Texas Tech Athletics
Big 12 Championships
Tech Completes First Day of Conference Championships
February 28, 2003 | Track and Field
Feb. 28, 2003
LINCOLN, Neb. - After the first day of the 7th Annual Big 12 Conference Indoor Championships several members of the Texas Tech track and field teams advanced to tomorrow's finals, while others set personal records. This year marks the third consecutive time the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb., has hosted the conference championships.
Dwayne Benoit (Abilene, Texas) was the first to compete for the Red Raiders as he ran in the third heat of the men's mile. Benoit was able to keep the competition within striking distance through the first 1,200 meters but it then looked as if the pace was too much as he started to fade. Heading into the final turn, the junior used a strong kick to finish fourth in his heat and set a new personal record (PR) of 4-minutes, 9.05-seconds. His time was good enough to advance him to the finals, which will run tomorrow at 3:35 p.m.
"I was glad to make the final," said Benoit. "The only problem with the race was that I don't feel like I set the tempo. I was running with the pack instead of taking charge of the race. I need to get to the front and stay there, that way I will be in position to make my move at the end."
The third heat of the women's 400-meter dash would put a pair of Red Raiders against each other as Rachelle Evans (Dallas, Texas) and Karletha Cook (Dallas, Texas) lined up in lanes five and three, respectively. Evans got out to an early lead not allowing anyone to make up the stagger as she won her heat with a time of 54.87. Licretia Sibley (Fort Worth, Texas) ran in the final heat of the 400m where she easily won her heat with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 54.38. Cook and Ashley Mitchell (Houston, Texas) also competed in the event, but did not advance to Saturday's finals.
In the men's 400m, Jason Lovell (Reseada, Calif.) ran in the first of five heats. Lovell would finish second in his heat and have to wait to see if his time would get him into the finals. Albert Booker (Trent, Texas) entered the third heat of the 400m with the fastest entry time of his heat. Booker blasted out of the blocks and led the pack at the breakline on his way to a first-place finish of 47.04. Booker's time bettered his standing on the NCAA descending order list as he had already provisionally qualified earlier this year. Matt Stewart (Odessa, Texas) was the final Tech athlete to compete in the 400m running in the fifth heat. Stewart was quick to make up the stagger and ran a gutsy race in holding on to win his heat with a PR of 48.42. With a time of 48.55, Lovell will be the third Red Raider to run in the men's finals of the 400m tomorrow.
"I felt good," stated Stewart on his performance. "Coach Kittley told me to get out faster and try to win my heat so I knew I would qualify for finals. Today's performance was a confidence builder. Heading into the finals and being an alternate of the 4x400-meter relay, it is my job to step in and help the team when they need me. I think that tonight will help me with that since [Jonathan] Johnson is not here this weekend."
In the men's 200m, Julieon Raeburn (Trincity, Trinidad) advanced to the finals via winning his heat with a time of 21.59. Booker placed second in his heat, but qualified for the finals as his time of 21.21 was the top non-winning time and a NCAA qualifying time. This was Booker's first time to compete in the 200m this season. Orin Darrington (Austin, Texas) also competed in the event placing 13th.
"What can I say about [Albert] Booker," noted head coach Wes Kittley. "He ran really well and this was a tough day for him, running in the quarter and the 200."
Tracie Akerhielm (Sulpher Springs, Texas) was the first Red Raider to earn All-conference honors as her time of 17:00.82 in the 5,000m was good enough for seventh as well as an indoor PR.
Freshman Kyle Atwood (Muleshoe, Texas) had to better his PR by almost four seconds to qualify for the finals of the men's 1,000m run, and did just that. Atwood used a solid finish to place fifth in his heat with a time of 2:25.52 but the time was good enough for him to advance as the eighth finalist.
Other Red Raiders that competed Friday night were: Marlon Odom (Killeen, Texas) who placed 10th in the 60-meter hurdles; Nicole Gilliam (Rowlett, Texas) finished 19th in the 600-yard dash; Brionne Yosten (Hereford, Texas) placed ninth in the 1,000m; Jason Young (Dallas, Texas) finished ninth in the weight throw; both Geralda Dukuly (Grand Prairie, Texas) and Tori Polk (Hewitt, Texas) placed 12th and 13th, respectively, in the long jump; Mitchell finished 29th in the 200m; Clifton Eddington (Dallas, Texas) leapt to a 15th place finish in the long jump; Dana Rosenbladt (Mandeville, La.) placed 11th in the pole vault.
The women's distance medley relay (DMR) earned the women their second All-conference honor as the quartet of Stefanie Calhoun, Cook, Lauren Williams, Yosten finished eighth with a time of 11:54.44, while the men's DMR finished 11th.
"I was real pleased with the way we competed today," commented Kittley. "It seems like every event we entered we qualified for the finals on the men's side. We got some great performances out of our 200m, 400m, Dwayne [Benoit] and [Kyle] Atwood. Atwood qualified as a freshman so I couldn't ask for much more. Then on the women's side, Tracie Akerheilm PR'ed in the 5,000m and [Rachelle Evans] and Licretia [Sibley] both looked strong in the quarter. Tomorrow is a big day for the men with the pole vault, high jump and the kids we have in the finals of the running events."
Missing from the team was Tech's four-time All-American Jonathan Johnson (Abilene, Texas). Johnson did not make the trip to Lincoln because of an injury to his left foot. No time-table has been set for his return.
The meet will come to an end tomorrow night, concluding with the men's and women's 4x400m relays. Following the meet the Big 12 will provide a 15-minute satellite feed of this weekend's events from 9:45-10 p.m. (CST) on C Band, Galaxy 3, transponder 7.
Players Mentioned
