Texas A&M
NCAA Indoor Championships
NCAA Indoor Championships - Day One Recap
Mar 13, 2009 | Track and Field
March 13, 2009
Friday Results
College Station - Porscha Lucas sped to a runner-up performance in the women's 200-meter final on the first day of the NCAA Indoor Championships hosted by Texas A&M at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.
By equaling her school record she set last year, Lucas helped the No. 1 Aggie women earn 13 points to place third after the first day of action.
In the men's long jump Julian Reid produced a mark of 25-8 ¼ (7.83) for fourth place. His five points have the No. 7 A&M men in a tie for 19th place.
Action continues on Saturday with the continuation of the men's heptathlon at noon, 3:30 p.m. for field events and 5 p.m. for running finals. A crowd of 4,315 enjoyed a solid day of action in the first Division I NCAA Indoor meet to be held in Texas.
With seven of 17 events scored in the women's portion of the meet, the current leader is Brigham Young University with 18 points. Texas is currently second while the Aggies are tied with Penn State and Oregon with 13 points apiece. Defending champion Arizona State is in sixth place with 11 points.
In the men's division, with six of 17 events scored, the leading team is Oregon with 23 points followed by Arizona State (15), also the defending champions, Nebraska (14), Arkansas (14), Baylor (10) and Rice (10).
Lucas, who recorded a 22.83 at last year's NCAA Indoor Championship in placing fourth, improved to second place this season on her home track. Miami's Murielle Ahoure won the race in 22.80.
Texas A&M's Gabby Mayo earned the Aggies four more points in the 200 by placing fifth in 23.23, her fastest time ever indoors.
Another final for the women had Vashti Thomas placing 14th in the long jump as she reached a distance of 19-4 ¾ (5.91).
In the 60-meter prelims Lucas was the seventh qualifier in the eight-person final with a time of 7.31 while Mayo placed 17th in 7.46.
Other qualifying races for Texas A&M women had Jessica Beard recording the second best qualifying time in the 400 with a 52.80 that only trailed the 52.74 of Valerie Brown of Western Kentucky. Texas A&M men's qualifying was led by Gerald Phiri clocking a 6.59, which equaled his school record, as he placed fifth overall in the prelims of the 60 meters. Clemson's Jacoby Ford led the prelims with a 6.51 while LSU's Trindon Holliday sported a 6.55.
In the 400, Justin Oliver was seventh in qualifying with a 46.79 mark. LSU's Robert Simmons, the SEC champion, led the 400 field with a 46.63.
On Saturday the Aggies will have both 4 x 400 relays capping the meet. Also in action are three A&M women in the triple jump - Yasmine Regis, Ashika Charan and Thomas. The Aggie men will have four triple jumpers in collegiate leader Zuheir Sharif, Reid, Melvin Echard and Tyron Stewart.
Players Mentioned
