May 29, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. - Three Aggies secured their place in the NCAA Championship field in the long jump during the first day of action at the Midwest Region hosted by Oklahoma. Julian Reid led the trio by winning the men's long jump with a record performance.
In addition No. 2 Texas A&M had a large crew of qualifiers for Saturday's finals in sprint and hurdle races during Friday prelim races. A total of 14 moved on from qualifying races in the 100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles and 110 hurdles. Joining them are both 4 x 100 relay squads, which posted the fastest times of the day.
Men's team scores after day one have Minnesota leading after five finals with 24 points, followed by Nebraska (23), New Mexico (20), Texas A&M (17) and Texas Tech (15). In women's team scoring Texas Tech leads the field with 26 points after five finals, followed SMU (15), Oklahoma (14), Wichita State (14), and Minnesota (12.5). Texas A&M women have five points.
Reid set a career best in the long jump as his leap of 26-4.5 (8.04) in the sixth round bettered the 34-year-old facility record at the John Jacobs Complex and set a Midwest Region record as well.
"I'm very pleased with the winning distance," Reid said. "But I'm also a bit disappointed since my second round jump was further, but it was a foul."
The previous facility record of 26-2.75 (7.99) was set in 1975 by Theo Hamilton while the region record of 25-11.5 (7.91) was established last year by Nebraska's Nicholas Gordon, who was runner-up to Reid this year with a 26-0.25 (7.93) leap.
A&M's Tyron Stewart, who led the event after a 25-7.5 (7.81) in the third round, finished third.
"I was feeling sluggish coming out here, so that was a good sign to jump as well as I did today," Stewart said. "I had the lead, I just need to finish it more. Usually I can take the lead in the prelims and then have everyone chase me in the finals.
"When someone takes over the lead, you have to respond and go get them. I wasn't able to today."
Reid established the first leading mark with a windy 25-7.5 (7.81) in the opening round. Stewart matched that distance in the third stanza, and had the better tie breaking mark to hold the last jumping position in the final three rounds.
"From the third round on Tyron was challenging me, so it gave me motivation to do better and increase my lead," Reid noted. "I had to watch out for Gordon jumping ahead of me and then get a mark out there that Stewart couldn't pass jumping after me.
"We have a solid chance to do some big things at nationals with two of us in the long jump."
Reid reclaimed the lead in round five with a 26-1.5 (7.96) and then finished the day off with his record leap. On the Aggie all-time list Reid is the No. 3 performer and equals the No. 6 performance.
The two A&M jumpers ahead of him are Fabrice Lapierre, who holds the school record of 26-10.5 (8.19), and Ian James, the previous school record holder at 26-6.5 (8.09).
Of note regarding Reid's performance is that it's now the best performance made by an Aggie on U.S. soil. All the other performances ahead of him were set in international meets. The previous best mark on the A&M list set in the U.S. was a 26-2.25 (7.98) by James Washington in 1984 at the Southwest Conference meet in Austin.
Stewart, who improved to No. 8 performer on the A&M all-time list, added: "It's hard on the body to compete in the long jump and then get my body ready for the triple jump tomorrow. So, it's a blessing to set PRs in both events this season."
Keenan Hall placed eighth in the long jump with a 24-11 (7.59) while Trinity Otto, a NCAA qualifier in the decathlon, hit a mark of 22-8 (6.91) for 22nd.
Ashika Charan became the first NCAA qualifier for the Aggie women as she placed fourth in the long jump with a mark of 20-9 (6.32). UTEP's Blessing Okagbare won the event with a leap of 21-10 (6.65), which came in the third round after two fouls.
Texas A&M led the qualifying heats of the 4 x 100 relay by posting prelim wins of 43.38 for the women and a 39.05 for the men.
The women's crew consisted of Khrystal Carter, Porscha Lucas, Dominique Duncan and Gabby Mayo. It was the same foursome that won the Big 12 title two weeks ago with a 42.97.
For the men the quartet consisted of Chris Dykes and Justin Oliver. They also recorded a Big 12 title with the same foursome two weeks ago.
Joining the Aggie women in the sprint relay final are Oklahoma (44.09), Houston (43.72), TCU (44.37), Baylor (44.66), Texas Tech (45.04), UTA (45.65) and Minnesota (45.86).
The men's 4 x 100 final will include the Aggies along with TCU (39.69), Nebraska (39.74), North Texas (39.61), Baylor (39.78), UTA (39.88), Iowa (39.94) and Texas Tech (40.27).
After anchoring the women's 4x1 into the finals, Mayo sped to a 12.99 clocking to win her heat of the 100 hurdles. A career best for Mayo, it becomes the No. 2 performer and equal to the No. 6 performance on the Aggie all-time list.
Only Anjanette Kirkland has run faster than Mayo while wearing A&M colors. Kirkland holds the school record of 12.74 and also posted times of 12.83, 12.92 (twice), 12.98 and 12.99.
Vashti Thomas, injured during the long jump at the Big 12 meet two weeks ago, won the third heat of the 100 hurdles with a time of 13.42. The other heat winner was Houston's Seaun Adigun with a 13.47.
The Aggies heat winning continued in the men's hurdles as De'Lon Isom edged out Lehann Fourie of Nebraska in the second race with a wind-aided 13.62 to 13.64.
Moving along to the 100 meters, A&M sent Porscha Lucas (11.15) across the line first in separate heats. Elizabeth Adeoti ran 11.67 for fourth in Mayo's heat.
Gerald Phiri won his heat in the men's 100 with a top qualifying time of 10.20.
In the 400 prelims three Aggies - Justin Oliver and Bryan Miller - advanced to the final. Beard was a heat winner in 53.11. Oliver clocked a winning time of 45.55 with Miller claiming second in the same race at 45.69.
Both times for Oliver and Miller were career best marks. Oliver lowered his time from a previous mark of 45.62 set at the Big 12 Championships. Miller improved on a 45.85 set at last year's Big 12 meet. They are currently the No. 5 and No. 6 performers on the A&M all-time list.
In the final sprint event of the day, the Aggies qualified four athletes to the final. Lucas was a heat winner in 22.72, the top qualifying time of the day, while Duncan advanced on time with a 23.36. Just missing the final was Carter, who ran 23.65 for third in her heat.
Chris Dykes posted a 20.48 heat winner in the men's 200 while Phiri recorded a 20.72 winning mark.
Other finals on the first day of the Midwest Region had Seth Lowery finishing ninth in the high jump with a clearance of 6-10.25 (2.09) while Cameron Alexander was 13th with a mark of 6-8.75 (2.05).
Chad Brown placed 11th in the javelin with a toss of 203-5 (62.01) while Anteneshia Lindsey matched that performance in the women's discus with a 157-10 (48.12). Christina Munoz placed 12th in the 5,000-meter race, recording a time of 17:08.02.
Nick Cook finished 14th in the shot put with a mark of 53-1.5 (16.19). In the women's pole vault all three of the A&M entrants tied for 18th place, clearing 12-0 (3.66). The trio included Jennifer Davidson, Deidre Tarver placed 24th in the women's discus with a 140-7 (42.85).