Weekend Review

This past weekend started the first major conference championship and the final weekend before the Penn Relays, the world’s greatest relay carnival. There were plenty of great performances this weekend at Mt Sac Relays that will begin our highlight.

-OREGON WOMEN TAKING FLIGHT-

To dispel any rumors that the Lady Ducks were an indoor team only the Lady Ducks put on quite a show at the Mt Sac Relays in the sprints and distance races.

Jenna Prandini and Phyllis Francis are two headliners looking for individual championship hardware. Prandini got one step closer with a national leading time of 11.11 in the women’s 100 to defeat last year’s NCAA Champion English Gardner and indoor champion Ramona Burchell of Alabama. Her teammate Francis set an American Indoor record in the women’s 400 and got off to strong start to beat a group of professionals as well as collegians with a time of 51.57. They both combined to compete in the 4x100 relay were the Ducks ran a national leading time of 43.32.

In the 800 the Ducks showed they are more than a one girl wrecking crew. Laura Roesler is the top half miler in the NCAA and more than proved that this weekend by clocking in at 2:00.54 to lead a 1-2 finish at the Mt. Sac Relays. Her teammate and fellow senior Samantha Murphy followed behind her with a time of 2:02.61 that currently ranks her 2^nd in the NCAA. Talented sophomore Annie LeBlanc also finished in the top 8 with a time of 2:04.28. Their performance at the Mt. Sac Relays is an indication that Oregon is a real threat to win the NCAA Outdoor title as well.

-FLORIDA STATE MEN WIN….AGAIN-

The Florida State men’s program has proven time and time again that the ACC has become just another meet. Since 2002 Florida State has won 11 titles. They have been able to be some dominant with great sprinting, distance running, jumping and throwing. They are well balanced program and displayed why they are a top 5 team again this season. However the championship meet was still a fight against host North Carolina.

The sprints are what Florida State has been internationally known for. The bulk of their success comes in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. With great past sprinters such as Walter Dix, Charles Clark, Maurice Mitchell and Ricardo Chambers all of whom have won an NCAA title, no wonder why the world has taken notice.

Dentarious Locke is the latest sprint prodigy out of Florida State. Locke finished in a clock 2^nd last season at the NCAA outdoor meet while still finding a way under 10 seconds. This indoor season he proved that he was championship material by winning the indoor 60 meter title in a time of 6.52 seconds. He carried that success to the ACC Championship meet this past weekend with a winning 100 meter time of 10.16 in cold conditions.

In the 200 Locke provided valuable team points finishing third while Pittsburg Carvin Nkanata successfully defended his title with a time of 20.47. Locke also contributed his talents to Florida State in the relays running the third 3^rd leg of the 4x400 relay and the 2^nd leg of 4x100 relay with his team winning the latter and finishing third in the former. All in all Locke contributed a total of 32 points over the weekend.

Another athlete that provided valuable points was James Harris. Harris is an all-around excellent athlete with great speed and athleticism. Harris can run an open low 45 second 400 while jump well over 7 feet. Harris claimed the NCAA Indoor title and looked to begin a successful outdoor championship season this past weekend. Harris was able to claim the high jump title in 7 feet 1 inch. He participated in both relays running the anchor leg. Harris was not done there, he step down in events running the 200 meter dash where he finish 4^th behind his team Locke. Harris himself contributed a total of 31 points.

New transfer Oxniel Texiera claimed the 800 meter title for Seminoles running a time of 1:51.39 after running a 1:49 preliminary race to help add 10 points to the teams overall total.

Both programs will be at the greatest relay carnival in the world this weekend, the PENN RELAYS. Both programs have proven their ranking and are in serious title contention status.