March 28, 2008
A prosperous first day at the Florida State Relays found the Texas A&M track and field team totaling nine victories while posting the top collegiate finish in three more events at Mike Long Track.
Two dominating relay efforts opened the day for the Aggies. The women went 1-2 in the 4 x 200 relay posting times of 1:32.40 and 1:34.33 while in the 4 x 800 the men won by 13 seconds with a time of 7:40.80.
In the men?™s 400 the Aggies posted a 1-2-3 finish from the first two sections with the trio of Justin Oliver (46.42), A.C. Robinson (46.71) and Bryan Miller (46.76 PR). They claimed three of the 10 new regional qualifiers A&M recorded on the day to add to the 30 they accumulated last weekend in Austin.
After establishing six outdoor collegiate marks last weekend in their first outdoor meet of the season, the Aggies added a couple more so far this weekend. Action at the FSU Relays continues on Saturday.
Nick Robinson neared his career best time of 50.52 with a winning mark of 50.58 in his first race over the 400 hurdles this season. Robinson takes over the collegiate lead from Cornell?™s Aaron Merrill, who ran 51.04 two weekends ago. Robinson also snared the Big 12 lead from Baylor?™s Justin Boyd, who clocked 51.09 last week.
The other collegiate leading time came from the A&M squad that set a meet record of 1:32.40 in the 4 x 200 relay with the foursome of Sandy Wooten, Elizabeth Adeoti, Simone Facey and Allison George. Their time is just shy of the school record mark of 1:32.06 the Aggies set last year at the Penn Relays.
The other 4 x 200 foursome that finished second included Jessica Beard, Gabby Mayo, Khrystal Carter and Porscha Lucas. Michigan placed third in 1:36.08.
The Aggie women currently hold the top collegiate outdoor marks in three relays ?- 4 x 100 (43.40 ?- world leader), the 4 x 200 from the FSU Relays and the 4 x 400 (3:38.16).
In the men?™s 4 x 200, Texas A&M also ran a pair of relays. One unit recorded a time of 1:23.48 to place second to Florida State?™s 1:22.09 while the second Aggie squad finished fourth in 1:25.16. The first A&M squad consisted of Richard Adu-Bobie, Gerald Phiri, Oliver and Chris Dykes. The other unit ran with the order of Miller, Brandon Lowe, Dominique Stafford and Julian Reid.
Running for A&M in the men?™s 4 x 800 were the quartet of Wes Caceras, Nick Toohey, Graham Northcutt and Kevin Ondrasek. Taking the lead during the first leg and improving upon it with each baton pass, the Aggies clocked a 7:40.80 to finish ahead of Embry-Riddle, who was second in 7:53.81.
Other winning efforts for Texas A&M were recorded by Laura Askimakis (javelin), Jennifer Williams (400 hurdles), Brenna Williamson (steeplechase), Kevin McNab (steeplechase), and Chad Brown (javelin).
Asimakis, who led a 1-2-3-4-5 A&M effort in the javelin, also finished as the top collegian in the pole vault, setting a career best of 12-7 ?˝ (3.85). Others who achieved the same in their events were Javier Olivas (shot put) and Tyron Stewart (long jump).
Finishing behind the 156-11 (47.82) winning mark by Asimakis in the javelin were Hillary Pustka (154-9 / 47.16), Emalie Humphreys (152-10 / 46.58), Jessica Wingfield (151-0 / 46.04), and Hali Henderson (136-4 / 41.55).
Asimakis equaled the regional qualifying mark in the pole vault as she established a career best outdoors for the second consecutive week. She was third overall in the event behind former Seminole Lacy Janson (14-7 ?Ľ / 4.45) and Milena Agudelo of Columbia (13-1 ?˝ / 4.00). Jennifer Davidson placed eighth with a clearance of 11-7 ?ľ (3.55).
Williams made her debut in the 400 hurdles with a winning mark of 59.17 to defeat Michigan?™s Amber Hay (59.51). Teammate Lindsey Adams also established a regional qualifying mark in the race as she placed third in 60.14 to clip her previous career best of 60.16.
Back-to-back victories in the 3,000-meter steeplechase also meant top 10 performances from McNab and Williamson with regional marks as well.
McNab clocked a winning time of 9:05.54 to take the race by over 20 seconds. He moves to No. 6 on the Aggie all-time list. Teammates Joe Sauvageau (9:38.47) and Graham Northcutt (9:44.87) finished third and fourth in the race.
Williamson recorded a time of 10:48.73 to overtake early leader Kirsten Hagen of Florida State, who was runner-up in 10:55.16. While Williamson has a better career best mark, she established the No. 9 performance on the A&M all-time list.
In his opening meet of the season Brown won the men?™s javelin with a toss of 200-10 (61.21) while Josh Posten placed fourth (194-6 / 59.28) and Jacob Rodriguez finished sixth (187-0 / 56.99).
A competitive shot put field found Olivas opening the outdoor season with a toss of 58-3 ?ľ (17.77) to place third overall. Jamaica?™s Dorian Scott surpassed 70 feet for the win as he reached a distance of 70-4 ?˝ (21.45) as former Seminole Garrett Johnson placed second with a 68-8 ?˝ (20.94) mark. A&M?™s Nick Cook nearly reached the regional qualifying distance with his effort of 54-1 ?ľ (16.50) in placing fifth.
Stewart led a trio of Aggies as the top collegiate finishers in the men?™s long jump. The event was won by Joe Allen?™s 25-10 ?Ľ (7.88) as Stewart placed fourth with a 23-2 (7.06). Zuheir Sharif matched Stewart?™s distance, but Stewart held the edge with a better second jump (6.94 to 6.35). Melvin Echard placed sixth with a 22-10 (6.96) while Terry Dike finished 11th with a 20-7 (6.27).
Anteneshia Lindsey finished third in the shot put with a mark of 45-8 (13.92). Elizabeth Slaughter placed fifth in the 5,000 meters with a clocking of 17:41.47.
Other results had Brandon Letsinger (6-6 ?ľ / 2.00) tying for fifth in the high jump as Seth Lowery placed seventh (6-4 ?ľ / 1.95). In the women?™s long jump Yasmine Regis placed fifth with a leap of 18-8 (5.69). She was followed by Tiffany Peters (17-6 ?ľ / 5.35) and Ashley McCarty (17-4 ?ľ / 5.30).