The order that I am using for the Red Raider T&F previews this year goes like this: 1) Sprints; 2)Throws; 3) Distance (Steeple, 5K, 10K); 4) Middle Distance (800, 1500); 5) Jumps/vault/multis; and 6) hurdles. I finish with the hurdles, another area of strength for the Red Raiders. Finally, the first week of what promises to be a historic Tech T&F season arrives!
MEN - Tech lost one of my very favorite Red Raiders, Darien Tennon, as he finished his eligibility for Tech with a flourish -- 2nd in the 110H, 4th in the 400H and a member of the conference champion 4x1 relay. Darien absolutely got everything from his ability -- he was "too short" to be a high hurdler, but he still won the indoor conference 60H. Darien filled in admirably wherever he was needed, running an excellent leg on the sprint relay all last year. However, even losing Darien, Tech is still stronger in the hurdles, for reasons I will point out. (Tech also lost Dorian Williams, who after getting 7th indoors in the 60H indoors was injured in training between the seasons and missed outdoors entirely.)
RETURNING SCORER: Norman Grimes broke through last year, winning the conference title in the 400H and qualifying for nationals. And, while it feels like Norman has been at Tech forever, he won his title in what was only his redshirt freshman season -- he still has 3 years in his quest to win the NC in the 400H -- and I think he will do just that in the next three years.
OTHER RETURNEES: Ardran Carr - only 14th in the 400H last year, but he scored at the Big 12 meet in 2017, getting 7th in the same race; and Caleb Richmond, who did not run in the Big 12 meet last year, but who was 9th in the 400H in 2016 and 10th in 2017.
NEWCOMER: Tech scored a huge coup when the Red Raiders signed Robert Teer, from Arlington Seguin, who was the 5A state champ in the 110H, but more important, he was ranked #1 in the nation in 2018 in the 110H. I hope to see Robert dominate the Big 12 in the 110H and to also push Norman in that race, as Norman eases back into the 110H after largely avoiding the race in 2018 after he broke his heel running the 60H indoors and redshirted all of 2017. Tech only adds one major hurdler, but what an addition!
WOMEN - lost 2 points from the loss of Kristen Johnson, who got 7th in the 400H last year after transferring to TTU from Louisiana Tech.
RETURNING SCORERS: Kaylor Harris - So - got 6th in the 100H and was on the 4x100 relay -- I fully expect Kaylor have a 2019 season that sees her burst onto the national stage in the hurdles and still run a terrific leg on a hugely improved sprint relay; Rose Njoku - Jr - got 7th in the 100H in 2018, after not finishing the heptathlon -- it will be interesting to see if Rose concentrates on the hurdles entirely going forward; and Faith Roberson - So - who did not score in her preferred event (the 400 hurdles), but who did score at conference on the 4x400 relay. I think Faith ends up at least a top 5 400 hurdler this year and could even make it to the national meet in that event.
OTHER RETURNEES: Kyla Glenn - So - 16th in the 100H - Kyla will have to prove this year if she has enough sheer speed to become relevant in the 100H; and Brooke Merrick - Jr - who was 11th in the 400H in 2017, but took a step backwards in 2018 and did not even run in the conference meet.
NEWCOMER: Only 1 newcomer, but she is a fantastic addition - Damajahnee Birch (Jr) transfers to Tech from Arkansas after sitting out all of the 2018 season. In 2017, D Birch was 6th in the SEC 400H, but then bounced back to qualify for nationals and get 13th at that meet. She has run a 56.46 in the 400H and a 53 flat in the open 400, plus a 52 split on the 4x400, so she also strengthens Tech's 4x400 relay. Indoors, she has run a 2:06 800 (which shows her versatility and her stamina) and could even challenge for the conference title in that event as well. Damajahnee was one of, if not THE, top 300 hurdler in the nation coming out of HS and if she returns to that level, she will have a profound effect on this team.
This wraps up the previews for Tech T&F. I think that anyone who has stuck it out over all 6 segments of the preview can see that Tech is poised to have a historic season. Here is a quick overview of the previews to illustrate why I have this kind of confidence in the 2019 Red Raiders.
Tech Men:
Tech Women:
MEN - Tech lost one of my very favorite Red Raiders, Darien Tennon, as he finished his eligibility for Tech with a flourish -- 2nd in the 110H, 4th in the 400H and a member of the conference champion 4x1 relay. Darien absolutely got everything from his ability -- he was "too short" to be a high hurdler, but he still won the indoor conference 60H. Darien filled in admirably wherever he was needed, running an excellent leg on the sprint relay all last year. However, even losing Darien, Tech is still stronger in the hurdles, for reasons I will point out. (Tech also lost Dorian Williams, who after getting 7th indoors in the 60H indoors was injured in training between the seasons and missed outdoors entirely.)
RETURNING SCORER: Norman Grimes broke through last year, winning the conference title in the 400H and qualifying for nationals. And, while it feels like Norman has been at Tech forever, he won his title in what was only his redshirt freshman season -- he still has 3 years in his quest to win the NC in the 400H -- and I think he will do just that in the next three years.
OTHER RETURNEES: Ardran Carr - only 14th in the 400H last year, but he scored at the Big 12 meet in 2017, getting 7th in the same race; and Caleb Richmond, who did not run in the Big 12 meet last year, but who was 9th in the 400H in 2016 and 10th in 2017.
NEWCOMER: Tech scored a huge coup when the Red Raiders signed Robert Teer, from Arlington Seguin, who was the 5A state champ in the 110H, but more important, he was ranked #1 in the nation in 2018 in the 110H. I hope to see Robert dominate the Big 12 in the 110H and to also push Norman in that race, as Norman eases back into the 110H after largely avoiding the race in 2018 after he broke his heel running the 60H indoors and redshirted all of 2017. Tech only adds one major hurdler, but what an addition!
WOMEN - lost 2 points from the loss of Kristen Johnson, who got 7th in the 400H last year after transferring to TTU from Louisiana Tech.
RETURNING SCORERS: Kaylor Harris - So - got 6th in the 100H and was on the 4x100 relay -- I fully expect Kaylor have a 2019 season that sees her burst onto the national stage in the hurdles and still run a terrific leg on a hugely improved sprint relay; Rose Njoku - Jr - got 7th in the 100H in 2018, after not finishing the heptathlon -- it will be interesting to see if Rose concentrates on the hurdles entirely going forward; and Faith Roberson - So - who did not score in her preferred event (the 400 hurdles), but who did score at conference on the 4x400 relay. I think Faith ends up at least a top 5 400 hurdler this year and could even make it to the national meet in that event.
OTHER RETURNEES: Kyla Glenn - So - 16th in the 100H - Kyla will have to prove this year if she has enough sheer speed to become relevant in the 100H; and Brooke Merrick - Jr - who was 11th in the 400H in 2017, but took a step backwards in 2018 and did not even run in the conference meet.
NEWCOMER: Only 1 newcomer, but she is a fantastic addition - Damajahnee Birch (Jr) transfers to Tech from Arkansas after sitting out all of the 2018 season. In 2017, D Birch was 6th in the SEC 400H, but then bounced back to qualify for nationals and get 13th at that meet. She has run a 56.46 in the 400H and a 53 flat in the open 400, plus a 52 split on the 4x400, so she also strengthens Tech's 4x400 relay. Indoors, she has run a 2:06 800 (which shows her versatility and her stamina) and could even challenge for the conference title in that event as well. Damajahnee was one of, if not THE, top 300 hurdler in the nation coming out of HS and if she returns to that level, she will have a profound effect on this team.
This wraps up the previews for Tech T&F. I think that anyone who has stuck it out over all 6 segments of the preview can see that Tech is poised to have a historic season. Here is a quick overview of the previews to illustrate why I have this kind of confidence in the 2019 Red Raiders.
Tech Men:
- Sprints - much stronger
- Throws - equal to last year
- Distance - stronger
- Middle Distance -- much, much stronger
- Jumps/vault/multis -- much, much stronger
- Hurdles - stronger
Tech Women:
- Sprints - much stronger
- Throws - equal to last year
- Distance - much stronger
- Middle Distance - equal to last year
- Jumps/vault/multis - much stronger
- Hurdles - much stronger
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