SHSU Seeks Repeat at Outdoor Championships
5/8/2014 8:59:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
The Sam Houston State women's track and field program enters this weekend's Southland Conference Outdoor Championships with their sights set on repeating as victors for the first time since 2008.
The Bearkats' biggest ally in doing so will be the most solid roster depth in recent memory.
“We're going to score well in the distances, the middles distances, the hurdles, the sprints, the jumps, the throws and the multi's,” head coach David Self said. “We're ranked 1-2 in the 100 hurdles and 1-2 in the hammer. If those finishes come out like it is, there is 36 points. We think it's going to take 125-135 to win it so if in two events you get 36 points, you're well on your way to getting some good stuff.”
The Championships will kickoff on Friday from the Bill Stephens Track & Soccer Complex in Conway, Ark. with the pole vault and run three days before concluding with the finals on Sunday afternoon.
“If you're in a preliminary event, rule number one is make the finals,” Self said. “If you're not in the final you can't score. After that, it's just compete. We're going to win in the strength of our individual events.”
The Bearkats head into the championships following a brilliant weekend at the Longhorn Invitational which featured three SHSU school records including women Alyssa Dooley and Ashley Jenkins.
“A week out from the conference meet, you have all these people come in with PRs and athletes of the week and set three school records that's a great thing,” Self said. “We're a week out and we're the best we've ever been in three events; let's carry that into the conference meet.”
Sam Houston received an additional boost during the outdoor from Dooley, who after redshirting last season, leads the conference in both the 800-meter dash (2:10.01) and the 1500-meter dash (4:26.06).
“That's a tough double,” Self said. “The fact that she's leading in both, puts her in a good position to (win both). If she wins one is top three in the other that's 16 points. You throw 16 points on top of what you already did to win the indoor championship and that makes you feel pretty good.”
In total, five Kats sit atop the Southland performance list including Sabrina Starr in the 100-meter hurdles (13.32); Nicole Jenrette in the high jump (5 feet, 7 ¼ inches); Kara Whitson in the pole vault (13 feet, 1 ½ inches) and Jenkins in the hammer throw (199 feet, 9 inches).
After partial or full action in nine regular season meets, the squad leads the league with 14 top three spots on the performance list while five different athletes won conference athlete of the week honors.
Despite being the favorites heading in, Self acknowledges it is going to take connecting on all cylinders to win it all – again.
“People bring their A-game,” Self said. “We tend to chase times and marks in track and field quite a bit but it's kind of funny that a vast majority of our school records and best performances are at the conference meet. Competition brings out the best in everybody.”
Fans can view the live results from the Southland Conference official website or by following along on at Twitter.com/BearkatSports.
