Now that UNCW track & field coach Jim Sprecher has returned to town after a four-year stint at Ball State, the homecoming begins in earnest March 18.

The squad plays host for the UNCW Seahawk Invitational, its only home meet of the year, through March 20. The competition each day starts at 10 a.m.

The event helps start the sport’s outdoor season. Rebuilding the squad after four years of decline, the cross country and indoor track season served almost as high-level practice sessions for the spring.

It’s a good thing for Sprecher since the CAA lost three members and gained four during his absence.

“This indoor season I had the opportunity to see everybody in the conference except for Delaware. We’re able to size them up as well as they see what we have,” Sprecher said. “We did have very good meets when we did face conference competition, and I think we did send a message to the rest of the conference that we are indeed back and we’ll be someone they have to reckon with come the championship.”

Some standouts developed through the indoor season. Senior Patrick Bullock and freshman Anna Raynor both earned All-East honors in the high jump after their performances at the IC4A/ECAC Indoor Championships in Boston. Bullock finished in fifth place with a 6-foot, nine-inch jump. Earlier at the GMU Winter Invitational, Bullock finished with a 6-11 performance. Raynor’s 5-11 performance earned her honors in Boston.

“We have some strengths, one area is our throwers. We have a good throwing crew both on the guys’ side and the girls’ side,” Sprecher said. “We have some pockets of areas and individuals that are very talented and are going to be big contributors come outdoor season. With all that said, there’s some big holes we need to fill. There’s not much we can do right now because we’re playing the hand we’ve been dealt. But with the recruiting and we’ll be able to fill in some of the areas in the future.”

The Seahawks started the outdoor season at the Shamrock Invitational Track & Field Meet at Coastal Carolina. UNCW picked up eight first-place finishes and qualified three athletes for the NCAA Regionals.

“We’ve seen a tremendous amount of improvement,” Sprecher said, “but more importantly in the foundation of the program we’re beginning to establish our philosophy and we’ve made a lot of growth that way. As we look forward to the outdoor season, No. 1 we want to continue a lot of the groundwork that we have laid. Also, start looking peaking towards some important meets such as the conference championship and the NCAA Regionals which will give us an opportunity to go on to the national championship.”