Six Individuals and Two Relays Set Regional-Qualifying Marks
April 4, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas - The 76th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays continued today at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus. Six individuals as well as the women's 4x100 and 4x400 relays qualified for regionals today. Both relays and one individual advanced to the finals on Saturday. "We have had an outstanding day" head coach Clyde Hart said. "We competed with confidence and showed improvement. Overall, I think the athletes have performed better than we had anticipated. We've got to continue to get better because it is still early in the season. We are thrilled with all of the athletes who have moved on to the finals and happy with those who have competed so far."
In the morning session, the women's 4x100 relay team of Lindsey Ramey, April Holliness, Elizabeth Wilson and Lakadron Ivery won their heat with a season-best time of 45.55. The regional-qualifying time moved them on to the finals on Saturday. The women's 4x400 relay also recorded a regional-qualifying mark. Jasmine Opusunju, Wilson, Ivery and Danielle Myricks finished third in their heat with a time of 3:37.12, advancing to the finals with their fastest time of the season by more than 10 seconds. Ivery also ran well in the open 100, recording a regional-qualifying time of 11.48 to advance to the finals. Wilson also ran in the 100 recording a time of 11.85 to finish fourth in her heat.
In the 100 hurdles, freshman Janelle Mulkey ran a regional-qualifying time of 14.04 to finish third in her heat. On the men's side, senior Mark Henkes clocked a 15.17 in the 110 hurdles to finish seventh in his heat. The final running event of the day for the women was a great race as Leah Marbach edged out Mississippi State's Megan Hodge to finish first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Marbach clocked a regional-qualifying time of 10:50.34. Stephanie Bennett also qualified for regionals in the event, finishing third with a time of 10:57.11. In the last race of the day, the men's distance medley, the quartet of Devinport, Joel Martin, Wil Fitts and Kyle King finished second with a time of 9:45.47.
Several field events also were contested today. April Holliness recorded her third-consecutive regional-qualifying mark in the long jump, finishing sixth in the A flight with a leap of 6.24 meters (20-5 ¾). Eboni Hammond qualified for regionals by finishing fifth in the B flight of the discus with a mark of 46.43m (152-4). The sprint finals and the men's 4x400 relay will close out the annual four-day event on Saturday afternoon.
NCAA Regional Qualifiers Women's 4x100 relay 45.55 Women's 4x400 relay 3:37.12 Lakadron Ivery 100 11.48 Janelle Mulkey 100 HH 14.04 April Holliness LJ 6.24 m (20-5 ¾) Eboni Hammond Discus 46.43 m (152-4) Leah Marbach Steeple 10:50.34 Stephanie Bennett Steeple 11:57.11 |
