Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Sun Belt Championships
Middle Tennessee Track Set To Defend Sun Belt Titles
2/26/2005 9:41:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
Since joining the Sun Belt the Blue Raider squads have been a dominant force at the indoor championships. The teams look to continue that tradition, but find the task a bit more daunting then years past.
"We want to keep our streak going and hopefully we can keep it together to keep the string alive," said Head Coach Dean Hayes. "I think the men will have the toughest time. The women will have to fight it out too, but I think they have the best chance. "
Unlike in years past, the Blue Raider men's squad doesn't have a knock out punch in most events. The team does boast two NCAA Provisional Qualifying members in Linnie Yarbrough and Alex Pruitt, and they will prove the best chances to win individual titles for Middle Tennessee.
Yarbrough, a junior from East St. Louis, Illinois, clocked in an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark of 7.30 in the 55m hurdles at the Middle Tennessee Open on February 5. The mark leads the Sun Belt and his closet competition is Gregory Belger of Arkansas State has run a 7.32.
Pruitt, who is a freshman on the squad, had the biggest jump of his young career when he launched over the high jump bar and registered a mark of 7-1.50 at the Hoosier Relays. The mark not only earned him an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark, and vaulted him to the top of the standings in the Sun Belt, but it also broke the Middle Tennessee school record.
"Linnie is leading the league and should be a force for us and I expect the same from Alex," Hayes said. "I believe Linnie and Alex have the best chance to win individual titles at the championships."
In the sprints, Middle Tennessee's men will look to Wesley Dupar-Scott and Van Fraley. Both will participate in the 55m and 200m as well as run in the mile relay.
Fraley and Dupar-Scott are listed third and fourth in the 55m on the Sun Belt list with times of 6.36 and 6.37. In the 200m, Fraley ranks third with a time of 21.70 and Dupar-Scott clocked in a season-best time of 21.97 for fourth.
Dupar-Scott can also contribute in the long jump where he has leapt a season-best 22-9.75 and is joined by JJ Sturm and Greg Jones in the jumps. Sturm ranks fourth on the Sun Belt list with a 23-7.
Jones best event is the triple jump where he leads the Sun Belt list with a mark of 48-6.25. Sturm is also near the top of the list with a jump of 46-2.5.
The throwing events will be tough for Middle Tennessee to eek out points. Arkansas State and Western Kentucky each go three deep in the shot put and weight throw. The Blue Raiders will try to counter with sophomore James Thomas in both events. The weight throw, however, has proven to be Thomas' stronger event as he has broken the school record with a toss of 54-0.
"The throws are pretty competitive in the Sun Belt," Hayes said. "I think James can put together some points for us though."
Middle Tennessee will also look for points in the distance races. Derek Dell is listed seventh on the Sun Belt list with a time of 15:38.17 in the 5000m and Jonathon Guillou is in the top 10 in the 3000m.
"On the men's side we really don't have any events we can dominate like we have in the past" Hayes said. "We just have to chip away and pick up our points where we can."
Kishara George leads the charge for the Lady Raiders. The defending Sun Belt Conference Indoor Champion in the 400m will look to repeat this year and ranks second on the Sun Belt list with a time of 55.41. She will also compete in the 200m, where she is also ranked second on the Sun Belt list, and will run a leg on the mile relay.
"I expect Kishara to have a good meet this weekend," Hayes said. "She has recovered from her injury earlier in the season and is 100 percent."
Hayes also expects a quality meet from Antranette Stringer and Kerry Barrow who will compete in the 200m and the 400m. Barrow is listed fourth on the Sun Belt list with a time of 24.99 in the 200m. Tiffany Owens will also run a leg in the relay.
"I think the mile relay for will do well with Kishara, Kerry, and Antranette as three of the legs on the relay," Hayes said. "I expect us to place high in the mile relay."
The 55m hurdles could be a big event for the Lady Raiders at the championships. Hayes is looking for junior Candice Robertson to contend for the title as she leads the Sun Belt list with a time of 8:11, over 11 tenths better then her closest competitor, which is teammate Jessica Anderson. LaToya Brown is also listed in the top 10 with a time of 8.54.
Middle Tennessee will also rely heavily on the jumps for points at the championships. Freshman Stephanie Tamgho is ranked second on the Sun Belt list in the long jump with a leap of 19-3. The Lady Raiders are also ranked third and fourth on the list with KeKe Deckard and Sierra Douglas.
Tamgho, Deckard and Douglas will also compete in the triple jump. Deckard presently leads the Sun Belt in the triple jump with a leap of 40-4. Douglas is ranked third and Tamgho is fifth.
"We should be able to score a lot of points with this trio in the jumps," Hayes said. "It should help us in the overall championships."
In the throwing events, Hayes will rely on Laetitia Florimond and Meagan Byrd. Florimond, who is a senior, is currently ranked second in the shot put with a toss of 45-10. Byrd is current ranked fourth.
Byrd, who earlier in the year broke the school record in the weight throw, tossed a personal best 54-7.5. The mark leads the Sun Belt.
"We have some events where we can score fairly big," Hayes said. "We don't have all of the events covered, but I think it all comes down to what Western Kentucky can do in the distance events."
