May 31, 2008
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LINCOLN, Neb. -
The Baylor men's and women's track teams swept the 4x400-meter relay titles, and Baylor won four regional championships on the second day of competition at the 2008 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.
The Baylor men won their 28th-straight race with a time of 3:03.19 to close the meet. The Bears have not lost a race to an NCAA team since the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships and have since won three-straight national championships (2007 indoor and outdoor, 2008 indoor). Baylor also wins its sixth-straight Midwest Regional title, winning every championship since the regional format was introduced in 2003.
Marcus Boyd led off for the Bears and ran a 46.1 seconds split to hand off in first place. J.T. Scheuerman ran the second leg for Baylor, breaking to the rail in first place. A late charge by Texas A&M and Texas Tech boxed in Scheuerman coming down the homestretch, but he rallied late with a 46.0 seconds split to hand off in a tie for first.
Justin Boyd settled in behind the Texas A&M runner down the backstretch before making his move with 100 meters remaining. His split of 45.4 seconds gave Baylor a lead heading to the anchor leg. Quentin Iglehart-Summers cruised through the first 200 meters of his leg with a two-step lead on Texas A&M. The Aggies made a charge with 100 meters left, but Iglehart-Summers kicked at the end to hold onto the lead with a 45.3 seconds split.
"It always feels good to win," said Scheuerman. "We came in here and did what we expected to do. We are glad that regionals are over and nationals are coming up. We are going there to win."
The Lady Bears followed its strong showing at the Big 12 Championships with another win on Saturday. Katrina Taylor led off for the Bears with a 53.5 seconds split and looked to be first to the exchange zone. Brittany Carr got out quickly and broke to the rail in first place. After a kick from Texas A&M and TCU down the backstretch, Carr made her move with 150 meters remaining and passed in first place with a 53.5 seconds split.
Tiffany Townsend held the lead for Baylor, making a late kick to hold off Oklahoma and Houston with a split of 54.2 seconds. Townsend gave Carla Grace a 15-meter cushion and the senior held the lead with a 52.1 seconds split as Baylor won in a time of 3:33.71, nearly two full seconds ahead of Oklahoma.
"This is very exciting for us," said Carr. "Going into indoor nationals we weren't ready as a team. We had some injuries and couldn't put a complete race together. This was a good opportunity for use and I'm glad we took advantage of it."
LeJerald Betters won the Midwest Regional title in the men's 400 meters with a time of 45.04, the second-straight meet that he has run 45.0 in the open 400 meters. At the Big 12 Championships, Betters clocked 45.01 to win his third-straight 400 meter title.
"I really felt like I hit my 200-meter mark just right," said Betters. "When I went into the curve I picked up my speed and finished strong like my coaches told me."
Robert Griffin clocked 49.53 in the 400-meter hurdles to set a new Midwest Regional record. Griffin got out quickly, making up the stagger on the backstretch. He finished strong holding off Nick Robinson of Texas A&M and teammate J. Boyd, duplicating the same 1-2-3 finish as the Big 12 Championships.
"I hadn't been feeling good all week," said Griffin. "The race didn't feel very good for me, but to come out with the win is a blessing. Only God can do that."
Lauren Hagans automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish in the women's 1,500 meters. Her time of 4:16.77 is her second-fastest time of the season, just off her school-record pace of 4:16.16.
Jacob Norman also automatically qualified in the men's 100 meters with a personal-best time of 10.29 to finish third overall. The time betters his old personal best time of 10.32 set at the 2006 Big 12 Championships.
The women's 4x100-meter relay automatically qualified for the NCAA meet with a second-place finish behind Texas A&M.
The Bears will await the NCAA at-large nominations which will be announced later this week. At-large entries will be determined according to the national descending order list. Only athletes who finished in the top 12 at the regional meets are eligible for an at-large bid.
Baylor returns to action on June 11-14 at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
LeJerald Betters - 400 Meters
Robert Griffin - 400-Meter Hurdles
Taylor, Carr, Townsend, Grace - 4x400-Meter Relay
M. Boyd, Scheuerman, J. Boyd, Iglehart-Summers - 4x400-Meter Relay
ALL-MIDWEST REGION
LeJerald Betters - 400 Meters
Justin Boyd - 400-Meter Hurdles
Marcus Boyd - 400 Meters
DeAna Carson - 100-Meter Hurdles
Carla Grace - 200 Meters
Robert Griffin - 400-Meter Hurdles
Lauren Hagans - 1,500 Meters
Nichole Jones - 1,500 Meters
Jacob Norman - 100 Meters
Bruce, Grace, Carr, Townsend - 4x100-Meter Relay
M. Boyd, Scheuerman, Thomas, Norman - 4x100-Meter Relay
Taylor, Carr, Townsend, Grace - 4x400-Meter Relay
M. Boyd, Scheuerman, J. Boyd, Iglehart-Summers - 4x400-Meter Relay
SATURDAY RESULTS
Women's Events
200 Meters
1. Porscha Lucas (Texas A&M) - 22.67
6. Carla Grace (Baylor) - 23.27
1,500 Meters
1. Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) - 4:11.79#
2. Lauren Hagans (Baylor) - 4:16.77
7. Nichole Jones (Baylor) - 4:24.39
100-Meter Hurdles
1. LaToya Greaves (Oklahoma) - 13.17
8. DeAna Carson (Baylor) - 14.24
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
1. Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - 9:44.46
10. Erin Bedell (Baylor) - 10:26.74
12. Danielle Bradley (Baylor) - 10:30.01
4x100-Meter Relay
1. Texas A&M - 43.42
2. Baylor - 44.02
4x400-Meter Relay
1. Baylor - 3:33.71
Triple Jump
1. Blessing Okagbare (UTEP) - 13.97m (45-10)#
21. Stasia Kelly-Taylor (Baylor) - 12.32m (40-05)
Men's Events
100 Meters
1. Teddy Williams (UTSA) - 10.25
3. Jacob Norman (Baylor) - 10.29
200 Meters
1. Chris Dykes (Texas A&M) - 20.39#
7. Trey Harts (Baylor) - 24.16
400 Meters
1. LeJerald Betters (Baylor) - 45.04
6. Marcus Boyd (Baylor) - 46.06
400-Meter Hurdles
1. Robert Griffin (Baylor) - 49.53#
3. Justin Boyd (Baylor) - 50.24
4x100-Meter Relay
1. Texas A&M - 38.93#
4. Baylor - 39.84
4x400-Meter Relay
1. Baylor - 3:03.19
# - NCAA Midwest Regional record
