Tech T&F will begin competition later today - Friday, Feb 3 in the rarefied air of ABQ. They have a terrific facility there - a portable indoor track that has been used for national indoor championships in the past and is at their convention center. Just like the last few weeks, there are a few interesting story lines to follow if you choose to keep up with the results over the weekend:
- Kaylee Hinton and freshman Rose Njoku are both competing in their first indoor pentathlon of the year. Kaylee was 3rd in this event in the Big 12 last year as a freshman and she is looking dramatically improved over last year. I think she could could potentially climb into the national top-20 this weekend. This will be Rose's first ever indoor pentathlon and she shows good potential for the pentathlon over the first 3 weeks of the season.
- Several of the top distance runners will be sitting out this weekend for 2 reasons: 1) the high altitude of ABQ can wreak havoc on distance runners and 2) they will be going to Iowa State next weekend looking to move up on the national lists. Those distance runners include Miguel Bautista, Benard Keter, Todd Mickey, Jocelyn Caro and Jasmine Torres.
- There are other Tech tracksters not competing this weekend - some may just be resting up before going to the Tyson invitational, but I think some may be redshirting: Brandon Bray - Jr, PV (not competing for the 2nd straight week); Norman Grimes - Fr, hurdles (not competing for the 2nd straight week); Jack Robb - Jr, distance (has only competed once this year); Michael Samuels - Sr, multis (competed the first week and not since); Alec Saucedo Jr, Mid Dist (has competed the first three weeks); freshman Mackenzie Frank (taking off a week after 2 straight weeks); Sara Limp (competed the first three weeks straight); and the group that has not competed at all this season and may be redshirting - JW Smith, Hattie Schunk, and Raygen Smith.
- Trey Culver is competing this week after taking last week off - look for big things from him in the HJ (7-4?, 7-5?)
- There are several athletes with their season debut, several are distance runners: CJ Jones is kinda debuting - he ran the 800 last week and did not finish; Kirsten Jones - the 400 meter transfer from LA Tech; and distance runners Clark Blunt, freshman Nathan Gift, Riley Gonzales, Grant LaSelle, Maggy Mulholland, freshman Natalie Parks and freshman Bret Leigh Nance. I am kinda surprised to see the redshirt come off for Nathan Gift and Bret Leigh Nance.
- The women's 4x400 has had the exact same A relay each of the first three weeks (Marika Brown, Sara Limp, Adria Parker and Maygen Smith). This week, 3 new members of the relay are joining Maygen in getting a shot at the A relay -- freshman Jadisa Warden (who has run well on the B relay this past 2 weeks); Taylor Rockwell (who ran on the A relay all of last year); and transfer Kirsten Johnson.
- The men's 4x400 has changed composition every week and this week is no exception: running on the A relay this week is freshman Chancellor Stephenson (his first time on the A relay this year); Steven Champlin (the only person to run on the A relay every week so far); Vincent Crisp (who also ran on the A relay when they ran their fastest time of the year - a 3:07.70); and Caleb Richmond (who ran on the A relay for the first time last week).
