Aggies earn three NCAA auto qualifiers at Iowa State
Mar 05, 2011 | Track and Field
March 5, 2011
AMES, Iowa - Three Texas A&M athletes earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Indoor Championships the Aggies will play host to next weekend during a qualifier meet held at Iowa State on Saturday.
Tabarie Henry claimed a qualifying mark in the 400 meters while Michael Preble and Joey Roberts surpassed the qualifying mark in the 800 meters.
In the 800 Preble and Roberts crushed their previous best marks in the event as both ran sub-1:48 times in finishing first and second in the race. Preble, who had a previous best of 1:50.14, dropped his time down to 1:47.27 to break the Texas A&M school record.
"It felt really good to finally run this fast in the 800," noted Preble, who had set personal best times in the 500 meters (1:02.15) and 600 yards (1:08.50) this indoor season. "We've been working hard in practice with Coach Francique and trusting in what he's been telling us. For it to finally all come together is the greatest feeling."
Roberts, who set the Aggie school record of 1:48.89 for a 200-meter track from his Big 12 title last weekend, lowered his career best to 1:47.54 as the runner-up on Iowa State's 300-meter track. Third place in the race also produced a NCAA auto time as Wisconsin's Zach Beth ran 1:47.71 to clip the 1:48.00 auto standard.
Another A&M runner in the field, Oscar Ramirz, placed ninth in the section with a time of 1:55.43.
"Joey took it out hard and really set up the race for us," Preble added. "We knew we had to take a chance today to qualify for NCAAs. Joey led it through 650 meters and that allowed us to get out in front, run a clean race and get a fast time."
Henry led a trio of Aggie 400-meter runners who set their season best times in a 1-2-3 finish for Texas A&M. Henry claimed an NCAA automatic mark with a winning time of 45.92 seconds while Bryan Miller finished second in that section with a 46.34. Demetrius Pinder won the next section in 46.24 to slide ahead of Miller for second place overall.
"It was good to finally get in another 400 since I've been running over distance so far this indoor season," said Henry, who won the Big 12 600-yard title. "I knew the other guys had it in them to run faster as well. We have trained too hard for none us to be in the NCAA meet. We had to take care of that situation this weekend. It was just a tremendous meet for us."
The A&M school record holder with a 45.81, Henry posted the second fastest time on the Aggie all-time list. Stationed at 12th on the NCAA descending order list going into the weekend, Henry now has the fourth fastest collegiate time this season.
"I came here on a mission," stated Henry. "I was sitting 12th and I knew I had to get an auto."
Pinder improved from 20th to 11th on the national collegiate list with his effort while the personal best performance from Miller moved him from 18th to 15th. On the A&M all-time list Pinder produced the 11th best performance while Miller remains the No 4. performer.
FRIDAY MEETS - LSU & ARKANSAS
Mevlin Echard placed second in the long jump at LSU where he improved his season best by three inches to 25-4.5 (7.73) and bettered his standing on the national list for qualification into the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Teammate Tyron Stewart won the triple jump competition at LSU, but wasn't able to improve his season best as he reached a mark of 51-6.5 (15.71).
On the Aggie all-time indoor list Echard moves to No. 5 performer with his indoor personal best.
In Arkansas Ashley Collier and Tran Howell each posted victories in the 200 meters. Collier lowered her career best to 23.40 from the 23.64 she ran during the Big 12 Championship. Collier remains the No. 8 performer on the Aggie all-time list.
Howell posted a winning time of 21.09, which is just off his best of 21.05. Also in the men's race was Prezel Hardy, Jr., who placed third with a 21.52 clocking.
