Dogs Begin Quest For Track Outdoor Championships
June 07, 2016 | Track & Field
EUGENE, Oregon – It's all down to four days and the incredible opportunity to bring home more hardware.
Wednesday at historic Hayward Field, the Mississippi State track and field teams look to continue their success at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Bulldogs have 14 athletes competing in 11 events, with both the men and women ranked in the Top 20.
The men, ranked 16th nationally, punched their tickets to five events, while the 12th-ranked women are in six. Senior All-American Erica Bougard leads the way with four events, including the heptathlon where she is one of the favorites to win.
"I am going in with a good mind," the Byhalia, Miss., native said. "I am ready to compete. I feel like I could win, but all the best competition will be there. Hopefully I can come out on top. If not, I have other events I can try to come out on top in. I am more excited to have my team there. There is way more people going this year than last year."
Bougard is also competing in the 100m hurdles, high jump and long jump.
But she's not the only one looking to turn heads this week.
Senior Marta Freitas is looking to capitalize on her 1,500m run title at the SECs and NCAA East Prelims and has posted the fasted time this year at 4:09.80. In addition, Cornelia Griesche is ranked 9th nationally in the 3,000m steeplechase.
"I am really excited to go back to Eugene with so many people and all the support," Griesche said. "I think it helps a lot because I went the past two years so I know what is going on and how it works. Last year I didn't make finals, so this year I really hope I can make finals and score some big points for the team."
After winning the individual title in 2014 in the 800m run, Canada native Olympic hopeful Brandon McBride has his sights set on returning to the podium to hoist the trophy.
In April, he ran 1:44.63 at the Jace LaCoste Invitational in Starkville, the third-fastest time in collegiate history. He also finished first at the SECs and NCAA East Prelims.
"It is really motivating me," the Bowerman Award finalists said in regards of not winning a year ago. I look back, and I actually learned a lot from last year. I am very thankful that I was able to go through the hardship that I did last year because it definitely molded me into the athlete that I am now. It really has motivated me."
Also entering with high expectations is Curtis Thompson in the javelin. His throw of 265-10 earlier this year at the Florida State Relays is second nationally.
"This is probably the most events we have ever contested at the same National Championship, which is exciting," MSU assistant coach Houston Franks said. "One of the neat things about the group we are taking is we have throwers, jumpers, multis, middle distance, distance, and sprints going. We have every area covered going into the meet and that exciting. We have a lot of bullets in the gun going into this battle, so that is fun."
Action begins Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. CT with men's javelin, followed by the semfinals of the 400m run (Alfred Larry), 800m run and 4x400m relay (Justin Waters, Larry, McBride and Rasheed Tatham).
Women's action begins on Thursday with Bougard in the 100m hurdles at 7:32 p.m., followed by the long jump at 8 p.m.
The entire meet will be televised on the ESPN family of networks. Check local listings for more details.
Women's Events
1500m Run: Marta Freitas, Efion Price
100m Hurdles: Erica Bougard
Heptathlon: Erica Bougard
High Jump: Erica Bougard, Logan Boss
Long Jump: Erica bougard
3000m Steeplechase: Cornelia Griesche, Antonia Hehr
Men's Events
High Jump: Seth Peace
4x400 Relay: Justin Waters, Alfred Larry, Brandon McBride, Rasheed Tatham, Vince Castillo, Dustin James II
800m Run: Brandon McBride
Javelin: Curtis Thompson
400m Run: Alfred Larry
