Texas Men's Track and Field preview: Big 12 Indoor Championships
Feb. 23, 2011
MEET INFO
WHAT: 2011 Big 12 Indoor Championships
WHEN: Fri.-Sat, Feb. 25-26 - All Day
WHERE: Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, Neb.
TEXAS HEADS TO BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS: The No. 8 Texas men's track and field team will head to the 2011 Big 12 Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25-26. The two-day meet is being hosted by Nebraska at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb.. The Longhorns have won four of the last five Big 12 Indoor Championships. The Horns have 12 All-Big 12 performers back from last year's team including outdoor long jump national champion Marquise Goodwin. Goodwin placed third in both the long jump and 60 meters at the indoor conference championship as a freshman. He's joined by 2010 Big 12 indoor shot put runner-up Hayden Baillio.
FOLLOW THE ACTION: For meet information on the 2011 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, visit either www.TexasSports.com or www.Big12Sports.com. To follow the live results, visit www.huskers.com
TEXAS CONFERENCE HISTORY: The Texas men's track and field team has captured 10 indoor conference titles (five SWC/five Big 12) dating back to the first Southwest Conference Championships in 1974. The Horns have won five-of-14 Big 12 crowns since the league started in 1996-97 (1999, 2006, `07, `08, `09). UT's five Big 12 titles are second to Nebraska for the most by any team in the conference. The Longhorns have won four of the last five Big 12 crowns. UT has finished in the top two at the conference meet nine out of the Big 12's 14 years of existence.
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCE HISTORY: The UT men have captured 101 individual or relay conference crowns since the first Southwest Conference meet was held in 1974. UT has won titles in a variety of events, but in the high jump and pole vault alone, the Longhorns boast 22 league crowns.
TEXAS TOP 10: Texas has finished in the Top 10 at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in seven of the last eight seasons. UT started the streak when they tied for ninth at the 2003 meet. Since then, the Horns have posted two third-place finishes, two fourth-place finishes and two 10th-place finishes. Prior to 2003, the Horns had only recorded two Top 10 finishes since the indoor national meet started in 1965.
GOODWIN ADDED TO THE BOWERMAN WATCH LIST: Sophomore long jumper/sprinter Marquise Goodwin is one of 11 male athletes on The Bowerman Watch List released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Goodwin currently boasts the country's top long jump on the season with a jump of 26-8.50 (8.14m). Goodwin's jump is the top indoor long jump in UT history. The sophomore is the defending NCAA outdoor long jump champion with a mark of 26-9 (8.15m).
STEWART NAMED BIG 12 MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Sophomore hurdler Keiron Stewart was named Big 12 Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week on Feb. 8. Stewart automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship after taking first in the 60-meter hurdles championship at the New Balance Invitational in a collegiate-best 7.68. The time was just one-hundredth of a second off the UT record of 7.67 and was the fastest time run by a Longhorn since the record was set in 2004.
PAIR OF NATIONAL LEADERS: The Texas roster currently boasts two of the nation's collegiate leaders in two events. Sophomores Keiron Stewart and Marquise Goodwin are tops in the NCAA in the 60m hurdles (7.68) and the long jump (26-8.5), respectively. Texas is one of just two schools to hold the top spot in two events this season - athletes from Alabama currently lead the country in the 200m and 400m.
MCGREGOR'SRECORD: Sophomore Patrick McGregor set the school record in the 1,000 meters at the Texas vs. Arkansas Dual Meet. McGregor's time of 2:22.75 broke Kyle Miller's then-record of 2:23.07 that stood since 2007. Senior Logan Gonzales (2:24.22) and freshman Kevin Rayes (2:24.62) also posted times that placed them in the top 10 on UT's all-time performers list.
ISLAND INFLUENCE: The Longhorns' success thus far is due largely to two athletes from the Caribbean, senior high jumper Jamal Wilson from Nassau, Bahamas and sophomore hurdler Keiron Stewart from Kingston, Jamaica. Wilson has cleared 7 feet on three occasions this season. His latest clearance was a personal best 7-4.25 (2.24m) at the Don Kirby Invitational to automatically qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championship. Stewart currently holds the nation's top 60-meter hurdle time of 7.68, an NCAA automatic qualifying mark.
GREAVES AND MURPHY BREAK 5,500 POINTS: Senior Kenny Greaves and junior Isaac Murphy each broke 5,500 points in the heptathlon at the Razorback Invitational as Greaves won the event with 5,549 points and Murphy was runner-up with 5,515 points. It marked the first time that Texas has had two heptathletes break the 5,500-point barrier in the same season since 2006 when All-Americans Trey Hardee and Donovan Kilmartin accomplished the feat.
FRESH FACES: The Texas men have received strong contributions from a number of freshmen. Jake Wohlford and Mark Thomas have both won events. Wohlford won the 60-meter hurdles at the Arkansas Dual Meet and Mark Thomas earned the top spot in the pole vault. Mark Jackson currently holds the 10th-best triple jump in the nation with a mark of 52-5.25. In addition, Ryan Dohner was the Longhorns' top finisher in each of the cross country races he participated, while Michael Quercia clocked 1:51.89 in the 800 meters.
MULTI-SPORT STAR: Sophomore Marquise Goodwin enters his second track and field season after competing for the Longhorn football team. Goodwin tallied 31 receptions for 324 yards and a touchdown in 2010. In the track season, Goodwin is the nation's leading long jumper with a leap of 26-8.50. Goodwin is the defending NCAA outdoor long jump champion. |
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