Home crowd to view meet

By Sam Eaton
Skiff Staff

The TCU men’s track team may have recently given up its share of the No. 1 ranking to Louisiana State, but it still has much to look forward to as it competes along with the women’s team at the second-annual TCU Invitational in front of a home crowd Saturday.

Head track coach Monte Stratton said the invitational will give the fans an opportunity to see their success in person.

“Every meet is important, but so many people in Fort Worth have heard about TCU track and field,” Stratton said.

(Saturday) will be only the second time they’ll have a chance to watch us.”

Several of the participating schools rank in the Top 25. Both of Southern Methodist’s teams are ranked, with the men currently at No.12 and the women at No. 14. After senior Kim Collins didn’t compete in any events last week, he said he will only run in the relays this weekend.

“It was good to get some relaxation,” Collins said. “There’s a lot more pressure at this meet because you don’t want to disappoint the home crowd.”

Collins still holds the nation’s fastest time in the 100-meter dash this season at 9.99, set two weeks ago at the Texas Relays.

After only competing in the 200-meter dash one week ago, senior Darvis Patton said he is looking forward to competing in his regular events.

“Miguel Pate of Alabama has the second farthest wind-aided jump of the season, so I’ll need to focus,” Patton said. “I didn’t do the long jump last week just to get some rest and let my legs recuperate, so I’ll be ready to impress the home crowd.”

Senior Kendrick Campbell said it is always important to do well at the home meet.

“It’s important to put on a show for the home crowd and for your family,” Campbell said. “There’s a little more pressure on you to perform well.”

For the TCU women, sophomore Monica Twum will be running in the 200-meter dash for only her second time. In her first attempt at the 200-meter dash last Saturday, Twum sprinted to a provisional NCAA time.

Both Rice and Alabama ran provisional times in the women’s 4x100 relay last week, but junior Sonia Williams said TCU is ready for them.

“We’re just trying to improve our times,” she said. “We’re comfortable on our home track.”

Junior Eliud Njubi, who’ll be running in the1,500, said he is looking to leave a lasting impression for the fans about TCU’s distance runners.

“Most people haven’t seen really fast long distance,” he said. “I’m trying to make it clear that TCU has long distance.”