Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
ISU Last Chance
Tech Awaits NCAA List Following ISU Last Chance
March 08, 2003 | Track and Field
March 8, 2003
Lubbock, Texas - Seven Texas Tech track and field athletes competed at the Iowa State Last Chance Meet in Ames, Iowa, with the hopes of posting marks high enough to compete at the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships next weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the women's 400-meter dash, Licretia Sibley (Fort Worth, Texas) bettered her season-best time by almost a half-second racing to a 53.91 finish to place second, while Rachelle Evans (Dallas, Texas) turned in a time of 54.59. Evans' time was her fastest of the 2003 indoor season, but not fast enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
"I ran my best indoor time of the season today, so I am happy," said Evans. "I feel like I am ready to run outdoors. [The outdoor season] will be a new start. We have been on different workouts this year because of the addition of a regional meet, so I feel like my best times are still to come."
In the pole vault, Jared Thornhill (Snyder, Texas) set a new personal record (PR) with a vault of 17-feet, 1-inch. Thornhill's mark was equaled by Ken Wilson (Lewisville, Texas) who tied his PR, but neither mark will qualify them for nationals. Bobby Most (Laredo, Texas) finished the day with an elevation of 16'-1" and Buster McLain (Gruver, Texas) injured his left wrist on a practice attempt and withdrew from competition.
"I felt pretty good in warm-ups," noted Thornhill. "I had one of the best weeks of practice I have ever had, and felt good about the way things were going to go. I took some advice from Buster [McLain] and things seemed to go well. Although I didn't qualify today, this gives me more confidence heading into the outdoor season."
Chad Pharis (Vernon, Texas) was the final competitor of the meet for the Red Raiders, looking to punch his ticket to the national meet in the high jump. Pharis easily cleared the first two heights before his first miss at 6'-11.75". On his second attempt, the 6-foot, 2-inch sophomore soared over the bar and awaited his first attempt at a NCAA provisional mark. Pharis took three solid attempts at a new PR, 7'-1.75", but it was not to be.
Three athletes will now have to wait a couple of days to see if their marks will get them into the NCAA Championships. Red Raiders waiting for the NCAA's decision include, high jumper Mike Beasley (Abilene, Texas), sprinter Albert Booker (Trent, Texas) and Most in the pole vault.
