Chad Pharis PR's, Wins High Jump

May 18, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - Aided by a 7-foot, 2.5-inch Big 12 winning jump by Chad Pharis, the Texas Tech men's track and field team is sitting in fifth place with a two-day total of 26 points, while the women have six and one-half points and are in 10th at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Pharis' jump was the second best clearance in school history and makes the sophomore from Vernon, Texas, the first Red Raider to win a Big 12 Conference title in a field event.

"Coming in my best was 7'-1.75" and that was my goal today," stated Pharis. "Being able to PR at 7'-2.5" is a big accomplishment for me and got me the win. I had a good feeling I would get really close on the last three attempts that I missed. I was jumping really well all day so I thought my adrenaline would help me get over, but that's only the second time I've seen a bar that high. Overall I am thrilled to get the win."

Mike Beasley joined Pharis in earning All-Conference honors as he cleared 6'-11.5" in finishing seventh. Jason Young entered the championships with the third best mark in the conference at the discus throw and finished third with a fling of 190'-11", scoring six points.

In Sunday's women's finals, Ashley Ramsey set a personal record and equaled the school record with a seventh-place elevation of 12-feet, 0-inches scoring one and one-half points for the women's team. Freshmen Dana Rosenbladt and Krista Grantham did not score as they both cleared 11'-6.25" and placed in a tie for 11th. Shaya Orendorff recorded a throw of 138'-10" in the javelin. The mark was enough to place eighth earning the junior her second-consecutive All-Conference honor.

The men's team qualified a total of 7 athletes for Monday's finals, including Jonathan Johnson who won his heat and was the top qualifier in the 800, Dwayne Benoit who won his heat and had the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the 1,500 and Albert Booker who won his heat in the 200. The seven athletes is the fourth highest total behind Texas (12), Nebraska (11) and Baylor (8).

The women's team advanced 4 athletes for tomorrow's finals including Licretia Sibley and Rachelle Evans who went one-two in their heat of the 400.

The 2003 championships will come to a close tomorrow evening with the field events scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with the women's triple jump and the running events starting at 5:30 p.m. with the women's 400-meter relay.

2003 Big 12 ChampionsChad Pharis (High Jump)
2003 All-Conference HonorsMen                                         WomenJason Young (2nd - Hammer, 3rd - Discus)   Tracie Akerhielm (6th - 10,000m)Chad Pharis (1st - High Jump)                   Bridgett Tidwell (8th - 10,000m)Mike Beasley (7th - High Jump)            Ashley Ramsey (t-7th - Pole Vault)                                            Shaya Orendorff, (8th - Javelin)
Standings (Six Men/Seven Women Events Scored)Men                 WomenMissouri, 51 points Nebraska, 75 pointsTexas A&M, 38           Missouri, 48Kansas State, 30    Kansas State, 34Nebraska, 29            Texas A&M, 29Texas Tech, 26          Kansas, 21.5Texas, 18           Texas, 19Kansas, 13          Baylor, 16Colorado, 10            Oklahoma, 7Oklahoma, 10            Colorado, 7Iowa State, 7           Texas Tech, 6.5Oklahoma State, 2   Iowa State, 6                    Oklahoma State, 4

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