Mullings Wins Mideast Regional 100-Meter Dash Title
Complete Results
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ?€“?€“ When Steve Mullings began his career at Mississippi State University, the junior sprinter had one goal ?€“?€“ win a national championship. Mullings got one step closer to his goal on Saturday as he captured the 100-meter dash title at the 2005 NCAA Mideast Regional. The event was held at the Robert C. Haugh Track Complex on the Indiana University campus.
"Steve (Mullings) winning the 100 was great," said MSU head coach Al Schmidt. "His hamstring is a little sore, and he had to turn around and qualify in the 200. We had to run both relays with alternates. They did their job. 3:05 is as fast as 90-percent of the country, and we did it with alternates. It was a great team effort. LaChristopher (Lewis) got hurt badly at SECs. He's feeling a lot better. Due to the rules changes, we had to finish every race and do everything possible. We finished eighth out of 39 teams that scored, and we've got the toughest region in the country. This could be our best national championships ever."
Mullings clocked in 10.13 seconds in the 100-meter dash final, beating out Wisconsin sophomore Demi Omole (10.33). Mullings ran 20.53 in the 200-meter dash timed final to qualify for the national championships.
"He ran his second fastest time of the year into a negative wind," said MSU associate head coach Steve Dudley. "That was impressive. He put his head down and did what he had to do. It was exciting. In the 200, he was protecting his leg and just trying to get to nationals. We'd all be mowing our yards the week of nationals if it wasn't for our training staff."
In the 400-meter dash, senior all-American Jamel Ashley finished third with a 45.38,w hile sophomore all-American Arthur Davis finished seventh in 46.65.
The 4x100-meter relay team of Ashley, Mullings, Davis and freshman Elzie Coleman took fourth with a time of 39.57. State's 4x400-meter relay team consisting of Ashley, Davis, junior Kendall Pyant II and freshman Chris Woods ran 3:05.99 to qualify MSU for nationals.
Lewis qualified for nationals with a mark of 24-3 1/2. Pyant II also competed in the long jump, leaping 23-1 3/4. Sophomore Travis McKay ran 9:18.48 in the 3000-meter steeplechase. As a team, the Bulldogs tallied 33 1/2 points to finish eighth.
In women's action, senior Crystal Averitt closed her MSU career finishing fourth in her flight in the discus (137-7). Junior Meggan Hodge placed 10th in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:00.21.
The 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held June 8-11 at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif.