FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- University of Texas juniors Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas) and Marshevet Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), as well as freshman Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), each registered NCAA automatic-qualifying marks Saturday to wrap up the second and final day of the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Complex.
The UT shot put record holder and 2005 NCAA runner-up, Carter posted a season-best mark of 57-6.25 to officially qualify for the event at next month's NCAA Championships, which are also in Fayetteville. Carter won Saturday's event and topped her nearest competitor by two feet.
Marshevet Hooker added her third NCAA automatic mark after posting two on Friday. She clocked a personal-best time of 23.13 in the 200 meters to take third place and eclipse the NCAA automatic mark by nearly two tenths of a second. Marshevet registered NCAA automatic marks in the 60-meter dash and the long jump on Friday.
Destinee Hooker, the younger sister of Marshevet, entered Saturday's high-jump competition with the nation's top mark of 6-0.75 (1.84m). Unsatisfied, Destinee raised the bar and cleared a personal-best height of 6-3.25 (1.91m), topping her closest opponent by two inches. As a result, Destinee earned another NCAA automatic mark after picking up her first automatic mark in her first collegiate meet last month in Houston.
Notably, Destinee Hooker's leap of 6-3.25 ties her for second with Angie Bradburn on UT's all-time list of top high jumpers. It is the highest leap by a Longhorn since 1999, when UT record holder Erin Aldrich topped 6-3.50 at the NCAA Championships. Furthermore, Destinee graduated from San Antonio's Southwest High School one semester early and enrolled at Texas in January.
"I think that's the biggest compliment you can give her," said UT coach Bev Kearney of Destinee's youth. "She's doing this at such a young age, and she is the epitome of a competitor. She just enjoys the competitive arena."
Aldrich and Bradburn each won NCAA high jump titles at Texas. Destinee's leap is only one quarter of an inch below the 2005 NCAA title-winning height of 6-3.50 turned in by Georgia Tech's Chaunte Howard, a three-time NCAA champion.
"It's clear that Destinee and Marshevet both did a such a phenomenal job this weekend, along with Michelle Carter, Melaine Walker and many others," said UT coach Bev Kearney. "It's starting to feel like the entire team is coming along.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but on any given day, any of those student-athletes can post tremendous performances, and that's what I like about this team."
Elsewhere at the Tyson Invitational, Texas added two NCAA provisional marks and five personal bests to cap a productive afternoon. Freshman Janine Davis (Elizabeth, N.J.) took second in the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 2:10.46. Senior Dee Dee Cortez (Mission, Texas) also added personal bests in the event.
Senior LaTashia Kerr (Houston, Texas) set a new personal best and added an NCAA provisional mark in the 200 meters with a seventh-place time of 23.69. Freshman Alexandria Anderson (Chicago, Ill.) placed ninth in the event's championship division, also adding an NCAA provisional mark.
Texas will take next weekend off before competing in the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25 at the University of Nebraska.
Tyson Invitational - Fayetteville, Ark.
Day Two Texas Results
Shot Put
1.Michelle Carter - 57-6.25 (17.53m)@
800 Meters - College division
2. Janine Davis - 2:10.46!
7. Dee Dee Cortez - 2:11.69!
13. Katara Rosby - 2:13.45!
39. Temeka Kincy - 2:21.86
200 Meters - College division
7. LaTashia Kerr - 23.69!#
21. Jasmine Lee - 24.24!
High Jump - Championship division
1. Destinee Hooker - 6-3.25 (1.91m)!@
200 Meters - Championship division
3. Marshevet Hooker - 23.13@!
9. Alexandria Anderson - 23.68#
|
|
 |
