MSU Track Prepares For Stint In Tuscaloosa At Alabama Relays
STARKVILLE, Miss. - After what you'd call an exceptional weekend in track and field by winning eight events at the Rhodes College Invitational in Memphis, the Mississippi State track squads head to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama Relays this weekend held at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Complex March 25-28.
"The next two weeks are critical for the men and women as we're trying to get the NCAA fate of the 4x100 and 4x100 relays sealed," head coach Al Schmidt said. "We're coming off a great weekend where we built some momentum, and we're facing some tough non-conference competition. And of course, motivation comes easy when you're competing against Alabama and Ole Miss."
MSU multi-event athletes, LaQuinta Aaron, Trevarus Christian, Racquel Farquharson and Martin Lee, open the meet Thursday with the heptathlon and decathlon competition. State won both events last year.
The entire MSU track team joins in on the competition Saturday with a number of athletes opening their season in their best events. Freshman Tavaris Tate, who recently won a world indoor 4x400-meter relay gold medal, will run his first outdoor 400-meter dash race. The Starkville, Miss., native showed great promise for the outdoor season after breaking a 15-year-old MSU indoor 400-meter dash record in February.
Junior Emanuel Mayers will race for the first time this season in the 400-meter hurdles, where he finished second in 2009 at the relays.
Lady Bulldog Indoor All-American Wendy Copeland is set to long jump for the first time since her performance at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. Copeland, a senior from Tupelo, Miss., finished third at last year's relays and ended the 2009 season 2nd all-time in the MSU record books with a personal-best 21 feet, 00.75 inch jump.
Talented freshman Chloe Phillips looks to repeat her success in the 1500-meter run while in Tuscaloosa. Phillips won the event title last weekend at the Rhodes College Invite in a 4 minute, 38.74 second fashion. The Flagstaff, Ariz., native will also run as a member of the State 4x800-meter and distance medley relays.
"In the SEC, you've got to scratch and claw for everything you earn, and we know we're going to need all the firepower to get into the mix for the NCAAs," Schmidt said. "We have our sites set on several goals, and it starts this weekend."
Besides the Crimson Tide, State will face off against SEC foes Auburn and Ole Miss this weekend. Other notable teams competing are Cincinnati, Indiana, Southern Miss and UAB.