MSU Looks To Show Off Its Talent For SEC Outdoor Championships
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Featuring some of the premier collegiate programs, the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships begin Thursday at Baton Rouge, with Mississippi State lining up against conference foes and some of the finest athletes in collegiate track and field.
"Just as with many sports, the SEC is top of the line in competition," coach Steve Dudley said. "When we compete this weekend, we will be competing amongst the best. This will not be the last time we see many of these athletes, as the majority will make their way to Nationals once this weekend wraps."
Highlighting this year's field are seven men's teams and five women's teams who enter the weekend ranked among the Top 25 in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association ranking.
Joining the No. 12 Bulldogs in competition will be No. 1 Florida, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 9 LSU, No. 11 Ole Miss, No. 13 Auburn and No. 19 Georgia; while the Lady Bulldogs will face off against No. 2 LSU, No. 4 Florida, No. 11 Arkansas, No. 19 Tennessee and No. 21 Georgia.
"The number of ranked teams is testimony to the caliber of competition in our conference," Dudley added. "I always say that to be the best, you have to compete against the best and we get that opportunity this weekend."
At the top of board for the Bulldogs will be second ranked Jarrett Samuels who is looking to finish his freshman long jump season just as strong as it started. Also looking to finish strong, by defending their 2011 SEC Outdoor Championship title is the Maroon and White 4x400-meter relay team, who is currently ranked fourth.
For the Lady Bulldogs, 2012 SEC Indoor Champion Favian Cowards will be looking to repeat her hammer throw success in the outdoor season, while Rochelle Farquharson has the goal of defending her 2011 SEC Outdoor Championship in the long jump.
"We had a good run at the 2011 SEC Championships," stated Dudley. "We have most of those athletes back. Combine them with the talented newcomers of this season, and I would say we are poised to make an even better run in 2012."
Action at Bernie Moore Track Stadium begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday with the women's heptathlon and concludes late Sunday evening with crowing of the 2012 men's and women's SEC Outdoor Champions.
Live coverage of the S2012 SEC Outdoor Championships will air on ESPN3.com from 4:30-7:17 p.m. on Saturday and from 3-7 p.m. on Sunday. Complete coverage can also be located on www.SECDigitalNetwork.com and www.LSUSports.net, while live results can be found at www.deltatiming.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs throughout the meet by liking MSU Track and Field on Facebook or by following @msutrackjason on Twitter.
After wrapping action at Baton Rouge, MSU will open the NCAA Championships in two weeks with a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., for the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds on May 24-26. The Maroon and White will then conclude the 2012 outdoor season with the semifinal and final rounds on June 6-9 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.