Mississippi State
Texas Relays (O)
MSU's 4x800-Meter Relay Team Runs Impressive Time On Second Day Of Texas Relays
April 03, 2008 | Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas. ? Mississippi State's 4x800-meter relay team ran an impressive seven minutes, 23.22 seconds to finish third and take over second place in MSU's all-time superlatives in the 4x800-meter relay on the second day of the Texas Relays. The relays continue tomorrow in Austin, Texas at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.
The tandem of junior Jonathan Rono, freshman Emanuel Mayers and seniors Golden Coachman and Chris Woods ran the race. While veterans Rono, Coachman and Woods ran the first, third and final legs, it was only Mayers' second time running 800 meters with his second leg hand-off. He ran the 800-meter last week at the Bulldog Invitational, only to finish second behind Woods.
The Bulldogs were one of three SEC teams to compete in the contest. LSU finished second in 7:19.89 and Arkansas in fifth with a time of 7:32.13. Texas was the overall winner, finishing in 7:17.63.
“I think we are in the running to be one of the top three teams in the nation in the 4x800-meter relay,” said MSU Head Coach Al Schmidt. “It is a non-NCAA championship event, though. We are definitely going to go after those other two teams. We are in the range of being able to beat them.”
Senior Kyle Roberts opened MSU's day, running in the 400-meter hurdles. Roberts crossed the line in 18th place, carding a time of 53.06. The all-Mideast Regional team member was the second SEC finisher in the 45 competitor field. LSU's Patrick Lee finished in fifth place.
MSU returns to action tomorrow with both 4x100-meter relay teams competing at 9:30 a.m. The men's 4x100-meter relay team has already qualified for the NCAA regionals, with their best time coming at the Bulldog Invitational (39.62), where they came in first place.
“We are in the top five in the country in the 4x100-meter relay, so we need a good preliminary to make the finals,” said Schmidt. “The sprint medley will also be a huge race for us tomorrow.”
To follow all the action from the Mike A. Myers Stadium at UT via live results, visit mstateathletics.com. For video coverage of the Texas Relays, go to flotrack.org.
