Mississippi State
Alabama High Tide (I)
Mississippi State Splits For Last Chance Competitions
March 04, 2012 | Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - This weekend's last chance qualifiers provided Mississippi State the opportunity to get in one last round of competition before the NCAA Championships on March 9 in Boise, Ind., and when they were over MSU had one automatic qualifier, four victories, two personal bests and a Top 15 finish in every event.
The first group of Maroon and White athletes traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the High Tide Qualifier. Favian Cowards (57-09 ½) was first up for the Lady Bulldogs as she competed in the weight throw where she placed fourth. Following Cowards performance, the rest of the Lady Bulldogs took their turn in the 60-meter hurdles. Keisha Wallace was the first MSU athlete to finish coming in at third with a personal best time of 8.23. Right behind Wallace was teammates Racquel Farquharson (8.40) in fifth, Erica Bougard (8.82) in 11th and Brittney Covington (9.10) in 12th.
Ed Wesela was the first Bulldog to compete as he threw 57-03 ¾ to capture first place in the shot put. Nathan Arnett and Trevarus Christian were next to the line as the duo competed in the 60-meter hurdles. Arnett finished fifth with a time of 8.08, while Christian ran 8.46 to finish eighth.
While the previous mentioned athletes were competing in Birmingham, a second group was giving it one last effort in the Alex Wilson Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.
Jody-Ann Muir was the lone Lady Bulldog traveling to Notre Dame, but it was a good day for the athlete as she finished first in the 400-meter dash with a personal best time of 53.34.
Muir's male 400-meter counterparts also had a good day. Tavaris Tate ran 46.10 to finish first and move his way to second in the nation in the event, while Daundre Barnaby ran a personal best 46.59 to finish sixth.
Following their earlier efforts, Tate and Barnaby joined teammates James Harris and Emanuel Mayers to run the 4x400-meter relay. With a victorious time of 3:05.07, the foursome automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships, set a new meet and track record, set a new indoor track and field record and moved to second place nationally in the event.
Upon return from their travels, MSU will re-combine their efforts to begin training for the NCAA Championships.
Alabama High Tide Qualifier Results
Women
Weight Throw: Angelica Howard, Alabama, 65-01 ½
MSU: 4. Favian Cowards, 57-09 ½
60m Hurdles: Queen Harrison, Unattached, 8.07
MSU: 3. Keisha Wallace, 8.23; 5. Racquel Farquharson, 8.40; 11. Erica Bougard, 8.82; 12. Brittney Covington, 9.10
Men
Shot Put: Ed Wesela, MSU, 57-03 ¾
60m Hurdles: Josh Thompson, Pittsburgh, 7.88
MSU: 5. Nathan Arnett, 8.08; 8. Trevarus Christian, 8.46
Alex Wilson Invitational Results
Women
400m Dash: Jody-Ann Muir, MSU, 53.34
Men
60m Dash Prelims: Clayton Vaughn, Texas-Arlington, 6.73
MSU: 4. Tavaris Tate, 6.87
400m Run: Tavaris Tate, MSU, 46.10
MSU: 6. Daundre Barnaby, 46.59
4x400m Relay: MSU, Harris, Barnaby, Mayers, Tate, 3:05.07
Players Mentioned
