Regular Season to Round Up with Matador Qualifier

LUBBOCK, Texas – With one week remaining until the Big 12 Championships come to Lubbock, Texas Tech will be using its final home meet of the regular season – the Matador Qualifier – to grab some final national qualifying times.

The Red Raiders will be hosting 17 programs who are looking to do the same, including Angelo State, Wayland Baptist and West Texas A&M.

A secondary goal of the meet for Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Wes Kittley is to give those he has not already chosen to compete as part of the 26-athlete cap at next week's conference meet a chance to earn a spot.

"This weekend is important to give all of our kids the opportunity to make that top-26," he said. "At the same time, we're going to rest a majority of the people already in that top-26 so they can really be fresh for next week."

However, Tech will have several competitors already on that Big 12s lineup that Kittley would like to see secure a national mark before the conference meet. One such Red Raider is sprinter Tiffani Johnson, whose 7.36 in the 60m has her in striking distance of a Big 12 title, but would not as of now qualify her for the national meet.

"This week I'm really just focusing on executing my race," Johnson said after a team meeting Wednesday. "I want to make sure I get a good mark going into Big 12s, because that would really boost my confidence."

Also fighting for a national qualifying mark will be Drew McMichael. The senior, who last year was an indoor All-American in the pole vault, currently sits fifth in the conference with a season-best height of 17'-7.75" (5.38m). The height places McMichael right on the fringe of making the national meet, as he is just two spots out at 18^th in the nation.

"I haven't been too consistent, but each week I've been getting better," he said. "I'm always chasing that national mark, but at the same time I'm just trying to get consistent where I feel comfortable taking off the ground every time."

McMichael expressed confidence in his preparation, as well as his excitement for the current pole vault talent across the nation.

"Each year you've got to get that national mark," he said. "This year it's a little better, so I've got to jump a little higher, but I'm not complaining about it because it pushes me. I feel comfortable."

Tech's Matador Qualifier is set to kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday with the field events, while track events will begin at 4 p.m.

Regular Season to Round Up with Matador Qualifier

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Players Mentioned

Tiffani Johnson

Drew McMichael

Texas Tech University Athletics