Demas to compete in USA Outdoor Championships
6/24/2015 6:45:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
For the second time in as many weeks, Sam Houston State track junior Danielle Demas makes the trek to Eugene, Ore., this time to compete in the USA Outdoor Championships, which begin Thursday from the campus of the University of Oregon.
Demas will compete in the 100-meter hurdles on Friday at 7:30 p.m., an event she holds the school record in after posting a blazing 13.03 mark at the 2015 Southland Conference Outdoor Championships. The time gives the Houston native the 17th fastest qualifying time among all competitors.
“With her, the natural ability has been there,” sixth-year head coach David Self said. “It has really been a decision she made to take track and field seriously. At this level, it's a 24/7 job. You've got to watch what you eat, how much you sleep, and constantly stay hydrated. She'll be competing against a lot of professionals where this is their job. For her to be able to compete with a group like that speaks about her dedication.”
Earlier this month, the Cypress Creek High School product finished 10th at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, earning second-team All-America recognition, behind a wind-aided 13.05 mark. Demas missed the finals by just .01 seconds.
“It has given her another chance to run and show what she can do,” Self said. “If you can run under 13 seconds, you're in another class. We're chasing that. Secondly, it's great for her in that she'll be in races like this a lot more next year. The more she can be running in an atmosphere like this, the better it fairs for her next year. Racing against this level of athlete will go for her advantage.”
Saturday's semifinals are set for 3:05 p.m. The finals of the 100-meter hurdles take place shortly after at 4:52 p.m. Both the semi-finals and finals will be carried live on NBC while Friday's opening round will be shown on tape delay on NBC Sports Network between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
The USA Junior Outdoor Championships, which will be held in conjunction with the meet, will feature a pair of SHSU men's track and field freshmen athletes. Tyler Adams competes in the high jump on Friday at 1 p.m. while Aaron Akens participates in the discus throw on Saturday at 12:15 p.m.
“When you have athletes at this level, 25-30 percent are freshmen in college, the rest are recruitable high school athletes,” Self said of the event. “When you can put your team out here competing at the junior and senior level, it shows them we're serious. The rest of our athletic department has elevated their game and that's what we're doing here. We're showing the best high school kids in the country we've got not only a great educational institution and athletic department but also a top-rate track and field program.”
Demas has played an integral role in three straight top three finishes for the Sam Houston women at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships, including helping capture a school record 45.11 as the first-leg in the 4x100-meter relay this season.
Two weeks ago, Demas, alongside Ashley Jenkins, became the first Bearkat women to be named NCAA Outdoor All-Americans since Jennie Sewell did so in 2007.
