Texas Tech To Open 2015 Indoor Season In Lubbock
January 15, 2015 | Track and Field
Jan. 15, 2015
On Friday, both the running and field events will begin at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, the field events get underway at 10 a.m., while the running events get started at 11 a.m.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youth, and Tech students receive complimentary admission.
The No. 9 Red Raiders return three indoor All-Americans from the 2014 season: Dynamic high jump duo JaCorian Duffield and Bradley Adkins are coming off tying for fifth place at the 2014 NCAA Championships, clearing 2.20m/7-2.50. Duffield and Adkins also own the top returning high jump mark in the nation (2.23m/7-.3.75).
Kole Weldon also returns for the Red Raiders, coming off honorable mention All-American performances in both the discus and shot put, in 2014.
On the women's side, the No. 17 Lady Raiders return four All-Americans: Cierra White, who earned second team honors in the 200 meters and as part of the 4 x 400 meter relay, Le'Tristan Pledger, who took ninth in the 60 meter hurdles and 12th in the long jump, Shanice Stewart snagged second team honors in the long jump as well and Montenae Roye-Speight, who was part of the 4 x 400 meter relay that took ninth.
Both teams return the large majority of their points from their respective fourth (men) and sixth (women) place finishes at the 2014 Big 12 Indoor Championships.
Out of the Blocks
? The Texas Tech Open marks the first of three home indoor meets for the Red Raiders and Lady Raiders. Texas Tech is also slated to host the Masked Rider Open (Jan. 29 - 31) and the Red Raider Open (Feb. 20) - all at the Athletic Training Center.
? The Texas Tech men's and women's track & field teams will begin the 2015 indoor season ranked No. 9, and No. 17, respectively, according to the U.S Track & Field And Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason computer rankings. This is the first time since 2011 that both teams will be ranked to start the indoor season. That year, the men were ranked seventh, and the women were slotted at No. 15.
? On the men's side, this is Tech's first preseason indoor ranking since starting the 2011 slate at No. 7. It also marks the first top-10 ranking for the Red Raiders since week six, in 2013. The ranking is powered by returning indoor All-American high jumpers Bradley Adkins and JaCorian Duffield, who enter the season tied for the nation's top returning mark, along with Kole Weldon, who was an NCAA qualifier in both the shot put and discus in 2014.
? As for the women, this is their first preseason indoor ranking since 2012, when they began at No. 8. The Lady Raiders are led by a pair of returning second team indoor All-Americans, Cierra White (200 meter dash), and Le'Tristan Pledger (60 meter hurdles, long jump).
? The Red Raiders and Lady Raiders combine to return four former Big 12 Champions, and seven athletes who have earned All-American honors to the fold in 2015.
Who's Got Next?
Texas Tech will travel to College Station, Texas, next Saturday, Jan. 24, to compete in the Texas A&M Triangular.
Program Notables
? Tech has had nine individual first or second team indoor All-Americans in the past two years.
? The Red Raiders return six athletes who scored at least eight points at the 2014 Big 12 Indoor Championships.
? In 2014, seven Texas Tech track & field athletes were able to break school records.
? In 2015, Texas Tech returns six athletes, who at some points in their careers, have earned first team All-American indoor status.
? The Tech men's 2014 Big 12 outdoor team title was the fifth team title between the track & field and cross country programs since 1999.
Players Mentioned
