Spring Break
Aggie Track wins Midwest Regional
By: Patrick Hayslip
Issue date: 6/1/09 Section: Sports
The Texas A&M track team defended both of its team titles by winning the Midwest Regional meet at Oklahoma in Norman Saturday. This is the third consecutive regional title for the No. 2 ranked women and the second for the No. 2 ranked men.
The Aggie men scored 98 total team points while outlasting Big 12 champion Nebraska that came in second with 84.25 points. Texas Tech came in third with 49 points followed by Texas (47), Oklahoma (40), UTEP (34), Minnesota (32.25), Baylor (32), New Mexico (25), Sam Houston State (25) and Kansas State (25).
For the Aggie women, 96 points was more than enough to put them ahead of second place Texas Tech, with 61 points. Texas came in third place with 59 points followed by TCU (55), Oklahoma (43.5), Minnesota (38.5), SMU (36), UTEP (36), Baylor (33) and Nebraska (29.5).
"I think as a team we talked about trying to win this meet," said A&M Head Coach Pat Henry to Aggieathletics.com. "We felt like we had the people to do that. When you get to this meet in the postseason there is a little bit more quality to compete against. If you do what you are capable of here, then you have an opportunity to win the track meet."
Up next for the Aggies are the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., from June 10-13. They qualified 22 athletes in 17 events, including both 4x100 relays and the men's 4x400 relay.
"We are taking a good-size group to nationals," Henry said. "Of that group we have some great quality going, and I think that's the key element to being successful."
One of the members of the men's first place 4x400 relay, sophomore Gerald Phiri, won three sprint victories, which he has achieved twice at the Big 12 Championships.
"It's fantastic," Phiri stated. "Last year, due to injury, I left the region meet with times of 10.76 and 26.07 as eighth place in both races. To come back here and win, especially in the 200 against the best two collegians in the country, allowed me to prove myself as one of the best 200-meter runners in the country."
"As far as the 100," Phiri continued, "I'm very happy with that time since I ran my fastest wind-legal time ever. There's a lot more in there and I look forward to nationals."
Other first place victories include senior Yasmine Regis in the triple jump (45-1.5), sophomore Jessica Beard in the 400 meter (51.24), and junior Porscha Lucas in the 200 meter (22.77).
In the triple jump, the Aggie men scored 21 points with a 2-3-4-7 finish including a second place finish by sophomore Julian Reid, third place by sophomore Tyron Stewart, fourth place by junior Zuheir Sharif and seventh place by sophomore Melvin Echard.
"We performed at a very high level across the board," Henry said. "I was extremely pleased with our entire effort today. That's a tribute to this group, it's a hard working group."
NCAA Championship Qualifiers
Women
Ashika Charan
Long Jump: 6.32m (4th)
Triple Jump: 13.29m (4th)
Yasmine Regis
Triple Jump: 13.75m (3rd)
Laura Asimakis
Javelin: 52.74 (3rd)
Emalie Humphreys
Javelin: 48.53 (4th)
Khrystal Carter
4x100: 42.8 (1st)
Porscha Lucas
4x100: 42.8 (1st)
100: 11.2 (3rd)
Dominique Duncan
4x100: 42.8 (1st)
Gabby Mayo
4x100: 42.8 (1st)
100H: 12.96 (2nd)
100: 11.22 (4th)
Jessica Beard
400: 51.24 (1st)
Men
Julian Reid
Long Jump: 8.04m (1st)
Triple Jump 16.76 (2nd)
Tyron Stewart
Long Jump: 7.81m (3rd)
Triple Jump: 16.2 (4th)
Trinity Otto
Decathalon
Tran Howell
4x100: 38.85 (1st)
4x400: 3:02.87 (3rd)
Gerald Phiri
100: 10.13 (1st)
4x100: 38.85 (1st)
Chris Dykes
200: 20.48 (4th)
4x100: 38.85 (1st)
Justin Oliver
400: 45.55 (1st)
4x100 38.85 (1st)
4x400: 3:02.87 (3rd)
De'Lon Isom
110H: 13.62 (5th)
Zuheir Sharif
Triple Jump: 16.36 (3rd)
Bryan Miller
400: 45.69 (3rd)
4x400: 3:02.87 (3rd)
Kyle Dykuizen
The Aggie men scored 98 total team points while outlasting Big 12 champion Nebraska that came in second with 84.25 points. Texas Tech came in third with 49 points followed by Texas (47), Oklahoma (40), UTEP (34), Minnesota (32.25), Baylor (32), New Mexico (25), Sam Houston State (25) and Kansas State (25).
For the Aggie women, 96 points was more than enough to put them ahead of second place Texas Tech, with 61 points. Texas came in third place with 59 points followed by TCU (55), Oklahoma (43.5), Minnesota (38.5), SMU (36), UTEP (36), Baylor (33) and Nebraska (29.5).
"I think as a team we talked about trying to win this meet," said A&M Head Coach Pat Henry to Aggieathletics.com. "We felt like we had the people to do that. When you get to this meet in the postseason there is a little bit more quality to compete against. If you do what you are capable of here, then you have an opportunity to win the track meet."
Up next for the Aggies are the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., from June 10-13. They qualified 22 athletes in 17 events, including both 4x100 relays and the men's 4x400 relay.
"We are taking a good-size group to nationals," Henry said. "Of that group we have some great quality going, and I think that's the key element to being successful."
One of the members of the men's first place 4x400 relay, sophomore Gerald Phiri, won three sprint victories, which he has achieved twice at the Big 12 Championships.
"It's fantastic," Phiri stated. "Last year, due to injury, I left the region meet with times of 10.76 and 26.07 as eighth place in both races. To come back here and win, especially in the 200 against the best two collegians in the country, allowed me to prove myself as one of the best 200-meter runners in the country."
"As far as the 100," Phiri continued, "I'm very happy with that time since I ran my fastest wind-legal time ever. There's a lot more in there and I look forward to nationals."
Other first place victories include senior Yasmine Regis in the triple jump (45-1.5), sophomore Jessica Beard in the 400 meter (51.24), and junior Porscha Lucas in the 200 meter (22.77).
In the triple jump, the Aggie men scored 21 points with a 2-3-4-7 finish including a second place finish by sophomore Julian Reid, third place by sophomore Tyron Stewart, fourth place by junior Zuheir Sharif and seventh place by sophomore Melvin Echard.
"We performed at a very high level across the board," Henry said. "I was extremely pleased with our entire effort today. That's a tribute to this group, it's a hard working group."
Men
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