Bearkat Men Primed For Championships
5/8/2014 9:00:00 AM | Track & Field
The Sam Houston men's track and field squads enter this weekend's Southland Conference Outdoor Championships in Conway, Ark. with high hopes after finishing runner-up at the indoor championships in February.
“We've had some big players get hurt on the men's side but we've made some strategic moves,” head coach David Self said. “We think the men can go in and make some noise and that's the position you want to be in every year.”
The Kats are coming off a weekend of peak performances at the Longhorn Invitational including a record-setting day from De'Quad Binder who seized a time of 1:49.80 in the 800-meter dash.
“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,” 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.”
According to Self, the squad's team success will be reliant on success individual events.
“We have guys like Charles White who are starting to put things together and Rodney Jones in the 200 and the 400 relays,” Self said. “We need Jarrick Wright to come through in the 1 and the 2. We have a sophomore Justin Jenkins who is really coming along that is going to run the 1 and the 2. Obviously, De'Quad in the 8. We've got to have those guys maximizing in their individual events.”
The youthful squad will also be seeking key performances from nine freshmen competitors including Jay Roberson who is expected to see action in the pole vault, decathlon and 100-meter hurdles.
“We have complete faith in a guy like him because he's such a competitor and he's such a good kid,” Self said. “He won't quit. We think he's going to do some big things down the line.”
On top of a highly competitive field, the Kats may also be forced to battle the elements with chances of rain all three days.
“You address it but it's just something you have to deal with,” Self said. “Obviously, you want them to be prepared. It could be an issue but the thing is, it's an issue for everybody. You can let it get to you or realize it's drizzling rain or it's cool or whatever the case may be but it's storming in all eight lanes.”
After eight regular season meets, the Bearkats boast 15 top five spots on the Southland performance list including the league-leading 4x100 relay squad of Torrance Williams, Kristen Mitchell, Rodney Jones and Jarrick Wright whose time of 40.27 has stood atop the leaderboard since April 12.
Fans can follow live on the Southland Conference website or along at Twitter.com/BearkatSports as the Sam Houston men seek their first conference title since 2006.
“You never know,” Self said about the unpredictability of the meet. “We tend to chase times and marks 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 because it's about competition. Competition brings out the best in everybody.”
