Texas Tech Athletics
NCAA Regional Meet
Men Second After First Day of Midwest Regional
May 30, 2003 | Track and Field
May 30, 2003
Lincoln, Neb. - The Texas Tech men and women's track and field teams completed competition of the first day of the first-ever Midwest Regional track meet with a regional champion and a runner-up at Ed Weir Track in Lincoln, Neb.
Jason Young placed third at the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago and was due for a break-out meet as he had yet to throw over 200-feet this year. Today would be the junior for Dallas' day. As the first thrower in the third flight Young wasted no time in setting the mark to beat. His second throw was the best of the prelims at 200-feet, 6-inches. The mark was also a new school record. Young would never have his mark tested but would go on to throw 202'-0".
"I was really pleased with my series of throws today," stated Young. "I haven't been very consistent in the past, but I feel if I am able to get my hip through, I should be able to perform well at nationals in two weeks."
The men's high jump proved to be a big point scorer for the Red Raiders Friday afternoon. Sophomore Chad Pharis entered the meet with the fifth best mark in the region, while Mike Beasley came in with the ninth-best mark. The two would combine to score nine points in the event as Pharis cleared 7'-1" on his first attempt. Only one athlete would clear the next height making Pharis the Midwest Region runner-up. Beasley would be one of seven to clear 6'-11.75" and would place eighth via missed attempts.
Running for just the third time this season the men's 400-meter relay entered the Midwest regional with the sixth-fastest time. Albert Booker opened the race for the Red Raiders before passing the baton off to Julieon Raeburn. Raeburn ran a fast leg holding steady with Texas and Sam Houston State. The second exchange was a close call with both Tech and SHS closing in on the exchange zone before passing the stick. SirDon Lewis ran leg three and gave way to Carlos Francis. Francis gained ground and passed the Bearkats runner placing second in the heat with a time of 40.29. The Red Raiders will run in lane seven of the finals tomorrow at about 4:10 p.m.
Brionne Yosten was the lone competitor for Tech in the women's 1,500-meter run after qualifying for regionals at the Drake Relays. To be assured of a spot in Saturday's finals the sophomore would have to place in the top four of her heat. Yosten did just that with a mark of 4:27.53 and will be one of 12 athletes to advance to the finals.
In the men's 400, the top time in each heat plus the next four fastest times would advance. Albert Booker went 46.03 as he placed second in his heat. The sophomore's time was the fastest non-winning time of the day and will move on to the finals. Matt Stewart also ran in the prelims but his time of 47.26 will not advance him to the finals.
Jonathan Johnson started his heat of the 800 in lane eight and made strong push getting to the breakline first. For that point on the sophomore would never be pushed leading by as much as 20 meters during the second lap. With just over 100 meters to go in the race Johnson slowed up and cruised to a 1:50.94 finish, advancing to the finals. Kyle Atwood would also compete in the 800 and turn in a 1:53.64 13th-place finish.
Julieon Raeburn would be the fourth male athlete to qualify for Saturday's finals as he won his heat of the 200 in a time of 20.71.
In other first-day action, Shaya Orendorff placed 11th in the javelin with a mark of 146'-7". Dana Rosenbladt cleared 11'-6.5" but that would be as high as she would go placing 21st, while Ashley Ramsey no-heighted. The women's 400 included both Licretia Sibley and Rachelle Evans. Evans posted a 54.45 time and Sibley ran a 54.77 as they finished 11th and 12th, respectively, and will not advance to the finals. Karletha Cook posted a 1:02.77 finish in the 400-hurdles. Tracie Akerhielm and Bridgett Tidwell ran in the 5,000. Akerhielm posted a 18:33.35 finish, while Tidwell ran an 18:48.71 as the two placed 10th and 11th, respectively. Dwayne Benoit posted a 3:36.44 as he finished 17th in the 1,500, Marlon Odom ran to a 14.27 clocking in his heat where he placed fifth.
Men's team scoring after five events has Colorado State leading the way with 21 points followed by Tech with 19, Colorado (17), UTEP (16) and Nebraska (15) round out the top five. The men had qualifiers in the 200, 400, 800 and 400-meter relay has athletes in the pole vault, triple jump and the 1,600-meter relay.
Players Mentioned
