Friday, February 19
Lubbock, Texas
4:00 P.M.
Texas Tech Athletics
vs
Matador Qualifier
Opportunity the Theme for Friday’s Matador Qualifier
February 18, 2021 | Track and Field
Texas Tech prepared for one-day last chance meet.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech will finish the regular season at the same place its competed all year: the Sports Performance Center. Dubbed the Matador Qualifier, the one-day meet will provide the final opportunity for several Red Raiders to climb the national leaderboards, qualify for nationals and make a case for the team's Big 12 Indoor Championship roster.
"This meet is about opportunity," said head coach Wes Kittley. "It's a good test and another opportunity for some to get a better national mark or a really good Big 12 seed."
Multiple sprinters and hurdlers will be attempting to slide into the national top-16 to hold on to an NCAA Championship bid before conference. Gabrielle McDonald will look to improve upon her #25 ranking in the 60m hurdles, while Maliek Kendall will run his second race of the season in the men's hurdles after opening at 38th with his debut last weekend.
In the weight throw, Seasons Usual will seek a third straight weekend with a personal best. Another PR would move her further into the nationals picture, improving her current ranking of 17th. Though he sits inside the top-16, Jack Scarborough will high jump again with the goal of solidifying his place in what will be a strong high jump competition at nationals.
For the first time this season, Tech will put together a distance medley relay team with the goal of qualifying for the national meet. Kittley will draw from what has proved to be an exciting middle distance group to complete the foursome for the relay, which includes legs of 1200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m in distance. Kittley plans to enlist Sven Cepus, Takieddine Hedeilli, Owen Likins and Chancellor Stephenson. While faster times are sure to come in the weeks leading up to and including conference meets, anything under 10 minutes would put Tech inside the national top-16.
"We're really looking forward to running this DMR," said Kittley. "We'd love the chance to qualify it for nationals, and this race will be an exciting one."
The DMR will be Friday's second track event, with the gun going off at 4:45 p.m.
The Matador Qualifier will begin at 4 p.m. Friday with field events. Track events will start at 4:30 p.m. The meet will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
"This meet is about opportunity," said head coach Wes Kittley. "It's a good test and another opportunity for some to get a better national mark or a really good Big 12 seed."
Multiple sprinters and hurdlers will be attempting to slide into the national top-16 to hold on to an NCAA Championship bid before conference. Gabrielle McDonald will look to improve upon her #25 ranking in the 60m hurdles, while Maliek Kendall will run his second race of the season in the men's hurdles after opening at 38th with his debut last weekend.
In the weight throw, Seasons Usual will seek a third straight weekend with a personal best. Another PR would move her further into the nationals picture, improving her current ranking of 17th. Though he sits inside the top-16, Jack Scarborough will high jump again with the goal of solidifying his place in what will be a strong high jump competition at nationals.
For the first time this season, Tech will put together a distance medley relay team with the goal of qualifying for the national meet. Kittley will draw from what has proved to be an exciting middle distance group to complete the foursome for the relay, which includes legs of 1200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m in distance. Kittley plans to enlist Sven Cepus, Takieddine Hedeilli, Owen Likins and Chancellor Stephenson. While faster times are sure to come in the weeks leading up to and including conference meets, anything under 10 minutes would put Tech inside the national top-16.
"We're really looking forward to running this DMR," said Kittley. "We'd love the chance to qualify it for nationals, and this race will be an exciting one."
The DMR will be Friday's second track event, with the gun going off at 4:45 p.m.
The Matador Qualifier will begin at 4 p.m. Friday with field events. Track events will start at 4:30 p.m. The meet will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
Middle Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
XC/Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
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