By Steven Baker staff reporter When the runners of the women's cross country team finished their practice Wednesday afternoon they were running as a team for the first time this year. They knew at that point they were ready for the Western Athletic Conference Championships, said senior women's captain Alison Harvey. "For a lot of us, (cross country) is large part of our world," she said. "But I think, to keep it in perspective, that on Saturday it is our world. But when we leave Saturday, whatever happens, we need to except it and be proud of what we did." The Rice women's team has beaten the TCU women three times in three races, while the Rice men have defeated the TCU men one time at the Texas A&M Invitational. However, the men's team did defeat SMU in two out of three meets, and the women finished before SMU in three times in three races. Head cross country coach Dan Waters said both TCU teams must remain close to Rice's four and five runners. "The key to the Rice men winning the meet is making sure all the guys are healthy," he said. "If they have any kind (of) sickness or injuries then they leave the door wide open. Our women are going against a deeper group of Rice women that are a little ahead of our four and five runners." Head track and field coach Monte Stratton said the top five runners for both teams need to finish well, but the women could have a better chance because their team has many talented runners. "We have a chance possibly for the individual champion on both the men and women," he said. "That could be David Lagat (senior) on the men's side and any three on the women's side with Glady's Keitany (sophomore) having a slight edge over the others." Junior SMU runners Clyde Colenso defeated Lagat at the SMU Invitational. And junior Rice runners Lachlan McArthur and Tyson Hendricksen finished in second and third place right behind Lagat at the Texas A&M Invitational. Both Stratton and Waters said they are looking to Lagat and senior Adrian Martinez to lead the team. "The No. 1 runner on the men's side is David Lagat, and Adrian Martinez is pretty much an inspiration for the example that he sets," Stratton said. "David is real set on trying to win his first WAC individual title," he said. "In order for us to do well on the men's side, Adrian is really going to have to get in front of Rice's No. 1 and No. 2 runners." The women will be challenged by Rice senior Shaquandra Roberson, who finished in first place ahead of Keitany at the Texas A&M Invitational and in second place in front of third place sophomore Katie Singleton at the University of North Texas Invitational. Waters said he will look to Harvey for leadership on the women's team, because he said he thinks she will be mentally and physically ready. "I really look for her to put everything she has ever had and more into this cross country race," he said. "She really wants to see great things happen for the team." Harvey said because of the ability on the team, the runners are ready for the WAC Championships. "(WAC Championships) is like any test we take here at TCU," she said. "We have done the homework, the practice problems and are prepared for the test. We are ready. I can feel it."
Steven Baker
By Matt Stiver staff reporter The tennis ball bounced off the racket, sailed through the air and struck the ground. Just exactly where it struck would touch off a dispute that turned a match around. TCU junior Martin Jirak saw the ball land inside the white line of chalk. Southern Methodist's Toby Hansson called it out. "He (made me mad)." Jirak said. "He called a ball out that was in. After that, I played with 'juice' as (head coach Michael) Center calls it. I wanted to win." Jirak's 7-6 (4), 6-2 upset victory over nationally-ranked (No. 68) Hansson highlighted the Frogs' day at the Region IV Tournament, which is being held at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The tournament runs through Sunday. Junior Esteban Carril, Jirak's doubles partner, said the match was important.
Junior Petr Koula said Jirak played well. "He played with a lot emotion," Koula said. "He was pumping his fist, and he usually doesn't do that." The Frogs won eight of 12 matches and advanced five players into the round of 32. All four TCU players who were seeded advanced. Junior Scott Eddins, seeded No. 15, won 6-2, 6-2 over Cody Jackson of Rice. Eddins said receiving a bye was important. "This is a really long tournament," Eddins said before his match. "There are seven rounds to win it. Not having to play a first match is important if you're gonna to play a lot of matches. "If I had to play that first match, then I would possibly have to play two singles and two doubles. That would be a very long day, and it would be exhausting to start the tournament. It's an advantage." Koula, seeded No. 17, advanced by winning two matches. In his first match, Koula held on in a second-set tiebreaker for a 6-4, 7-6 (7) victory. Koula advanced to the round of 32 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ryan Davies of Texas Tech. Koula said he was pleased with his performance. "I think I played OK today," Koula said. "I hit the ball and moved well, I thought." Carril, seeded No.1 in the tournament and ranked No. 4 in the nation, defeated Cory Hubbard of Texas A&M in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Carril received a first-round bye and played only one match Thursday. Forced out of the All-American Tournament two weekends ago with an injured back, Carril said he feels better. "I hope it will get better as the tournament goes on," Carril said. Junior Trace Fielding, seeded No. 12 and ranked No. 96 nationally, defeated Ola Bartzen of Texas-Arlington in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.
Matt Stiver
By Matt Welnack staff reporter Last weekend TCU faced the best rushing team in the Western Athletic Conference in the Rice Owls and lost 42-21. TCU will face the WAC's best passing team when they play Hawai'i Saturday. And that scares head coach Dennis Franchione. "I'm not a little bit scared, I'm (scared) a lot," Franchione said. "They're the best in total offense. They have a quarterback with a good arm. There's no doubt that we're concerned about it." Hawai'i quarterback Dan Robinson averages 313 passing yards per game and has 14 touchdowns this season. In last week's 35-21 win against Tulsa, he threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns. The Rainbows also rushed for 151 yards last week.
"We just need to get a win. We're just coming off a tough loss, and we just need to bounce back," Franchione said. "Going to Hawai'i is going to be a challenge. We're catching a team that is playing on a roll at home." Linebacker Shannon Brazzell said the Frogs have to forget that they are going to Hawaii and concentrate on playing the game. "We have to focus on Hawai'i, not going to Hawaii," Brazzell said. "We have to focus on what they do best. They are leading the WAC in the pass, so that's what we have to concentrate on." Tomorrow's game has bowl implications for the Rainbows. If Hawai'i wins, it would give them their sixth win and make the Rainbows eligible for a bowl game, which is an improvement over a winless season last year. TCU will face a team that averages 323 passing yards per game and 409 total yards per game. The TCU secondary gives up an average of 173 yards per game. "That's the problem with playing Rice," Franchione said. "Very little of what we did last week applies to this week. It's a totally different offense that we will face." In coach June Jones' first season at Hawai'i, he has turned around a program that had the nation's longest active losing streak and a 24-game WAC road losing streak. Now the Rainbows are a team that has bowl game aspirations. "There are 18 of 22 starters from last year, so obviously coaching makes a difference," Franchione said. "(Jones) knows what he is doing. He has coached at all different levels. He has given them chemistry and a belief system." The Rainbows are in the position that TCU was in last year. The Frogs came off a 1-10 season to eventually win the Sun Bowl against Southern California. Now, it is Hawai'i that is vying for bowl bid. "Some people may think it is over for TCU, but it's not because we still can accomplish some things this season like having a winning season," Brazzell said. The game will be on Fox Sports Regional starting at 11:05 p.m. CST. Edge Box
Matt Welnack |
"I think it was a good win for Martin," Carril
said. "He needed this win to help his confidence."
TCU enters the game at 2-2 in the WAC, while Hawai'i is
second in the WAC at 3-1.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |