Bearkat women ready for NCAA regional track
5/29/2008 1:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Live Results from NCAA Regional Track and Field
More Information on NCAA Regional Track and Field At University of Nebraska
A talented group of Sam Houston State women's track and field athletes seek to earn berths in the NCAA national championships as they compete in the Midwest Region outdoor meet this weekend hosted by the University of Nebraska.
The top five individuals from each regional and the top three relay teams automatically advance to the NCAA national meet to be held June 11-14 in Des Moines, IA.
"Esssentially, the regional meet is the first round of the national championship, and I think everyone is ready," Sam Houston State head coach Curtis Collier said. "This is nothing new to them as most of the athletes have competed with the ones that will be there in other meets before.
Sam Houston State won the Southland Conference women's outdoor track and field championship and placed fourth in the league in men's track and field earlier this month. According to Collier, the focus at regionals is more on individual marks.
"There is not as big of a team focus for us," Collier said. "Our number one goal is to finish as high as we can at the Southland meet. Whatever we achieve at the NCAA meet adds that much more excitement to the year."
"This is as talented a group as we have ever taken to this level," Collier added. "It is always a serious challenge to sustain the intensity and achieve a peak at this time of the year."
Kendall Bass won first in the shot, third in the hammer and eighth in the discus at the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships a couple of weeks ago to earn the women's field athlete of the year award. The senior from Frisco will represent SHSU in the shot after a qualifying mark of 45 feet, 2 1/4 inches and a hammer throw of 177 feet, 11 inches.
“I'm excited!” Bass said. “It's pretty big competition, but hopefully everyone will go out and get good marks. Setting a personal best is always something that track athletes look forward to.”
Sophomore Jessica Fisher will run in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as both relay teams.
Junior Tiana Lee will compete in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles and will join teammates Monika May, Tiffany Singleton and Desiree Taylor in the 4-by-400 relay.
Sophomore Des Meek leaped 5 feet, 8 inches in the high jump and 19 feet, 11 3/4 inches in the long jump to earn regional berths in both events. She also makes up the 400-meter relay along with Tiana Lee, Regina Offord and Fisher.
Singleton also qualified in the 400 meters and Allison Ferries will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase for the Southland Conference champions.
“Essentially, the regional meet is the first round of the national championship, and I think everyone is ready,” said Collier, who won his sixth conference coach of the year title recently. “This is nothing new to them as most of the athletes have competed with the ones that will be there in other meets before.”
Results of the meet will be updated on Nebraska's web site at www.huskers.com and on the NCAA site at www.ncaa.com.
The list of Sam Houston State men's track NCAA Regional qualifiers includes:
The complete list of Sam Houston State women who have posted NCAA Regional outdoor track and field marks:
| Athlete | Event | Mark |
| Kendall Bass | Shot put | 45' 2.25" |
| Hammer | 177' 11" | |
| Allison Ferries | 3000 steeplechase | 10:55.78 |
| Jessica Fisher | 100m dash | 11.62 |
| 200m dash | 23.74 | |
| 4x100 relay | 45.61 | |
| 4x400 relay | 3:38.73 | |
| Tiana Lee | 100m hurdles | 13.75 |
| 400m hurdles | 1:01.20 | |
| 4x100 relay | 45.61 | |
| Monika May | 4x400 relay | 3:38.73 |
| Dess Meek | High jump | 5' 8" |
| Long jump | 19' 11.75" | |
| 4x100 relay | 45.61 | |
| Regina Offord | 4x100 relay | 45.61 |
| Tiffany Singleton | 400m dash | 53.86 |
| 4x400 relay | 3:38.73 | |
| Desiree Taylor | 4x400 relay | 3:38.73 |
