Sam Houston State at NCAA Regional
5/26/2007 1:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Austin, TX -- Roshunda Betts jumped a school record 42' 11.5" to finish third in the NCAA Midwest Regional triple jump Saturday afternoon.
The performance earns Betts a spot in the NCAA national championship outdoor track and field meet in Sacramento, CA. Betts was a NCAA national qualifier in the javelin in 2005 as well. She is one of 12 Bearkat athletes who have earned spots in the NCAA Division I nationals during SHSU's track and field history.
A total of 39 Division I schools from the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico participated in the meet.
The top five competitors in each individual event and top three relay teams at the four NCAA Regional Championships automatically qualify to compete at the NCAA Championships.
Tara Tyler ran a season best 13.44 to finish seventh in the women's 100 meter hurdles finals.
The Bearkat men's 4x400 relay of Michael Courtney, D. D. Terry, John Thomas, and Chris Edison placed sixth with a time of 3:08.49.
The Sam Houston State women's 4x100 relay of Benita Jones, Quantinette Fields, Tara Tyler, and Regina Offord placed eighth in the finals Saturday evening with a time of 46.05 seconds
Tyler highlighted action for the Sam Houston State track and field team on the first day of the NCAA Midwest Regional Track and Field meet hosted by the University of Texas Friday.
Tyler qualified for the finals in the 100 meter hurdles and was a member of the Bearkat women's 4x100 relay that also earned a berth in Saturday's finals.
Tyler ran a 13.54 to finish as the seventh athlete to qualify for the finals in the 100 hurdles. The finals will be held at 6:10 p.m. Saturday night.
Benita Jones, Quantinette Fields, Tyler, and Regina Offord teamed to post a season best time of 45.35 seconds to earn the eighth spot in the qualifying for the 4x100 finals. The finals will start at 5:40 p.m. Saturday.
The Bearkats' 18 other competitors in the regionals failed to qualify either for the finals or berths in the NCAA nationals. Besides the 4x100 women's relay, D. D. Terry was the only Sam Houston athlete to better their regional qualifying mark. Terry ran 21.08 to place 13th in the 200 meters.
Chris Edison just missed qualifying for the finals in the 400 meters, placing ninth with a mark of 47.09 seconds.
Kevin Houson, Tyrone Lee, Michael Courtney, and Terry ran a 40.38 to place 10th in the 4x100 relay.
Other men's results included Matt Adkisson 10th (17' 1") and Randy Flach 20th (16' 7.25") in the pole vault, Michael Courtney 14th (47.48) in the 400 meters, Lee 14th (10.43) in the 100 meters, and Bryce Miller 13th (52.66) and John Thomas 14th (54.04) in the 400 meter hurdles.
Women's results for Sam Houston State included Jones 10th (13.62) in the 100 hurdles, Roshunda Betts 12th (151' 7") in the javelin and 19th (19' 6.25") in the long jump, Chaterra Blake 15th (13.76) in the 100 hurdles, Fields 14th (11.63) in the 100 meters, Jamie Spivey 19th (19' 2.75") in the long jump, and Tenika Powell 19th (45' 7.75") and Kendall Bass 21st (43' 5.25") in the shot put.
The men's 4x400 relay of Michael Courtney, D. D. Terry, John Thomas, and Chris Edison will compete at 9:15 p.m. Saturday night.
The Bearkats set five school records at the NCAA regional -- 4x100 relay- 45.35 (Benita J, Quan Fields, Tara T, Regina Offord); Benita Jones, 100H, 13.62; lasted about 3 minutes, then, Tara Tyler, 100H, 13.54; lasted one day; then, Tara Tyler, 100H, 13.44 Roshunda Betts, Triple Jump, 13.09/42-11.5
"I was very pleased with our athletes at this year's region meet," SHSU Head Coach Curtis Collier said. "We have emphasized the 'championship season' rather than just the conference meet this year. I think the athletes, my staff, and I kept our focus after the Southland championships and we prepared well both mentally and physically.
Our results were far better as a program and as men's and women's teams this year.
"Like I told my team, I think I can say without doubt that we have had the best year ever by the Sam Houston State Track and Field and Cross Country program!! It's not over yet and I can say that now that we have had good performances at the region meet.
"I want to particularly recognize the great job my staff has done- Dave Self, Jesse Parker, Charlotte Collier, Adrian Ray, and TJ Cretors have done a tremendous job with our athletes all year and deserve all the credit for this programs' accomplishments."
NCAA Championship At-large bids are extended to athletes by Tuesday at 1 pm.
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Sam Houston State NCAA regional qualifiers | |
WOMENKENDALL BASS ROSHUNDA BETTS CHATERRA BLAKE QUANTINETTE FIELDS BENITA JONES TENIKA POWELL TIFFANY SINGLETON JAMIE SPIVEY TARA TYLER 4x100 RELAY |
MENMATT ADKISSON CLINT BLINKA MICHAEL COURTNEY CHRIS EDISON CHRISTIAN EHRENBORG RANDALL FLACH TYRONE LEE BRYCE MILLER D. D. TERRY JOHN THOMAS 4x100 RELAY 4x400 RELAY |
