Mississippi State Travels To Oregon For NCAA Outdoor Championships
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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Al Schmidt says his team has the firepower to make a lot of noise. The results up to this point show his claim to be accurate.
Now, it's time to suit up again, and this time for all the marbles.
Wednesday, the Mississippi State track and field squad begins its quest for national supremacy at the NCAA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University of Oregon at historic Hayward Field.
The Bulldogs will send a contingency of 14 student-athletes, seven men and seven women, that will be competing in nine different events.
The competition will be broadcast live by CBS College on Friday from 7-9 p.m. and by CBS on Saturday from noon-2 p.m. NCAA.com will stream the rest of the championship online.
"This is the best group of men and women we've ever sent," said Schmidt, now in his 22nd year at the helm. "We've got enough firepower to do something. These guys and gals are on a roll, and they look very good. This is probably the best situation we've ever had with every athlete in every situation."
The men open action ranked ninth nationally and are led by freshman Tavaris Tate's No. 2 ranking in the 400-meter dash. He's also been instrumental in the Bulldogs' No. 3 standing in the 4x100-meter relay and No. 5 spot in the 4x400. The 4x100 foursome won the SEC title back in May.
Then there's Dwight Mullings, who is No. 5 in the 400, followed by Emanuel Mayers, who is No. 6 in the 400-meter hurdles. Rounding out the Top 10 is O'Neal Wilder at No. 9 in the 400 and Kendall May at No. 9 in the 100-meter dash.
"We are comfortable we can be in the Top 10 if we perform," Schmidt said of his men. "How far in the Top 10 depends on other people, but we feel good about it."
In the modern era, the highest the MSU team has finished is a tie for 15th in 2002 in Baton Rouge. The most points the Bulldogs have ever accumulated came in 1982 in Provo, Utah, when they amassed 27 en route to a 17th-place showing.
Last year, Mississippi State finished tied for 17th.
"We're going to nationals in the best shape we've been in since 2005," Schmidt said.
The women invade Oregon on a high note as well and will be competing in four different events, starting with LaQuinta Aaron in the heptathlon.
The senior from Tuscaloosa is currently ranked eighth nationally in the multi-event and totaled a career-best 5,563 points en route to a second-place finish at the SEC Championships. Her point total was also the second-most in school history.
All eyes will also be on the 4x400 team of Aaron, Crystal Wilson, Taneisha Baker and Jody-Ann Muir, who set a school record at the SECs with time of 3:36.43.
Muir and Wilson will also be running in the 400-meter dash, while senior standout Wendy Copeland will by vying for points in the long jump, where she is ranked No. 18.
"Our women, we feel, have been a real success story," Schmidt said. "Anything can happen and they can make the finals. Our 4x400 team has shattered all expectations, and we think they have a lot more in them."