June 8, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE - Region honors were announced Monday by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association as teams begin to arrive in Arkansas for the NCAA Track & Field Championships, which start on Wednesday at John McDonnell Field.
Texas A&M sprinter Porscha Lucas and Aggie assistant coach Vince Anderson each received honors in the South Central Region. Lucas was chosen as the women's track athlete in the region while Anderson received the women's assistant coach award.
During the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, Lucas won her fourth consecutive conference title in the 200. She then defended her Midwest Region title in Norman, Oklahoma. With 20.5 points Lucas led the Aggie squad in scoring at the Big 12. In her three seasons at A&M, Lucas has totaled 100.5 points in six conference meets, which includes indoor and outdoor competitions.
Lucas also ran the second leg of the Aggie 4 x 100 relay, which defended Big 12 and Midwest Region crowns, winning third consecutive titles in both meets. She established a career best of 11.12 in the 100 this year and has run a season best of 22.72 in the 200.
For Anderson this is his eighth assistant coaching honor, a total that includes four national Assistant Coach of the Year awards.
Anderson's sprint, hurdle and relays crews totaled 59 points of the 126.5 scored by Texas A&M in winning a third consecutive Big 12 Outdoor title. Conference titles were claimed in the 200, 400, 100 hurdles and 4 x 100 relay. In the Midwest Region meet Aggie wins were attained in the 200, 400 and 4 x 100 along with a runner-up effort in the 100 hurdles.
Texas A&M's sprint relay has posted three sub-43 second times during the 2009 campaign, including a collegiate leading 42.80. The Aggies have compiled a 16-meet winning streak in 2009, which includes 13 finals, over collegiate competition. In postseason races Texas A&M currently has a 13-meet winning streak, including prelims, over the past three seasons.
Other recipients in the South Central included: LSU's Trindon Holliday (men's track), Jason Colwick of Rice (men's field), Texas' Destinee Hooker (women's field), Jim Bevan of Rice (women's head coach), Arkansas' Chris Bucknam and Sean Brady of Southeast Louisiana (men's head coach), Arkansas' Dick Booth (men's assistant coach).
Honors were awarded to a total of nine regions. National selections will be made from the list of region winners following the NCAA Championships.