Tech apparently used some of that travel budget money they saved by running virtually all indoors meets in Lubbock by sending several distance runners to the Bryan Clay Invitational in California. Most ran last night, but some 1500 meter runners (Todd Mickey, Jessica Gallardo, Lauren Younger, Lauren Offerman and Kaylee Amershek) will run tonight.
Last night saw a lot of PR's for the distance runners: in the men's 5K, Joacim Zuniga (14:39.83 -- PR by 2 seconds); Shea Whatley (14:43.20 - PR by 4.5 seconds); Nathan Gift (14:57.19 - PR by 28 seconds); Stephen Alvarez (14:58.34 - PR by 30 seconds); and Ebenether Wondaferew (15:04.66 - PR by 20 seconds). The important time to these guys is 14:39.10 -- the 8th place time at the Big 12 meet last year outdoors -- Zuniga and Whatley are both getting to be contenders for point.
In the women's 5K, Hattie Schunk (17:22.36 - a PR by 3 seconds) and Kaylee Amershek (17:36.28 in her first competitive 5K) ran pretty well, but that 8th place time from last year of 16:46 still looks pretty distant. Clark Blunt missed his PR by 1 second running a 9:30.51 and Jasmine Torres ran a 10:50.38 -- a PR by 3 second. Both need to drop 15-20 seconds in their event to be competitive for points.
So, let's say you decide to brave the elements and come out and watch the Red Raiders in Waco. What do you need to be looking for from the Red Raiders? What are the performances that will help make this weekend profitable for Texas Tech? (NOTE: All bets are off if it is raining cats and dogs -- the rain could still scuttle this entire weekend):
MEN
Last night saw a lot of PR's for the distance runners: in the men's 5K, Joacim Zuniga (14:39.83 -- PR by 2 seconds); Shea Whatley (14:43.20 - PR by 4.5 seconds); Nathan Gift (14:57.19 - PR by 28 seconds); Stephen Alvarez (14:58.34 - PR by 30 seconds); and Ebenether Wondaferew (15:04.66 - PR by 20 seconds). The important time to these guys is 14:39.10 -- the 8th place time at the Big 12 meet last year outdoors -- Zuniga and Whatley are both getting to be contenders for point.
In the women's 5K, Hattie Schunk (17:22.36 - a PR by 3 seconds) and Kaylee Amershek (17:36.28 in her first competitive 5K) ran pretty well, but that 8th place time from last year of 16:46 still looks pretty distant. Clark Blunt missed his PR by 1 second running a 9:30.51 and Jasmine Torres ran a 10:50.38 -- a PR by 3 second. Both need to drop 15-20 seconds in their event to be competitive for points.
So, let's say you decide to brave the elements and come out and watch the Red Raiders in Waco. What do you need to be looking for from the Red Raiders? What are the performances that will help make this weekend profitable for Texas Tech? (NOTE: All bets are off if it is raining cats and dogs -- the rain could still scuttle this entire weekend):
MEN
- Divine Oduduru runs his first 100 of the season and the field is really good (as all sprint events are always strong at a Baylor meet) -- he runs a 10.2 and all is good in my world
- Werner Bouwer gets to go up against the national champ in the javelin from TAMU -- barring catastrophe, Werner won't beat the big Greek, but I would love to see him throw 240+ in defeat
- Would love to see Brandon Bray and/or Drew McMichael vault 18 feet at this meet
- Trey Culver is ready to jump 7-5 or 7-6 in the HJ
- It would be terrific to see Norman Grimes and Darien Tennon both run under 51 in the 400 Hurdles
- Charles Brown gets to triple jump against the indoor national champ from UT. It would be a treat to see CB jump 53-54 feet
- Time to see Duke Kicinski get a good shot put, something over 60 feet - he threw over 60 feet indoors
- In the women's HJ -- it would be cool to see Zarreia Willis jump 6-2 and Cyre Virgo finally jump 6-0
- It is time to see a Red Raider vaulter go 13 feet or higher -- Chloe Wall, Tayler Jameson, and Chloe Wood have all vaulted in the 12-6 range this year
- Zuliat Alli is ready to jump 21 feet in the LJ and speaking of jumping, how about Ivy Walker jumping over 20 feet in the LJ and Chelsey Cole and Brianna Johnson both triple jumping in the 41-42 feet range
- I think Kaylor Harris, Kaylee Hinton, and Ivy Walker could all run under 13.5 in the 100H (and while she is at it, Kaylor could run a 11.5 100) and Kyla Glenn could finally run under 14 flat in the 100H
- Both Faith Roberson and Kirsten Johnson look ready to run the 400 hurdles under 59 -- particularly striking for the freshman Roberson
- In the discus, the terrific freshman Seasons Usual could throw over 185 and Happiness Okeke over 175
