The Red Raider Track team headed to the Michael Johnson Inv

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This meet holds a lot of significance for Texas Tech, led by the fact that there are a lot of Big 12 schools here -- Baylor, UT, TCU, Kansas State, Kansas -- and it would have been even better if Iowa State had shown up as planned. Another significant fact is that this meet is exactly 1 month out from the Big 12 meet and it is time to start seriously jockeying for position for seeding for that meet.

Another thing that the Tech men need to do is move back up in the polls. The Red Raiders have dropped out of the polls for the first time in a while and is simply because some key people have not yet debuted this season (like Taki Hedeilli) and some key people have been injured this season (like Courtney Lindsey). So, in this preview, I am concentrating on "performances to watch for" that could elevate Tech in the national rankings:

MEN -- many of the jumpers are staying home this week to rest

• Taki Hedeilli will finally debut in the 800 during this outdoor season after a fantastic indoor season. If Taki runs under a 1:47 and both Sven Cepus and Marco Vilca run under 1:49, it will could move Tech back into the top 20 based on those performances alone
• Courtney Lindsey runs his first 200 of the year and time under 20.70 moves him into national contention. It wouldn't hurt if Karayme Bartley also broke that 20.70 barrier
• Jacolby Shelton and Keion Sutton running under 10.25 in the 100
• Jack Scarborough high jumping over 7-1
• Werner Bouwer throwing over 240 feet in the javelin
• Chancellor Stephenson under 46 in the 400

WOMEN -- some of the jumpers are staying home to rest this week as well, notably Ruth Usoro. Seasons Usual is competing in the throws, but I am not including her in this list because she is already ranked #2 in the country in the discus and even a huge PR from her can't really change Tech's national ranking

• Chinne Okoronkwo and Chloe Wall break the 14 foot barrier for the first time this season in the PV
• Kayli Johnson throws over 57 feet in the shot put
• Chelsey Cole and Monae Nichols triple jump over 42 feet
• Joanna Archer run under 2:07 in the 800

There will be lots of other performances that will make a big difference in how Tech looks in conference positioning where right this minute both the men and women look like they are the #2 teams in the Big 12. However, if you are looking at results now and then for the meet, the performances above will be some of the telling ones to help Tech make a move in the national polls.

 

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