|
ÒWithout his 20 points, along with everyone elseÕs points, we would not have won the meet. He (Njubi) is a world class runner, and not every collegiate scholarship runner is.Ó Ñ Monte Stratton |
Flyin'
Frogs grab C-USA crown In just its first season in Conference USA, the TCU track and field team is making its presence known. The Flyin Frogs’ captured the C-USA Indoor Title, taking first place by 12.5 points. The team placed high in a majority of the events including six first-place finishes. Senior middle distance runner Eliud Njubi was named the Male Athlete of the Year. He finished first in the mile run with a time of 4 minutes 7.17 seconds and finished first in the men’s 3000-meter run with a 8:19.73. Both are conference records. Head coach Monte Stratton said Njubi’s performance was vital to the Frogs’ success. “Without his 20 points, along with everyone else’s points, we would not have won the meet,” Stratton said. “He is a world class runner, and not every collegiate scholarship runner is.” Stratton, who was named the conference Men’s Coach of the Year, said he was pleased with the leadership of the upperclassmen. “Njubi didn’t have to run the 3000,” Stratton said. “In fact he was (hurting) and semi-injured. He volunteered to run the race, which I felt was remarkable.” Stratton said another leader was senior hurdler LaTarence Dunbar. In just his second trip with the team, Dunbar won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.99 seconds. “He added so much more than his 10 points,” Stratton said. “He was an instant leader. There is some charisma about LaTarence Dunbar that is indefinable. He elevated our team just with his presence.” On the women’s side, the Lady Frogs finished fifth in the meet, with the University of Houston taking top honors. The team had eight top 6 finishes, including junior Monica Twum’s victory in the women’s 60-meter dash. Stratton said the women’s team had a good, solid performance at the meet, and are looking to the future for even more success. “Considering as many people we have had injured, we were much improved in everything we were competing,” Stratton said. “I know next year seems like a long time away, but people will not even recognize our women’s team by next year. We will be a remarkably improved team.” One setback to the meet was the injury of junior sprinter Demario Wesley. One of Trackwire Online’s “Dandy Dozen” in the 60-meter dash, Wesley re-aggravated a hip flexor that has previously bothered him. Stratton said Wesley will visit a doctor to be examined Monday afternoon before more information can be obtained on the status on the sprinter’s condition. The team will not practice until Wednesday and selected athletes will go to Ames, Iowa for the Iowa State Last Chance Meet on Friday. Danny
Gillham |
|
|
TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
||
