Okay, so the heat sheets are out for both the Tyson and TAMU meet and there can be a little more clarity about who is running what. A quick explanation is needed here. At the Tyson meet, there are several levels of many races. Here is the basic hierarchy of the races:
- Invitational races - this is their Saturday night races and most of the entrants are professionals. The only Tech runners in invitational races are Lillian Badaru (3,000) and Sally Kipyego (mile).
- Olympic Development races - the next level in the hierarchy. The Red Raiders running in this level of races are Silas Kemboi (800), Gilbert Limo (mile) and Gladys Kipsang (800).
- Championship races - the next level in the hierarchy. Tech has Kaci Westervelt running the 3K (amazing, because just 4 weeks ago, she was a total walkon kid, but three good races in the past 4 weeks has moved her up considerably) and Gilbert Limo (3,000).
- Lastly, there are the races that do not have any designating name. Running in these races are:
800: Asia Diaz, Brintney Green Mile: Addison Lemaster 800: Gilbert Limo, Nathan Milles Mile: Zach Dawson, Cory Higgins, Silas Kemboi, Nathan Milles
Also, some races are not split up into different sections - everyone is thrown into one race, like the 5,000 - where Logan Culotta and Michelle Guzman are running in the 5K for their gender. The Women's Distance Medley Relay is also slated to run. However, Trudy Clarke is no longer listed as running the open 400, so I suspect that she will run at TAMU and that Asia Diaz may run the quarter leg in Fayetteville. While Asia is a distance runner, she can actually turn a 56-57 second leg - she has the most sprint speed of any of the distance runners.
I also suspect that Gilbert Limo won't run all three races. He will probably run 2 races, since he can run one on Friday and one on Saturday. However, running the 800, mile and 3K in 2 days might be too much.
Now, looking at the group going to TAMU, all of the sprinters (including some of the halfmilers) and all of the field event people are going to College Station. This is very important for the field event people, because it gives them a look at the physical venue, which might effect the jumpers/throwers even more than the distance runners.
On Friday, this is who is competing for Tech at TAMU:
60H - Jamie Simanek (another walkon who has come a long way), Tori SMith, Sandra Iwunze 60H - Omo Osaghae, Jamele Mason, Brandon Tucker (Nathan Lowry is still apparently ailing from the UNM meet) 60 - Terra Evans 60 - Julius Walker, Markus Henderson 400 (race for the lower seeded runners): Bill Lawhorn, Rodney Mims, Timothy Foster 600y - Lamont Adams (really glad to see Lamont running after he was injured in the first meet), Brandon Washington 200 (race for the lower seeded runners): Jonisha Boleware, Jamie Simanek 200 (race for the lower seeded runners); Brandon Tucker HJ - Darrell Roddick, Justin Turner LJ - Veronica DiLullo, Janell Appelhans SP - Patience Knight, D'Andra Carter PV - Jessie Gibbs, Sage Lasater, Amanda Alley LJ - Chuck Zavala, Darrell Roddick, Anthony Flemons, Waylon Randolph
Saturday entries:
400 (faster seeds): Trudy Clarke 400 (faster seeds): Gil Roberts 800 - Shannon Jackson, Kearci Jobe, Devin Bailey 200 (faster seeds): Terra Evans 200 (faster seeds): Markus Henderson Women's 4X400: Jonisha Boleware, Terra Evans, Trudy Clarke, Kelsey Lloyd Men's 4X400: Markus Henderson, Brandon Washington, Rodney Mims, Gil Roberts SP: Chuck Zavala, Harrison Benjamin, Tyler Menges WT: Ozie Okolie HJ: Kelsey Lloyd (freshman Amanda Dowdy is not entered - she was limping just a bit last week on her final jumps - hope it does not keep her out of the conference meet!) Pole Vault: Chuck Zavala, Kelly Wilson (Brian Porter is ailing a bit - not sure if the ailment is physical or attitudinal) Triple Jump: Veronica DiLullo Triple jump: Darrell Roddick, Anthony Flemons
With many of the Big 12 teams in TAMU, we will know a lot more about the team's chances in the indoor Big 12 meet after this weekend. I still think this men's team is championship caliber - very deep and balances - and the women's team is very, very strong at the top - Kipyego, Knight, Carter, Okolie, Alley, Smith, Iwunze, and now, Evans. I won't be at these meets, but I surely look forward to seeing the results!!!
Yahoo! Sports
