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Men’s,
women’s track teams fly into first at meet With two weeks to go before the Conference USA Championships, the TCU track and field team had its final tune-up at the Houston Indoor Invitational. With the men’s and women’s teams finishing first and third and the meets respectively, the Flyin’ Frogs look to be hitting their peak at just the right time, said head coach Monte Stratton. “I would say we are almost where we need to be with two weeks to go until the conference meet,” Stratton said. “We are relatively healthy, we had good solid performances by both teams. I’d say we are in good position if nothing breaks, rips or tears in the next couple of weeks to go into conference and give our best shot.” On the men’s side, the Frogs appear to be the favorite. Currently ranked No. 10 in the nation, the team beat conference foes Houston and Southern Mississippi by 49 and 57 points at the Houston meet. The Frogs have continued to place high in all their meets, and continue to have team members set NCAA provisional marks. Stratton said that the male sprinters did very well without junior Demario Wesley, who did not compete to nurse a sore hip flexor. Seniors Eliud Njubi and Herbert Mwangi looked impressive in distance running, and the long jump and triple jump also have had pretty solid performances, Stratton said. Junior Brandal Lawrence, who was last week’s C-USA track and field co-male athlete of the week, said the team is poised for major success in two weeks. Lawrence attributes hard work for the success so far. “We are peaking at the right time with conference coming up in two weeks,” Lawrence said. “It’s all falling into place.” The women also look ready to make a impact at the championships, after finishing third at the Houston Invitational. Stratton was pleased with how the women did in Houston. “I thought the women’s sprinters outdid themselves,” said Stratton. “We did not take (junior) Monica Twum, and the other sprinters really stepped up and looked pretty good. I was also pleased with the 800-meter runners.” Junior Tiffany Starts, who set a personal best in the 60-meter dash, said she feels a good season is ahead for the Lady Frogs. “I think are we are doing good right now,” Starts said. “Everybody is starting to bring their times down, and that’s going to make or break us. After not being able to practice every day last week due to inclement weather, the weather forecast has the team anxious to get in a good week’s work. “We hope that we have five full days of sun so we can get a hard week of work and then back off next week,” Stratton said. He added that in Texas there is no guarantee on the condition of the weather. Lawrence said if the weather stays warm the Frogs will definitely take advantage of their practice time. Another advantage to the two weeks preparation is the time allowed for injuries to heal. With a few athletes sitting out the past meet, Stratton said he feels the team is going to be back to full strength. “Wesley is back to full speed and Twum got some rest,” Stratton said. “We are hopefully going to (Bloomington, Ind.) with all our guns loaded.” Danny
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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