Tech Gets Three into NCAA Track & Field Championships
March 12, 2003 | Track and Field
March 12, 2003
Fayetteville, Ark. - Three athletes from the Texas Tech men's track and field team will compete in the 2003 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend. This year marks the second consecutive trip to Fayetteville for a pair of Red Raiders in Mike Beasley and Albert Booker.
Beasley (Abilene, Texas) enters this year's championships among the top 10 in the nation in the high jump with a personal record clearance of 7-feet, 2.25-inches. The 6-foot-3 senior placed fourth at the Big 12 Championships earlier this month and has bettered the 7'-0" mark in three of five indoor meets this season. A year ago, Beasley just missed All-America honors in this same event as he placed ninth with a mark of 6'-11.75".
"If I said I haven't thought about it for a year now I would be lying," commented Beasley on placing ninth a year ago. "I don't feel like I have peeked yet. I am comfortable with the height I have jumped this year, but am looking to clear another bar or two and get the 'All-America' title next to my name."
Booker (Trent,Texas) earned his first All-America honors a year ago, as member of the 1,600-meter relay team. This year, the Trent High School product will be competing in an individual event, the 400-meter dash. Booker established a new school record in the 400 in the finals of the conference championships as he posted a time of 46.34 seconds, earning one of his three All-Conference honors of the 2003 indoor season.
"Being here for the second year is great, " noted Booker. "The main difference in this year and a year ago is I am more prepared both physically and mentally because I have trained a lot harder. Last year, I was just happy to be here and had no idea what to expect. This year, nothing is new and I will be able to focus more on running a fast and smart race."
Bobby Most (Laredo, Texas) will be the final Tech representative traveling to Arkansas this weekend, competing in the pole vault. The sophomore earned the right to compete at this weekend's championships with an elevation of 17'-5.75" at the Big 12 Championships in Lincoln, Neb. Most becomes the first pole vaulter to compete at the indoor championships since the 1994 season when Tim James placed eighth.
"Coming into this meet I feel I have the abilities to make All-America," stated Most. "I got off to a slow start this season which was disappointing because back in December I was having some of my best jumps. Hopefully all the hard work will pay off with a good showing this weekend. I have been jumping with most of these guys for a couple of years now so I am not intimidated by the competition. Entering this meet, I have high expectations and don't feel like a national championship is unrealistic."
The men's 400 prelims are set to run at 5:20 p.m. on Friday with the men's pole vault scheduled to begin at 5:35. Competition in the men's high jump will start the following day at 3:45.