Jan. 30, 2009
College Station - Conference pride and bragging rights will be on the line as the Texas A&M Showdown features a intriguing match-up between the Big 12 and the Southeastern Conference this weekend at the Gilliam Indoor Track and Field Stadium.
The Big 12 and SEC have seen numerous comparisons between the two leagues in various sports often with no clear-cut answer. As a result, there are continuous debates over which conference is stronger in particular sports.
Debate turns into practical experience Saturday as three track and field programs from each conference meet in the Aggies' brand new facility to see who can lay claim to the title of the better league, at least for the 2009 indoor season.
Representing the Big 12 are host Texas A&M, Texas and Missouri. The SEC counters with Florida, LSU and Mississippi. The format and the teams involved create some interesting battles in various events.
The Aggie women enter the meet ranked No. 1in the nation while the A&M men are No. 5. Ranked teams competing on the women's side are No. 4 LSU, No. 6 Texas, and No. 15 Florida. The men feature No. 3 Florida, No. 9 Texas, No. 10 LSU and No. 23 Missouri.
Even with a combination of three teams contributing to produce a conference score, each program will have individual strengths that will likely stand out prominently through the course of the meet.
Finals will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday and the meet will conclude with the 4 x 400 relays around 7:30 p.m.
For the Big 12 women the Aggies will feature the sprinting prowess of Porscha Lucas, Allison George and Ashika Charan and Yasmine Regis.
Lucas, the current Big 12 leader in the 60 (7.30) and 200 (23.39), shares the top spot on the 2009 world list with a 23.39 also recorded by Russia's Anna Geflikh. Beard leads the collegiate ranks in the 400 (52.86) and anchored A&M's 4 x 400 relay to the top NCAA time (3:37.91) so far in 2009.
Other Big 12 leaders include Mayo in the 60 hurdles (8.27) with Charan (43-0 ¼) and Regis (42-9 ¾) currently 1-2 in the triple jump while teammate Angela Thomas (40-9 ½) is in the third spot.
The Aggie men will feature a sprinting trio of Chris Dykes (21.17) and Justin Oliver (47.15) in the 60, 200 and 400. Phiri and Dykes lead the Big 12 in the 60 and 200 while Oliver is currently second in the 400.
Zuheir Sharif (53-3) and Julian Reid (52-7 ½) are 1-2 in the Big 12 triple jump. Sharif also tops the collegiate list after equaling the Texas A&M indoor school record with a win in the UT Dual last weekend. Reid (25-4 ¾) continues to lead the conference long jump as well with a mark from early December.
Gilliam hosts its first multi-event competition amid Big 12 vs. SEC Showdown
On average, when asked what events a track meet consists of, many people would state the obvious. Sprints, pole vault, hurdles, shot put, long jump... you get the idea.
No one ever mentions combining these and other events into one; yet that's just what Trinity Otto, and Sarah Pierson specialize in. They are Texas A&M's three top multi-event athletes. During the indoor track and field season, the women compete in a series of events known as a pentathlon and men compete in a heptathlon.
The women's division, which both Fitzpatrick and Pierson will participate in, consists of five events total; including the 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, and concludes with an 800.
Otto will be competing in the men's division, which consists of seven events and take place over a two-day period. These include 60 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault, and finishes with a 1,000m run.
Being able to compete in these multi-events requires athleticism, strength, and needless to say endurance. So what drives these three athletes to compete in so many events? "It's fun," Pierson explained. "I never get bored and I really enjoy the variety."
The athletes receive individual scores for each event, which then get combined together for their total amount of points.
Participating in such a wide variety of events can also has its negative side however, according to Otto.
"A heptathlon is like a roller coaster ride; it comes with its highs and lows, its ups and downs," Otto said. "You might score really well in one event and not perform well in another. That's why it is crucial to keep a positive attitude at all times."
Texas A&M assistant Coach Juan De La Garza assisting the three athletes with throwing events.
All their hard work will hopefully pay off as they all have aspirations of qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
"I have been working hard and training for over a year so that I can not only place in the Big 12 indoors, but to qualify for nationals as well." Fitzpatrick states.
Both the pentathlon and heptathlon begin Friday at 6:00 p.m., beginning with the women's 60m hurdles, followed by the men's 60m dash. The women will complete the pentathlon in one evening while the men get four events in on Friday and then finish on Saturday with three events.