Eight Track And Field Athletes Travel To Sacramento For NCAA Championships
Meet Results
Meet Notes (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. ?€“ On the brink of one of the finest men's sprints seasons inMississippi State University track and field history, four individuals and tworelay teams are set to represent the Bulldogs at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track &Field Championships. The event is being held at the Alex G. Spanos Complex inSacramento, Calif.
"LaChristopher (Lewis) is day-to-day (with his hip flexor injury)," said MSUhead coach Al Schmidt. "He'll compete in the long jump, 4x100 and 4x400. We'vegot subs that could step in if we needed it. Jamel (Ashley) leads off the 4x4and that's a critical role. Only someone with experience can do that.LaChristopher anchoring solidifies our relays. He's the type of runner you wantrunning the backstretch on the 4x4. They both bring leadership qualities.
"Steve's one of the best 100-meter dash guys in the county. I think he runs thebest 4x100 third leg in the country. Arthur (Davis) is a much better 400runner. He's reliable. You have to have someone who can handle the baton ?€“?€“handing it off and taking it. Steve's very experienced in the 100. He has greatacceleration and turnover. Walter Dix (Florida State) is one of the bestfreshmen in the nation. The wind direction could play a role in the race.Anything could happen."
MSU's athletes in attendance at the championship include Southeastern Conferenceand Mideast Regional 100-meter dash champion Steve Mullings, SEC long jumpchampion and all-American LaChristopher Lewis, all-American Jamel Ashley,all-American Arthur Davis, Elzie Coleman, Eliott Morant, Kendall Pyant II andChris Woods (complete athlete bios are below).
State's 4x100-meter relay team will take the track at 5:45 p.m. CT on Wednesday.Lewis' qualifying round of the long jump begins at 5:30 p.m. CT and Mullings'first round of the 100-meter dash and Ashley and Davis' first round of the400-meter dash are scheduled for 7:40 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. CT, respectivelyWednesday.
Thursday opens with Mullings running in round one of the 200-meter dash at 7:10p.m. CT. If Lewis advances to the long jump finals, it is scheduled for 9 p.m.CT. The 200-meter semifinals are slated for 9:05 p.m. CT and the 4x400-meterrelay's round one competition is at 10:40 p.m CT.
Should the 4x100-meter relay and Mullings (100) advance to their event finals,those are scheduled for Friday. The 4x100-meter final is set for 8:30 p.m. CTand the 100 final at 10:20 p.m. CT.
The final day of competition may feature three individual finals and a relayevent for the Bulldogs. If Ashley and Davis advance to the final, it isscheduled for 8 p.m. CT. Mulllings' 200-meter dash final would follow at 9:10p.m. CT. State's 4x400-meter relay team could run in the finals at 10:35 p.m.CT.
Here is a look at Mississippi State's competitors at the NCAA Championships:
Jamel Ashley
All-American, 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay
Ashley returns to the national championships hoping to improve on his finishfrom last season. During the 2004 NCAA Championships in Austin, Ashley finishedeighth in the 400-meter dash (45.63) and was a member of the third-place4x400-meter relay team (3:03.57). Both performances earned him all-Americanhonors.
In 2005, Ashley ran the third-fastest time in school history at the MideastRegional, finishing third in 45.38. He finished second in 400 at the SECChampionships (45.72). Ashley won the Jace Lacoste Invitational 400-meter dashtitle (45.69) and took fourth at the LSU Alumni Gold meet (46.57).
In relay events, Ashley ran the first leg of the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relaysat the Mideast Regional and ran the second leg of the 4x1 at the SECChampionships. Ashley also ran the first leg of the 4x4 relay team thatfinished third at the Penn Relays (3:03.44) and ran the third fastest time inschool history. At the Texas Relays, Ashley ran the second leg of thethird-place 4x1 who ran 39.09, tying the school record.
Elzie Coleman
In his first season for the Maroon and White, Coleman has left his mark inschool history as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team. Running the third legof the 4x4, Coleman was on the third-place Penn Relays squad (3:03.44), thethird fastest time in school history. At the Mideast Regional, Coleman steppedin as an alternate and ran the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay (39.57).
Arthur Davis
All-American, 4x400-meter relay
Last season in Austin, Davis ran on the third-place 4x400-meter relay team(3:03.57). Previously this season, he finished seventh in the finals off the400-meter dash at the Mideast Regional (46.65) and SEC Championships (46.84).Running the third leg of the 4x100, Davis and the Bulldogs finished fourth atthe Mideast Regional (39.57). He also ran the second leg of the 4x4 team thatfinished fifth (3:05.99). At SECs, State's 4x1team took third (39.56). At thePenn Relays, Davis ran the 4x4 third leg (3:03.44), the third-fastest time inschool history.
LaChristopher Lewis
All-American, 4x400-meter relay
2005 Southeastern Conference Long Jump Champion
Last season in Austin, Lewis also ran on the third-place 4x400-meter relay team(3:03.57). This season, he will compete in the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relaysand the long jump. At the Mideast Regional, Lewis finished sixth in the longjump (24-3 1/2). Lewis won the SEC long jump title in Nashville with a leap of25-1 1/4 and ran the anchor leg of the 4x1 (39.56). At the Penn Relays, Lewisran the 4x4 anchor leg (3:03.44), the third-fastest time in school history andat the Texas Relays, he ran the anchor leg of the third-place 4x1 who ran39.09, tying the school record. In the long jump, in addition to winning theSEC title, Lewis won the Bulldog Invitational (25-1 1/2). His mark of 24-10 wasgood enough for sixth at the Texas Relays.
Eliott Morant
As a sophomore, Eliott Morant has had a breakout season for MSU. Morant ran thefirst leg of the 4x100-meter relay at the Texas Relays. The team finished inthird and ran 39.09, tying the school record. He also ran the first leg of the4x1 teams that won the Alabama Relays title (39.72) and FSU Snowbird title(40.52).
Steve Mullings
2005 Southeastern Conference 100-meter dash Champion
2005 Mideast Regional 100-meter dash Champion
The 2005 Southeastern Conference and Mideast Regional 100-meter dash championcomes to Sacramento with high hopes. Mullings posted the fastest regionalqualifying time twice this season with wins at the Texas Relays and the BulldogInvitational. His 10.06 posted in Austin is a Myers Stadium and Texas Relaysrecord. At the Mideast Regional, he won in 10.13 and won the SEC title in aVanderbilt Track record 10.15. Mullings will also compete in the 200-meterdash. He won the LSU Alumni Gold meet title (20.45) and Bulldog Invitationaltitle in 20.68. He finished fourth at the SEC Championships (20.48) and fifthat the Mideast Regional (20.53). As a member of the 4x100-meter relay team,Mullings ran the first leg at SECs (39.56) and the second leg at regionals(39.57). At the Texas Relays, he ran the third leg of the third-place 4x1 whoran 39.09, tying the school record.
Kendall Pyant II and Chris Woods
Kendall Pyant II and Chris Woods stepped up for the Bulldogs at the MideastRegional. As alternates, Pyant II ran the third leg and Woods ran the anchorleg of the 4x400-meter relay. The team finished fifth in 3:05.99.