BUIES CREEK, N.C. - After a standout campaign last season, the Fighting Camels are set to begin the 2011 indoor track and field season at the Liberty Open this Friday and Saturday. The Camels have high expectations for 2011 as several athletes return from the men's and women's teams who finished third and fourth respectfully at last year's Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships.

Head Coach Jim Patchell is excited about the upcoming season. "We feel we are better than last year. We have a young and talented group, and the completion of the track complex has really helped our athletes," said Coach Patchell.

Quite a few freshmen made impressive showings for CU last year. Nadia Natt won last year's A-Sun indoor triple jump championship, and Jessica Dunston took second in the shot put.

This year's freshman group is expected to make valuable contributions for the Camels as well. "Brianna Kinkaid has been impressive in sprints. We expect her to score in conference. Jayshawn Campbell has impressed in the 400 meters," said Coach Patchell.

Several cross country runners are making the transition to distance track running for the spring season. Among these are Terence Attema and Rachel Deline. Deline had the fastest time on the women's team in five of its six meets.

Attema had a banner year for cross country. The senior had the fastest time for the men's team in all seven of its events. Attema had five top six overall finishes, including a victory at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational and a fifth place finish at the Atlantic Sun Championship.

Hoping to improve on his stellar season last year is Robert Brunson. The senior was named the most outstanding field performer at last season's Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships, winning two events. He took the individual triple jump crown with a mark of 14.44 meters and the individual long jump title with a 7.07 meter jump.

The Camels had all-conference performers in a total of 26 events for the indoor and outdoor seasons last season and set 12 school records in the process. Three Camels, including returnees Adoniss Jones (110m hurdles) and Diego Lawrence (long jump), advanced to the NCAA Outdoor East Regional last year in Greensboro.

Lawrence had an outstanding freshman campaign, winning the long jump event at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships and also was a part of the relay team which took the A-Sun 4x100 meter title. Returnees Rashad Campbell, Jared Simmons, and Josh Powell were also a part of the relay team. Lawrence was the first Camel freshman ever to receive the A-Sun Athlete of the Week Award, which he won three times.

Jones advanced all the way to the NCAA Nationals, thanks to a 13.88 second school-record time in the 110 hurdles at the East Regional. The Nationals were hosted by the University of Oregon, where he finished 23rd. Jones and fellow returnee Kelvonto Cooper were also part of the conference champion 4x400 relay team.

Jones will be looking to improve his time for the 60m hurdles event during this year's indoor season even though his time of 8.16 seconds at last year's A-Sun Indoor Championship was good enough for the conference title.

"Our goal for Adoniss is to get a provisional qualifier to the NCAA Indoor Championship. We are addressing little things with him, like his start," said Patchell.

Following this weekend, the Camels will be in action again at the Niswonger Invitational on the campus of ETSU in Johnson City, Tenn. on February 4-5.