I have been waiting for the first track meet of the year to post this. This first meet was supposed to be a home meet, but that little tear in the Bubble kind of scuttled the indoor home track season for Tech in 2016 and 2017 was already ruled out as the new Performance Center goes up. Hopefully, all goes well with the construction and Tech is able to host some indoor meets by 2018.
The Tech track team, both men and women, looks MUCH different this year. Several key athletes have finished with their eligibility and there is a slew of newbies. Here goes on a preview:
MEN - the men lost a stunning 55% of their conference points from 2015! The men lose a national champ (Jacorian Duffield) and the 2 time Big 12 conference high point man who scored 26 points in 2015 (Kole Weldon). Jumper Jerome Wilson also picked up 12 points last year. That kind of points is difficult to make up -- it will take a combination of some non-scorers from 2015 stepping up to score something and the newcomers making a splash quickly.
Key Returnees
10 NEWCOMERS WHO SHOULD HELP - if Tech is going to contend for the Big 12 title, several of these kids have to step up in a big way! (the rankings I include on several of the freshmen is their Dyestat ranking - the most comprehensive of the national databases in HS track and field)
Can Tech made up the 70 points they lost from last year? I really don't think so. This year, they should shoot for keeping their string alive of scoring at least 100 points at conference. On the national level, they should still be very competitive for a top 10 finish.
WOMEN - the women lose 28% of their points scored from 2015 and most of that is from the graduation of Tech's greatest ever female sprinter, Cierra White. Montenae Speight was also a graduation loss and was a key member of both relays and a solid quartermiler. Tech also lost one of my favorite Red Raiders - Kami Norton, who transferred to Angelo - she was 5th in the heptathlon and 9th in the 400H at last year's Big 12 meet. Tech still has the firepower to exceed last year's 103 points and possibly even contend for the Big 12 title with lots of new potential stars.
KEY RETURNEES - lots of seniors in this group - Tech signed 10 women in the early signing period this past November to try and fill the void that will result from these seniors graduating
PLETHORA OF NEWCOMERS WHO COULD CONTRIBUTE - this group is a combination of sure-fire contributors and intriguing prospects
That is a boatload of potential talent. This year, Tech will have the luxury of lots of talented seniors that will give this group of newcomers a year to improve and "season". If this group progresses rapidly, 2017 won't have to be a major rebuilding year.
Well, that is my preview for 2016. The men will be challenged, but could still be conference competitive. The women will have a legit shot at the conference crown. Track and field is still a great sport to follow at Tech - always at or near the top of the conference and usually nationally ranked in the top 25. I love it!
The Tech track team, both men and women, looks MUCH different this year. Several key athletes have finished with their eligibility and there is a slew of newbies. Here goes on a preview:
MEN - the men lost a stunning 55% of their conference points from 2015! The men lose a national champ (Jacorian Duffield) and the 2 time Big 12 conference high point man who scored 26 points in 2015 (Kole Weldon). Jumper Jerome Wilson also picked up 12 points last year. That kind of points is difficult to make up -- it will take a combination of some non-scorers from 2015 stepping up to score something and the newcomers making a splash quickly.
Key Returnees
- Bradley Adkins - Sr - national runnerup to Duffield both indoors and outdoors in the HJ - a major candidate for big national points this year
- Chris Caldwell - Sr- the Big 12 winner in the 110H, who also ran on the sprint relay. Chris also was the national runnerup in the 60H indoors, but was dinged up most of outdoors and did not make the finals in the hurdles outdoors
- Joseph Richards - Sr - 3rd in the Big 12 400 and the anchor on the indoor All-American 4x400 relay
- JW Smith - Jr - runnerup in the Big 12 400H
- Darien Tennon - Jr - 3rd in the Big 12 400H and 5th in the 110H
- Kyle Collins - Jr - 5th in the Big 12 400 and ran on 4x400
- Charles (CJ) Jones - Soph - only 10th in the 800, but scored at conference in the 4x400 - he could be a major contender in the 800 this year
- Steven Champlin - Soph - a disappointing 8th in the 400 - also ran on both 4x1 and 4x4 relays
- Evans Tuitoek - Sr - 5th in the steeplechase for Tech's only distance points in 2015
- Nigel Bethel - Soph - 10th in the Big 12 100 and 11th in the 200 - scored by running on the 4x1 - should be part of a MUCH improved 4x100 relay
- Nick Rivera - Sr - did not score at all in 2015 (10th in the 1500), but is a former Big 12 800 meter champ
10 NEWCOMERS WHO SHOULD HELP - if Tech is going to contend for the Big 12 title, several of these kids have to step up in a big way! (the rankings I include on several of the freshmen is their Dyestat ranking - the most comprehensive of the national databases in HS track and field)
- Benard Keter - Jr - a Kenyan who is transferring from Wayland - has not even been officially announced as a Red Raider, but this kid could really help in the long distances - the NAIA indoor 5K and outdoor steeplechase champ - has run times that will make him immediately competitive. And, the last last Kenyan who transferred from Wayland proved to be pretty helpful - Kennedy Kithuka!
- Brandon Bray - Fr - the 4A state vault champ from China Spring - ranked #2 in the U.S in 2015 - should break the school record, possibly in his freshman year
- Charles Brown - Fr from Wichita Falls Hirschi - at the 4A state meet, he won the LJ and TJ and was 3rd in the HJ for 26 points by himself - nationally, ranked #6 in the HJ, #10 in the TJ, #41 in the LJ
- Michael Samuels - Jr from Miami Southridge and South Plains - the JC national champ in the Decathlon and a conference-competitive high jumper and long jumper
- Corey Dauphine - Fr from Port Arthur Memorial - 2nd in the 6A 200 in 2015, he won the 5A 200 in 2014 -- most of the readers on this board already know all about Corey - ranked #28 in the 200 in 2015
- Vincent Crisp - Fr - North Mecklenberg HS in Charlotte, NC - won the NC 4A 800 and ranked #13 in the U.S. and former national Jr Olympic champ in the 800
- Andrew Hudson - Fr from Cibolo Steele - 6th in the 6A 100 in 2015 and 2nd in the 5A 200 in 2014 (to his current teammate Corey Dauphine), he was ranked #21 in the U.S. in the 200, but really made his mark indoors this past year - ranked #5 in the U.S. in both the 60 and 200
- Antonio Ruiz - Fr from Tomball Memorial - 3rd in the 5A PV and ranked #7 in the U.S. He also won the District 19-5A 100 and has run a legit 10.6 - a speedy vaulter
- Caleb Richmond - Fr from Cy Fair - 5th in the 6A 300H, he was ranked #10 in the U.S. in the event and #9 in the U.S. in the 400H
- Daniel Gyasi - Jr from Ghana and a transfer from Western Texas - 3rd in the JC 400
Can Tech made up the 70 points they lost from last year? I really don't think so. This year, they should shoot for keeping their string alive of scoring at least 100 points at conference. On the national level, they should still be very competitive for a top 10 finish.
WOMEN - the women lose 28% of their points scored from 2015 and most of that is from the graduation of Tech's greatest ever female sprinter, Cierra White. Montenae Speight was also a graduation loss and was a key member of both relays and a solid quartermiler. Tech also lost one of my favorite Red Raiders - Kami Norton, who transferred to Angelo - she was 5th in the heptathlon and 9th in the 400H at last year's Big 12 meet. Tech still has the firepower to exceed last year's 103 points and possibly even contend for the Big 12 title with lots of new potential stars.
KEY RETURNEES - lots of seniors in this group - Tech signed 10 women in the early signing period this past November to try and fill the void that will result from these seniors graduating
- Hannah Carson - Sr - scored 22 points last year in the throws (winning the Big 12 javelin and discus) and was the national runnerup in the javelin
- LeTristan Pledger - Sr - a very disappointing 4th in the Big 12 LJ and 100H, but capable of contending for the conference title in both
- Shanice Stewart - Sr - redshirted outdoors in 2015, but in 2014 she was runnerup in the Big 12 heptahlon, 6th in the LJ, 7th in the 100H and ran on the 4x100. And, she was 4th in the national indoor meet in 2015 in the open LJ. In fact, with Tech's strength in the heptathlon, Shanice may have the luxury of concentrating on the jumps and hurdles
- Natalie Thompson - Sr - speaking of the heptathlon, Natalie won the Big 12 Hep last year and was 8th in the open HJ
- Gionna Jackson - Sr - 3rd in the Big 12 LJ, and 7th in the TJ
- Haley Cook - Sr - 4th in the Big 12 PV
- Natalie Baker - Sr - 6th in the Big 12 Javelin
- Paetyn Revell - Jr - 2nd Big 12 TJ
- Reese Timmons - Jr - 6th Big 12
- Amani Nesmith - Jr - 8th in the Big 12 hep and 9th in the open LJ
- Viershanie Latham - Jr - 8th in the Big 12 LJ
PLETHORA OF NEWCOMERS WHO COULD CONTRIBUTE - this group is a combination of sure-fire contributors and intriguing prospects
- Cyre Virgo - Fr from Fleetwood, PA - at the PA 3A meet she was 3rd in the 100H, 4th LJ, and 6th in the HJ, plus ranked #8 in the U.S. in the HJ and ranked #1 in the U.S. as a sophomore. Why did she not win state in the HS, her signature event? She competed in the maximum 5 events every single week - concentrating on just the HJ this year could make her a national contender immediately.
- Marika Brown - Jr transfer from Texas State - very versatile - last year at the Sun Belt meet, she was 2nd in the 400 and 3rd in the 200, in 2014 she was 2nd in the 100 and 200. She has qualified for the national semifinal meet in the 100, 200 and 400 - could be a big help on both relays as well.
- Kaylee Hinton - Fr from Rockwall - won the USA Jr nationals heptathlon last year. At last year's 6A meet, she was 4th in the LJ and 6th in the 100H. In 2015, she was nationally ranked in the LJ (#19); 200 (#41); 100H (#66) and HJ (#89). Those are the stats of a national caliber heptathlete.
- Maygen Smith - Fr from Clear Brook - 5th in the 6A 400 in 2015, she was 6th in the 5A 800 in 2014 - ranked #55 in the U.S. in the 400 this past year
- Raygen Smith - Fr from Clear Brook - Maygen's twin - injured most of 2015, at the 2014 state 5A meet, she was 3rd in the 300H, 4th in the LJ, and 6th in the 100H. In 2014, she also finished 2nd in the national Jr Olympic 400H and was ranked #14 in the U.S. in that event. In 2014, she was nationally ranked in the 100H (#68); LJ (#67) and 300H (#14).
- Zarreia Willis - Fr from Phoenix Albambra - 1st in the AZ Div 1 HJ - ranked #43 in the U.S. last year and #37 in 2014
- Sara Limp - Fr - Los Alamitos, CA - ranked #65 in the U.S. in the 200 last year
- Lauren Landry - Fr - Lubbock Monterey - only 4th in the Region I-6A 800 in 2015, in 2014 she was 2nd in the 4A 800 and ranked #64 in the U.S.
- Tiffani Johnson - Fr - Duncanville - 8th in the 6A 100 and 200, 4th in the 5A 100 in 2014 -- nationally ranked #62 in the 100 and #74 in the 200 in 2015
- Marissa Gale - Jr from Trinidad and transfer from Western Texas - 6th in the 400 and 7th 200 at the JC national meet
- Onaye Parker - transfer from McNeese who did not compete at all in 2015 - 4th in the 5A 800 in 2014 as a HS senior at Fort Bend Hightower- ranked #92 in the U.S. in the 800 in 2012
- Anna Sloan - Fr from River Forest, IL, Trinity - 3rd in the IL 2A 100, 200 and ranked #4 in IL in the 100 and #7 in the 200
- Talajah Murrell - Fr from Converse Judson - 7th 6A 100 in 2015; 2nd 5A 100 in 2014
- Hannah Bradley - Fr from Flower Mound Marcus - 3rd in the 5A 800 in 2014 (ranked #10 in Texas that year), she was DQ'd this past year at the Region I-6A meet run at UTA along with 3 other girls - I never found out what happened
- Starr Monroe - Fr from Brownfield - 3rd 2A HJ
- Morgan Moore - Fr from Canyon Randall - 5th 4A PV in 2014
That is a boatload of potential talent. This year, Tech will have the luxury of lots of talented seniors that will give this group of newcomers a year to improve and "season". If this group progresses rapidly, 2017 won't have to be a major rebuilding year.
Well, that is my preview for 2016. The men will be challenged, but could still be conference competitive. The women will have a legit shot at the conference crown. Track and field is still a great sport to follow at Tech - always at or near the top of the conference and usually nationally ranked in the top 25. I love it!
