RELAYS WEEKEND REVIEW!!

As expected both the Texas Relays and Florida Relays had major performances. The Texas Relays was a meet all about Texas A&M and the Florida Relays were all about host the University of Florida. The A&M women certainly proved why they deserve the top spot in the women's team race as well as the Florida men. The distance and field cores performed well but speed was at a premium.


*TEXAS RELAYS*

-Top Highlights-

-Women-

The women's competition was all about Texas A&M. In the short sprints, Gabby Mayo claimed the women's 100 meter title with a time of 11.13 and teammate Jeneba Tarmoh was third in 11.21. Senior Samantha Henry posted one of the best times of her career finishing second in 11.18 in the University women's competition. Blessing Okagbure the indoor 60 meter champion won a wind-aided invitational race clocking in 11.10. Okagbure would claim a second victory with a leap of 22-7 in the women's long jump to set a new meet record.

The hurdles was another highlight for the A&M women, junior Natasha Ruddock won the university race clocking in at 12.97, sophomore teammate Vashti Thomas returned to high school form clocking in at 13.08 to finish second.

As predicted hear the ladies of Texas A&M were going to challenge the meet record of LSU in the women's 4x100 relay ran back in 2003 a time of 42.63. That LSU team consisted of Stephanie Durst, Monique Hall, Lolo Jones and Muna Lee. The four women representing A&M were aiming for that record and it showed. Jenebar Tarmoh, Porscha Lucas, Dominique Duncan and Gabby Mayo blazed around the track with a time of 42.56. to win the race by more than a second and takeover the overall record.

Texas A&M also dominated the women's 4x200 relay clocking in 1:31.41 to dominate the race by more than two seconds. The team of Chandrell Stephens, Dominique Duncan, Jessica Beard and Porscha Lucas was too much for the field.
The 4x400 relay however was unable to complete the sprint domination, Arkansas took the crown clocking in at 3:31.20, the team consists of Shelise Williams, Regina George, Edina Brooks and Whitney Jones.

Angele Cooper won the only sprint event for the Lady Longhord clockin in at 56.52 to win the women's 400 meter hurdles. Betty Jimenez was the other highlight for the Longhorns winning the women's 1,500 in a time of 4:23.50.

-Men-

What a great meet on the men's side. All levels of competition from high school to professional was full of great performances.

The Texas A&M Aggies began the finals with a bang setting a meet record with a time of 1:20.61 in the men's 4x200 relay. Tran Howell, Geral Phiri, Demetrius Pinder and Curtis Mitchell set themselves up for a great 4x100 relay final. Unfortunately with a mishap in the final exchange Baylor was able to capitalize with a time of 39.18; Marcus Boyd, Whitney Provost, Courtney Thomas and Trey Harts took the crown. The Aggies were able to bounce back in the men's 4x400 relay with a winning time of 3:01.55 with Tabarie Henry running a 44.5 anchor leg. Henry was joined by Curtis Mitchell, Bryan Miller and Tran Howell.

In the open events, Geral Phiri led the Aggies with the a win in the men's 100 clocking in at 10.17. Ronnie Ash of Oklahoma clocked a NCAA leading 13.50 in the men's 110 meter hurdles. A&M had another solid effort come from the triple jump core, Zuheir Sharif leaped to 54-3.25 to win and Tyrone Edgard leaped to 53-6.50 to finish second. Jeshua Anderson continued his winning ways holding on to win the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.77.

In the medley relays The host University of Texas watched as their men would win the distance medley relay in 9:40.62. Logan Gonzales, Danzell Fortson, Tevas Everett and Patrick Todd. LSU took the men's sprint medley relay, a team of Caleb Williams, Armanti Hayes, Robert Simmons and Richard Jones held on to win in 3:16.01. Distance power Arkansas took home the 4x1500 title Scott Gillepsie, Omar Abdi, Patric Russell and Michael Chinchar led the way with a time of 15:26.43.

A great weekend for the Texas Relays. The next post will be a review of the Florida Relays. Congrats to Killen Ellison high school for clocking in an amazing 1:24.47 to take down a meet record set by Long Beach Poly in 1999. Killen Ellison was led by the nation's top sprinter, Prezel Hardy who will be attending Texas A&M this fall.