Before we begin a great weekend with the Florida Relays, Arcadia Invitational and Pepsi Team Invitational let us review what a great weekend we recently had. We will mainly look at the Texas Relays and some of the great performances there.
WOMEN
This outdoor season has already started off with a bang. This season looks as if the chase for the top is a little more competitive indoors.
This past weekend at the Texas Relays LSU made their usual strong statement. The Lady Tigers posted some phenomenal times in both the 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay with times of 42.99 and 1:30.01 respectively. Kimberlyn Duncan anchored both relays and ran a strong race in the 100 meter dash. Duncan clocked in at a wind-aided 10.94 over Chelsea Hayes of Louisiana Tech who clocked in at 11.09. Duncan is the recognized leader of the team and has plenty of championship hardware to prove it.
Donique Flemings of Texas A&M brought home the 100 meter hurdle title clocking in a wind-aided 12.88. Flemings has definitely stepped up this outdoor season after a average indoor season.
The University of Texas also had some strong team performances. The Lady Longhorns had two impressive distance victories with a win from Marielle Hall in the 5,000 meter run clocking in at 16:35.63 and Brittany Marches in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 10;53.72.
In the sprints Texas claimed the 4x400 relay title becoming the first team to run sub 3:30 this season with a time of 3:29.72 (Stacey Ann Smith, Kendra Chambers, Allison Peter and Briana Nelson).
Chelsea Carrier-Eades of West Virginia maybe the best athlete to challenge defending champion Brianne Theisen of Oregon. Carrier-Eades had a solid all around effort in the heptathlon with a total point score of 5,821. Her score has automatically qualified her for NCAA's.
MEN
The Texas Relays is usually all about speed and this year did not dissappoint. Auburn University scorched the track with their outstanding 4x100 relay team. A team of Marcus Rowland, Harry Adams, Michael DeHaven and Keenan Brock clocked in a world leading time of 38.30. TCU has held the NCAA record of 38.04 since 1998 and held the previous record old record of 38.23 since 1989. That is over 20 years that TCU has held the NCAA record. Auburn has legitimate shot to challenge that record and become the first team under 38 seconds in college.
Jeff Demps won a very fast 100 meter race. Demps clocked in at 10.01, a slightly wind-aided performance. Demps definitely is looking to run in the low 9.9's and if possible sub 9.9 this outdoor season.
Barret Nugent of LSU got off to a fast start in the 110 meter hurdles. Nugent the defending champion clocked in at 13.37 to win the event over Shane Braithwaite of Texas Tech who clocked in at 13.43. Although the performance is wind-aided Nugent is definitely serving notice that he is still the front runner.
Texas A&M normally known as a sprint power was well represented by their distance core. The Aggies won the distance medley and the 4x800 relay. They were also 2nd in the 4x1,500.
Erik Kynard of Kansas State got back to his wining ways in the high jump. Kynard leaped to a height of 7'3. Kynard was the leader all indoor season but was unable to perform up to his championship level at the NCAA Indoor Championship missing out on the title. Kynard was able to Derek Drouin of Indiana the defending NCAA Outdoor Champion and teammate Darius King.
Issac Murphy of Texas also had a strong day in the field, Murphy dominated the men's decathlon with performances that included a 10.47 100 meter dash. Murphy's point total 8,067 will definitely put him the NCAA title discussion with Gray Horn of Florida.
It is now April and expect for the performances to pick up. The Florida Relays should provide some interesting fireworks.
MEN'S 4X100 RELAY AT THE TEXAS RELAYS
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