AUSTIN – The 88th edition of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays begins on Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Myers Stadium for the Texas A&M track and field team, which starts the outdoor season with the men and women both No. 1 in the preseason national team computer rankings from USTFCCCA.
Outdoor rankings released on Tuesday from the coaches association, which initially reflects the strength of returning athletes for each school, have the defending national team champion Aggie women in the No. 1 position ahead of 2. Florida, 3. Texas, 4. Oregon, 5. Kentucky, 6. Georgia, 7. Arkansas, 8. Southern California, 9. Florida State and 10. Baylor.
The A&M men, who finished third in the NCAA meet after winning the SEC team title, are in the No. 1 position over 2. Florida, 3. Oregon, 4. LSU, 5. Texas, 6. Arkansas, 7. Southern California, 8. Georgia, 9. Florida State and 10. Texas Tech.
Texas Relays tickets are available for individual days or session passes through the UT Athletics Ticket Office. Fans can call 512-471-3333 or go to TexasSports.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket window at Myers Stadium. Entry on Wednesday and Thursday is free.
Webcast times and links for the meet are available online at 12thman.com/tv.
“It's a competition that gives all Aggies an opportunity to watch our team run here in the state,” said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. “We don't get that many opportunities outdoors, not having our own home meets.
“We really look forward to the Texas Relays because of the traditions that are held by the meet. It's always a great meet that attracts people from all over the country. The level of competition is something we look forward to.”
Relays the Aggies are scheduled to compete in during the four-day meet include the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and distance medley for the men and women. The A&M men will also race in the 4x800 and sprint medley.
“We haven't run a 4x200 yet this season or even worked on many exchanges,” noted Henry. “So that is the fun part of the meet. Earlier in this week we're still trying to decide what we are going to do. That's typical and the way it is this time of the year. But it's also a lot of fun since this is when great things start happening.”
The line-up for the men's 4x400 final to wrap up the Texas Relays on Saturday includes the Aggies, the only school that has run under 3:03.00 indoors and 3:00.00 outdoors, along with Baylor, BYU, Florida, LSU, Purdue, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech.
In the women's 4x400 the final on Saturday includes A&M along with Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, Purdue, Texas, Texas Tech and UTEP.
Wednesday's action at the Texas Relays will have Jena Hemann and Annie Kunz in action in the heptathlon, which starts at 10:30 a.m. with the 100 hurdles.
Hemann has set a pair of career best scores over the past three seasons at the Texas Relays in placing fourth during the 2013 version with 5,531 points and eighth in 2012 with 5,300 points. Last year Hemann finished seventh with 5,440 points. Kunz, meanwhile, totaled a career best 5,442 points in 2013 while finishing fifth after placing 12th in 2012 (5,174 points).
On Thursday the heptathlon continues at 11 a.m. while field events for the Aggies start at 3:30 p.m. with Austin Cook in the men's hammer. The men's B pole vault gets underway at 3:45 p.m. for the A&M crew of Chase Wolfle, Carl Johansson and Audie Wyatt. Then the prelims of the 400-meter hurdles begin at 4:30 p.m. for Jessica Laseak and 5 p.m. for Aikan Graham and Kenneth Minkah.
SEC Freshman of the Week Ashtin Zamzow throws in the javelin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday while the A&M men run in the 4x800 relay at 5:50 p.m. Evening distance races start at 7:20 p.m. with Aaron Murray and Nathan Ricketts in the B race of the 1,500 as Alex Riba competes in the A race. Colin Stoeber will contest the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 8 p.m. to wrap up Thursday's action.
On Friday morning at 9:35 a.m. the prelims of the 4x100 take place with 47 women's teams entered and 51 in the men's field. Also in competition at 9:30 a.m. that morning is Maggie Malone in the javelin.
Following the sprint relay prelims on Friday morning the prelims for the 100 hurdles and 100 meters take place. The men's SEC Runner of the Week Shavez Hart faces a fast field in the 100m while the women's SEC Runner of the Week Jennifer Madu races in the 100m with Aaliyah Brown. Competing in the 100 hurdles are Zamzow and Shaina Burns.
Other field events on Friday for the Aggies include Hemann in the high jump and the A&M trio of Brittany Wooten, Sarah Kathryn Stevens and Emily Gunderson in the pole vault. Ioannis Kyriazis and Devin Bogert face Sam Humphreys again in the javelin while Dalton Rowan is entered in the discus.
The triple jump features twins Lathone Collie and Latario Collie for the Aggies while Jeffrey Prothro battles in the B division of the triple jump. Sam McSwain and Garrett Cragin are in the B division of the high jump.
Defending NCAA discus champion Shelbi Vaughan takes center stage on Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. start in between finals of the 4x200 and 4x100 relays. Olabanji Asekun long jumps at 3 p.m. while Brea Garrett contest the shot put at 4 p.m.