April 6, 2011
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AUSTIN - A gusty wind greeted the multi-event athletes on the first day of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays as the heptathlon and decathlon started the festivities that run through the weekend at Myers Stadium.
Texas A&M senior Daphne Fitzpatrick is in third place in the heptathlon with a score of 3,450 points just two points behind current runner-up Ryann Krais of Kansas State (3,452). West Virginia's Chelsea Carrier leads the event with a score of 3,670 points.
In the decathlon Aggie freshman William Markert is currently in 12th place among a field of 22 athletes with a first day score of 3,639 points. Michael Morrison of California, a NCAA silver medalist and Texas Relays runner-up last year, leads the event with 4,100 points over UT-Arlington's Romain Martin, who has a score of 4,065.
Distance races in the evening portion of day one had the A&M tandem of James Hodges and Jordan Chappell placing fifth and eighth with times of 15:01.40 and 15:24.39. James Bonn finished ninth in the 1,500 with a 4:02.13 clocking.
Starting out with a 14.22 (947 points) in the 100 hurdles, Fitzpatrick then cleared 5-8 (891) in the high jump. A shot put of 38-9.5 (649) was a personal best for the Aggie senior. Then Fitzpatrick sped to a wind-aided best of 24.19 (963) in the 200.
"The PR in shot put gave me encouragement going into the 200," noted Fitzpatrick, who had the rare occurrence of competing on her birthday. "I felt strong in the 200 and to see that time on the board was exciting.
"I've been doing well in practice, but not so well in competition. So it's great to put it all together today. The wind has been a factor. While it helps in some events it was too strong in the high jump. I had to battle a swirling wind in the high jump, either having to push into or back off other times on my approach."
Last year's heptathlon field at the Texas Relays included eventual NCAA champion Brianne Theisen of Oregon. While Theisen didn't return to defend her title, Fitzpatrick thinks the overall field is more competitive this year.
"The field of girls is way stronger this year," stated Fitzpatrick. "The top six to seven girls are really strong. It's way more competitive this year.
"I had a good first day last year and today was even better. I still need to come out hard tomorrow with the three other events. A big throw in the javelin tomorrow will keep me in the hunt."
Markert opened his decathlon with an 11.23 (810 points) in the 100 meters and long jumped 21-10.25 (704). He produced the second best shot put with a 45-10 mark (727) and cleared 6-4 (740) in the high jump. A time of 53.86 in the 400 (658) capped Markert's first day.
On Thursday the heptathlon and decathlon continue at 11 a.m. while A&M school record holder Casey Strong competes in the hammer at 3:30 p.m. Other events on the second day of the Relays include the 400 hurdles and 4 x 800 relays.
Aggies in the 400 hurdles include Courtnie Allen and Andrea Sutherland in the women's race and Seth Mabry in the men's. Sutherland was the Texas Relays runner-up in 2010 and then went on to earn bronze in the Big 12 race.
Texas A&M will feature a pair of competitive 4 x 800 relays. The women's group includes senior Erica Parker and a freshman trio of Hillary Hagan, Tiffany Singleton and Aliese Hyde. Indoors the Aggies produced a school record of 8:58.79.
For the A&M men the relay crew includes Sam Mutschler, Joey Roberts, Oscar Ramirez and Michael Preble. That same foursome established an indoor school record of 7:27.26.
A stellar effort may have the Aggies challenging the meet record of 7:16.21 set in 1985 by Jackson State. The average time per leg would need to better 1:49.05. Recent winning times in this race include USC - 7:18.53 (2007), Texas - 7:17.63 (2008), Texas - 7:22.36 (2009) and LSU - 7:30.25 (2010).