship here and we as coaches expect discipline, dedication, and passion for what you do. I do not expect the allotment of money that I am given to work with be wasted,” Brandt said.

Part of the rebuilding of the program was bringing back sprinters to the team and 2003 marks the first time in many years the Huskies will send some serious male athletes to the line for race. The thought of coaching sprinters, though, was something foreign to the distance-running Brandt's.

“It is scary, but at the same time exciting to have sprinters this year,” Karen Brandt said. “I have been to seminars on sprinting and also did a lot of reading to try to give me a better understanding of what has to be done to make all my sprinters competitive.” Both Karen and Jim also attend the Millrose games at Madison Square Garden every year, where the best athletes from around the country and also the world compete. “Watching everything these athletes do in preparation for a race before and after, and also talking with these world class athletes has helped me out tremendously in coaching my sprinters,” Brandt stated.

During the indoor season Greg McGhee (Philadelphia/Cheltenham) and BeJey Thomas (Bloomsburg/Bloomsburg) both qualified in the 55-meters for the PSAC Conference Indoor Championships. Not only was that an accomplishment for the two young men but also, Bloomsburg was the only school in the PSAC to have two sprinters qualify for the finals in the 55-meters.

Brandt is not surprised by the success her two sprinters are having. “Greg and BeJey are very talented young men, so in that sense I'm not surprised,” said Brandt. “What is surprising, however, is how quickly and with how few races they have brought these types of performances out of themselves.”

Another important aspect to the rebuilding of this program was the relay team. The 4 x 800 meter women's relay team composed of Katie Conlon (Inkerman/Pittston Area), Jess Billingsby (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan), Mary Bacher (Allentown/Central Catholic), and Cherise Mercer (Philadelphia/ Bishop McDevitt) have been competitive enough during the indoor season and should have impressive times during the outdoor season.

The standout in the whole rebuilding process has been Danielle Kramer (Coal Township/Shamokin) who won both the 5,000- and the 3,000-meter titles at the PSAC championship at last month's indoor championships at East Stroudsburg University. “Danielle may be small in size, but has the heart of a lion,” Brandt said. “We are hoping that she will improve her time's during the outdoor season such that she will once again qualify for the conference championships as well as the Penn Relay's at the end of the season.”

A year ago Kramer qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships at 10,000 meters and is looking to make a return trip this season. She also qualified for the NCAA Division II cross-country championships last fall completing a marvelous freshman season.

Right now the main goal of the Brandt's for the Bloomsburg track program is to get as many people to qualify for the outdoor conference championships along with the Penn Relay's at the end of the season. While winning a team title is not just around the corner, the foundation has been set up by the Brandt's to make Bloomsburg University track a force to be dealt with for years to come.