Texas Relays Live Coverage - Day 1

Texas Relays - Samantha Henry, LSU from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Texas Relays Live Results

It is all about the relays in Austin. Action on the track continued Friday morning at the Texas Relays starting off with the women’s 4×100m.

The big surprise of the day was the dropped baton by Texas A&M women’s 4×100 meter relay. There were 7 heats of the prelims, with the top 4 teams in separate heats. Louisiana State University, anchored by Kenyanna Wilson, had the fastest time of 44.35 seconds. Look out for LSU (44.35), Florida State (4.39)and Baylor (44.41) in the finals.

There is a possibility that the Aggies may run in the women’s 4×100 Invitational race that is scheduled to run tomorrow.

The same schools found themselves in the top 3 slots in the men’s 4×100m. Charles Clark ran the anchor leg for the FSU relay team that ran 39.51 seconds. LSU easily clipped off 39.67, while Trey Harts anchored the Baylor men to 39.77 seconds to win their heat.

So far this season Tiffany Ofili has been riding the hot hand. Michigan’s Ofili dominated her opening heat of 110m Hurdle, winning in 13.19 seconds. Qualifying for tomorrow’s finals of the 100 meter hurdles were Virginia Tech’s Kristi Castlin (13.38) and Seun Adigun of Houston winning their respective heats.

The women’s 100 meters is shaping up for a showdown with some of collegiate track and field’s best sprinters. Going into the finals, LSU’s Samantha Henry qualified in 11.21, followed by Tiffany Townsend of Baylor in 11.24, Jessica Young of TCU in 11.24, Texas A&M’s Gabby Mayo in 11.46, and Kenyanna Wilson of LSU in 11.53.

It’s really going to be a competitive race in the men’s 110 meter hurdles as the top three qualifiers ran .02 seconds within each other. Qualifiers for tomorrow’s 110 meter hurdles include: Omo Osaghae of Texas Tech (13.80), Washington State’s Robert Williams (13.81) and Myles Bradly (13.82).

It is uncertain at this point who will come out the champion in the women’s 4×400 meter relay. Texas A&M made up of Brittany Machecek, Allison George, Sandy Wooten and Jessica Beard qualified with the fastest time in 3:34.48.

Texas won their heat of the 4×400 meter relay in 3:34.75, followed up with other heat winners in TCU 3:36.66 and LSU in 3:37.44.

The lead was established early they never looked back. Courtney Thomas, Trey Harts, Quentin Summers and Chris Gowell won the Men’s 1600 sprint relay title ahead of Washington St (3:56.68) and Rice (3:59.72). Prior to that, Kenyanna Wilson, Samantha Henry, LaTavia Thomas and Brittany Hell of LSU capture the Women’s 1600 sprint relay title in 3:15.96. Arkansas (3:19.26) and TCU (3:19.50) battled for second and third place respectively.

Texas Relays - Baylor Sprint Relay Champions from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Texas Relays - Tiffany Townsend, Baylor from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Texas Relays with Latavia Thomas of LSU from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Podcast Interviews:

Tiffany Ofili - Michigan

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Texas Relays - Tiffany Townsend, Baylor

Texas Relays - Tiffany Townsend, Baylor from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Texas Relays - Latavia Thomas, LSU

Texas Relays with Latavia Thomas of LSU from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Texas Relays - Samantha Henry, LSU

Texas Relays - Samantha Henry, LSU from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show with Shannon Rowbury

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2008 Beijing Olympian Shannon Rowbury discusses the 2009 season with Jay Hicks and John W. Davis.  The 1,500 meter runner also discusses the recent changes to her training camp, her upcoming Carlsbad 5k run, and the demands of shopping for a new house.

-2009 82nd Clyde Little Texas Relays
-Tyson Gay’s fall season injury
-German Fernandez’s finish at World XC Championships

Special thanks to Shannon Rowbury.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show…where the real playas come to hang out!

Mentors Build Minds at Texas Relays

The running and partying ended, Texas Relays turned to business on Sunday. University of Texas women’s track coach, Beverly Kearney, organized the 2nd Annual Minority Symposium. The symposium is a get-together where top notch business professionals, entertainers and professional athletes to pass along their experiences and tips for success to student-athletes. Coach Bev and UT have put together a program to strengthen athlete’s minds.

The Minority Symposium in Austin drew big speakers, such as Cheryl “Salt” Wray, recording artist of Salt n’ Pepa, former NFL great and sports analyst Keyshawn Johnson, and former Longhorn great and current NFL star Vince Young just to name a few.

“Creating a mentoring program in our minority community is just so important,” Kearney said.

Texas Relays Produce World’s Fastest Times!

The high school participation at the Texas Relays was down due to a scheduling error that placed the Texas high school sectional meets on the same weekend. It happens.

The pro runners competing at Texas Relays delivered on prerace expectations. The years line up of pros with the assistance of USA Track & Field High Performance Relay Project is arguable one of the best in years.

The Waco All-Stars, featuring Olympians Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner, handily won the invitational division of the 1,600 meter relay. Wariner led the Waco All-Stars to 3:00.65, the fastest time run in the world this year.

Coming into Texas Relays conventional wisdom said that USA Red Team made up of Kerron Clement, Wallace Spearmon, Derrick Brew, and Andrew Rock would compete with the Waco All-Stars. However, USA Red Team finished in a distance fourth in 3:04.68. Team USA Blue featuring Tyson Gay on the lead off leg did not finish the mile relay.

The women’s invitational 1,600 meters saw USA Red team win in 3:23.49. The Red team, featuring Natasha Hastings, and Sanya Richards, ran strong from start to finish. Sanya Richards & company beat a talented relay team made up of Torri Edwards, Carmelita Jeter that finished second.

Former Longhorn Sanya Richards ran the anchor leg for the USA Red team that won the women’s invitational 400 relay with a time of 42.25, also the fastest in the world this year.

The 400 meter relay featuring Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers won in 38.63 to edge out the USA Red team led by Wallace Spearmon and JJ Johnson.

Keep on eye on LSU senior Richard Thompson who won the invitational 100 with a very fast time of 10.0 seconds. This is a world-leading time at 100-meters.

Texas Relays A Sporting, Cultural Event

Everything in Texas is bigger. And the Texas Relays are no exception to the rule. Track and field is not just a sport, it’s a culture in the great state of Texas. A quick check of the facts reveals that, according to the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, the meet brought in 50,000 visitors, $8 million to the city, and is the second largest relay meet in the country.

The 81st running of the Texas Relays takes places at the Mike A. Meyers Stadium on the University of Texas, Austin campus from April 5 – 8. Races are held in the high school, college, university, and invitational divisions for relays events.

The relay meet is almost surreal for track fans. Texas Relays is an example what track can be in North America. The meets popularity is due in part to the fab meet management operations and marketing by the University of Texas staff. It also helps that the track federation has little to do with Texas Relay.

From the world class runners to the packed stands and runners of tomorrow– it’s no surprise to those who have attended that the meet continually gets bigger each year. The fervent fans are aware of the key match ups and cheer loudly during the race. The stadium buzzes with speculation on who will win relay match ups.

It’s almost a right of passage for pro sprinters to place their feet on the track. Past legends to have run at Texas Relays include: Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell, and Maurice Green to name just a few.

Some coaches, athletes, former athletes, fans, meet officials, and timers have come to Texas Relays for years without missing a meet. It’s also a social gathering to see and be seen. The Urban Music Festival presented by Dell is back in downtown Austin for a third year featuring Jeffrey Osbourne, After 7, and Trey Songz. Fans are also promised a guest appearance from former Longhorn standout Vince Young. Only in Texas baby!

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a Track Evangelist.

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