Track teams compete
Frogs face off at C-USA indoor championships
By Shelli Manchaca
Skiff Staff

The men’s and women’s track teams will compete in the Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Yeoman Field House on the University of Houston campus today and Saturday.

The championships will feature 13 C-USA schools.

Head Coach Monte Stratton said he is planning to branch out the talent on the team into as many areas as possible to improve its overall standings.

The men’s team is currently ranked No. 10 according to the Feb. 25 Trackwire Top 25 Poll. With key weapons such as junior Aundre Edwards leading the team, the men have high expectations of gaining the conference title as well as several national titles.
Edwards, who finished fifth in last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, set a school record at the Razorback-Tyson Invitational Feb. 15 with a long jump of 7.87 meters.
Edwards, who was also awarded the C-USA’s athlete of the week, said he was surprised when he found out he broke the school record.

“I wasn’t expecting to do as well as I did, but I just tried to focus on the jump and gave it all I had,” he said.

His jump surpassed his personal best of 7.80 meters and gained him an automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor National Championships.

The men’s 4x400 relay also snagged second place (3:06.23) and a NCAA automatic qualifying mark at the Razorback Invitational. The team, which consists of junior Brandon Simpson, junior Jabari Fields, sophomore Jackson Langat and junior Jerry Harris, outran foursomes from elite competitors such as Florida, Baylor, Auburn and Mississippi State.

Freshman Donita Harmon, who has been awarded C-USA’s women athlete of the week twice this season, placed first in the 200 meter dash and second in the 60 meters at the Air Force Invitational Feb. 8. Senior Monica Twum received first place honors and a NCAA provisional mark in the 60 meter dash at the same meet.

s.d.manchaca@tcu.edu