April 24, 2008
Aggie distance runners Kevin McNab and Christina Munoz each established career best times while running on a very pleasant Thursday evening at Franklin Field on the first day of full action at the 114th Penn Relay Carnival.
In addition the Texas A&M sprinters posted the top qualifying times in the women?â„¢s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays on the day when the races are run without starting blocks.
McNab remained among the leaders of the men?â„¢s 3,000-meter steeplechase for a majority of the race. In the rush to the finish on the final lap McNab crossed the line in sixth place with an 8:49.76, which lowered his previous best from a 9:05.54 he ran earlier this season.
?It?â„¢s really exciting here,? noted McNab of his first race at the Penn Relays. ?There is a lot of energy, especially over by the water jump with all the fans that gather there. That kind of reaction from the crowd carries you through.?
With his improved time, McNab moved to the No. 3 performer and No. 5 performance among the Aggie all-time list. He only trails three times from school record holder Juan DeBastos and one by Arturo Barrios. The school record Bastos set in 2001 is an 8:47.78.
?I hit my secondary goal, which was to run sub 8:50,? added McNab. ?My primary goal was 8:45. I enjoy just being part of the A&M team and seeing the performances we produce week in and week out. I feel responsible to do my part and try to contribute to that as well.?
In the women?â„¢s 5,000 meters Munoz managed to crack into the top 10 performances set by school record holder Melissa Gulli. Placing fourth in the race with a personal best of 16:33.23, Munoz maintains her hold on the No. 2 performer and added a No. 10 performance. Princeton?â„¢s Ashley Higginson won the race in 16:22.56.
Earlier qualifying races had the Aggie women claiming the top seed in each relay they contested on Thursday. As a result Texas A&M will occupy the favored lane six when they race in the Championship of America for the 4 x 100 on Friday and the 4 x 400 on Saturday.
In the sprint relay the Aggies posted a heat winning time of 43.40 seconds with a slightly altered line-up. Allison George ran the opening leg and was followed by Porscha Lucas, Simone Facey and Gabby Mayo. They ran the fastest time by any A&M squad at the Penn Relays.
The top eight times among a field of 85 advance to the Championship of America final. The 43.40 by the Aggies matched the winning time they recorded to open the 2008 season during the Texas Invitational. On the A&M all-time list the mark is equal to the No. 4 performer and No. 6 performance.
Other qualifiers for the Championship final include: LSU (43.54), Jamaica?â„¢s G.C. Foster (44.00), Jamaica?â„¢s UTech (44.29), TCU (44.34), South Carolina (44.45), Tennessee (44.53) and Auburn (44.66).
Running with a foursome of Sandy Wooten, Katie Baker, Jennifer Williams and Jessica Beard the Aggies nearly matched their season best in the 4 x 400 qualifying with a winning heat time of 3:32.25, which was just shy of the 3:32.21 A&M set as the Texas Relays runner-up.
Wooten led the effort with a 54.6 on the opening leg without the assistance of starting blocks and Baker followed with a 53.3. Williams kept UCLA, Seton Hall and UTech at bay with a solid third leg, resulting in a split of 53.2. Then Beard sealed the victory with a 51.2 anchor.
UCLA ran 3:34.77 for second to A&M as Seton Hall (3:35.03) and UTech (3:35.38) followed.
The leading qualifiers for the Championship of America final included: Penn State (3:33.40), South Carolina (3:33.71), LSU (3:34.21), Miami (3:34.21), UCLA (3:34.77), Seton Hall (3:35.03), and Jamaica?â„¢s UTech (3:35.38).
Men?â„¢s qualifying in relays, hurdles and sprints will occupy Friday?â„¢s action with women?â„¢s finals in a few events.