The SF State track team will be starting a new chapter this season, and it’s coach hopes to author a better ending than last year’s.

“When a team finishes seventh in an eight-team conference, changes clearly need to be made,” head coach Terry Burke said. “Hence, my focus last year was on attracting people who upgraded both our talent and had a positive attitude.”

The team will be welcoming 12 new faces this season. Nine freshmen have been recruited and three transfers from junior colleges.

“[They] will be the keys to our success,” Burke said.

From this group Burke envisions 3-4 events qualifying for indoor Nationals and there is a possibility that the 4x400-meter relay will qualify as well.

“This year’s team is already far ahead of any of my three previous teams,” Burke said. “Not only are they considerably more talented, but more importantly they are more focused and determined. Effectively there is no comparison to the past. They are going to build the foundation for a very successful program.”

Senior hurdler Andrea DeLaRosa said the track team has a lot of really talented athletes this season.

“We can expect a lot of them going to nationals for indoor,” DeLaRoasa said. “As far as outdoor, we can’t really see the end of the season at the moment but I think that as long as we focus on enhancing our athletic performance, then we’ll do well.”

The teams weakest event will be the long jump and triple jump, DeLaRosa said.

With a group of new recruits, senior middle distance runner Eileen Cafferty thinks the season will go well.

“We have a lot of new girls on the team with a lot of talent so it should be good,” Cafferty said. “It’s kind of early to see everyone’s potential but I think we’ll do pretty good. I think Terry [coach Burke] did a good job not only recruiting girls that are not only good but are all really nice. It’s going to be a good overall team bonding. We all get along really well.”

All the cross country returners will be training solo over winter break and will meet only a couple times a week before break, senior Vera Ross said.

“I’m excited to see how it goes just because we have so many new girls,” Ross said.

Sophomore Vanessa Zuzuariregui is ready to prepare for the base training for track, switching from cross-country training.

“I don’t really think we’ve made any expectations or set goals yet as a team,” said Zuzuariregui, who doesn’t really know what to expect for this upcoming track season. “We’re returning everyone but Anna Bretan, which I guess team-wise will kind of hurt us but she’s still coming to practice so it’ll be nice to have her practice with us.”

Bretan, who has now used up her college eligibility, was one of last year’s top performers and achieved the All-American title when she placed third in the 5,000-meter run in the NCAA Division II championships.

Senior Vera Ross put it best: “I just have a different feeling about this year. I have a feeling people are more excited and want to get bigger things done.”