Jan. 14, 2009
Meet: Leonard Hilton Memorial
When: Friday, Jan. 16, 2009
Where: Houston, Texas (Yeoman Field House/UH Alumni Center)
Track: Flat, six lane, 200-meter oval with eight-lane straightaway
Live Stats: Click here for live stats.
2009 Indoor Preview
The Longhorns start the season ranked No. 12 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason poll. Texas returns All-Americans Alexandria Anderson, Katara Rosby and Destinee Hooker, who took last season off to train with the USA Volleyball team. Anderson holds the fastest indoor 60-meter time among returning Division I athletes with her mark of 7.17. The senior placed third in the event at the national indoor meet a year ago and second in the 200-meter. Hooker, entering her third season with the track and field squad, is a two-time NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion and finished third in the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2006 and 2007. Rosby earned indoor All-American honors as a leg of the 4x400-meter relay.
Texas also returns junior thrower Jordyn Brown, who placed 15th in the shot put at last year's NCAA Indoor meet, and Chantel Malone who took home All-Big 12 honors in the triple jump (third, 42-6.75) and long jump (seventh, 19-1.5).
The Longhorns bring in a strong group of freshmen that should provide depth in the sprints and hurdles. Texas signed five sprinters along with a trio of Texas UIL champions in the field events including two-time Class 4A state pole vault champion Jessica Doyle.
2009 Indoor Schedule Texas travels to Houston and College Station twice during the 2009 indoor season. After the Longhorns suit up for the Leonard Hilton Memorial meet, UT will get its first look at the NCAA Championships site at the Texas A&M Showdown (Jan. 13).
In February, the Longhorns take their final 170-mile journey to Houston of the 2009 season for the Houston All-Comer's Meet on Feb. 7. UT ends the regular season with another preview of the Aggie Indoor Track facility at the Texas A&M Invitational from Feb. 13-14.
After the Big 12 Championship, which will also be contested in College Station, from Feb. 27-28, Texas will decide on a last chance meet (to take place March 6 or March 7) before heading back to the A&M campus for the indoor nationals from March 13-14.
2007-08 Season Recap
The 2008 season saw Texas continue its strong tradition as a powerhouse program. The Longhorns finished in the top five at the Big 12 Championship and extended its streak of top-10 NCAA team finishes to six with a fourth-place performance at the 2008 National Championship. The Longhorns scored 36 points behind six individual All-America honors and one All-American relay to finish among the nation's best teams.
2009 Preseason Track and Field Rankings
UT is ranked No. 12 in the preseason poll released on Jan. 8 by the USTFCCCA. Big 12 foe Texas A&M earned the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Tennessee and No. 5 Florida State. Arizona State, the 2008 NCAA Indoor Champion, is slated to finish sixth followed by No. 7 Virginia Tech, No. 8 Oregon, No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 10 Minnesota.
Last Year at the Leonard Hilton Memorial
Four Longhorns finished in the top 10 at the 2008 Leonard Hilton Memorial. Then-freshman Jessica Heath posted UT's highest finish of the day with a third-place effort in the 5,000-meter run (17:57.89). Fellow newcomer Allison Mendez came in one spot behind her, placing fourth in 18:17.07.
Three middle distance runners placed in the top 16 in their respective events while junior Candace Vielma led the Horns' vaulters, clearing 10-11.75 to tie for 12th place. Senior Mariya Townswick placed seventh in the mile (5:13.84) while freshman Jena Cuellar finished the 800-meter in 2:23.52 for sixth.
