Texas Women'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.
Longhorns head to LIncoln ... The University of Texas Women's Track and Field team heads to the 15th annual Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships this Friday-Saturday, February 25-26 held at Nebraska's Bob Devaney Sports Center. This marks the eighth and final time that Nebraska will host the event. Nebraska will start competing in the Big Ten conference next year. The indoor facility features a 200-meter track with eight lanes, four pole vault runways and two long jump/triple jump pits.
Horns no stranger to Big 12 Titles ... UT's women's track and field team owns five Big 12 Indoor Championships titles, tying with Nebraska for the most by a women's Big 12 team since the inception of the league in 1996. The Longhorns also hold the record for the highest point total (167 pts, 2003) in the history of the league's indoor championship - men's or women's.
LONGHORNS RISING IN THE RANKINGS ... The Texas Women's Track and Field team has climbed to the No. 3 spot in the nation, according to the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer rankings, released Tuesday.
PICKIN' UP AUTOMATIC MARKS ... Two Longhorns have picked up 2 NCAA Automatic marks so far this season. Senior Chantel Malone has gained one automatic mark in the long jump (21-10) and has the longest jump in the Big 12 and in the nation while junior Mia Behm reached the automatic standard in the 5000m (15:58.34) with her season-best mark, and second fastest all time at UT .
BEHM PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME... After setting provisional marks in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, Behm recorded a personal best and a personal record in the 5000m(15:58.34) and comes into the Big 12 championships ranked second and ready to race for the Big 12 title. Her time of 15:58.34 also places her second on UT's all time list for the 5000m. She also has posted personal bests in the 3000m (9:23.19) and in mile (4:51.56).
Malone ahead of the rest ... After winning the Big 12 long jump title in 2010, Malone looks to repeat. Her jump of 21-10 is not only the best in the Big 12, but also in the nation. She also has the best triple jump (43-5.75) in the Big 12 and ranks third nationally. She now ranks second in both the long jump and triple jump all time on Texas' indoor records. Malone also is looking to gain points for Texas in the 400m( 53.23) where she ranks fourth in the Big 12 and eighth nationally.
400m TEXAS TRADITION ... Continued success in the 400m is evident as the Texas women boast three of the top 10 times in the 400 meters. Junior Angele Cooper is third nationally (52.69), freshman Briana Nelson is seventh (53.21) and Malone is tied for eighth (53.23). The team's 4x400-meter relay team is fourth in the nation (3:34.12).
LONGHORNS CLEARING NEW HEIGHTS ... Freshman Shanay Briscoe is making a significant impact with her conference leading jump PR of 5-11.5, which also ranks eighth nationally. Briscoe is not alone at the top as Victoria Lucas and Alicia Peterson have both cleared 5-9.25 which puts them tied for third place entering the Indoor championships. Not trailing far behind is junior Beverly Owoyele with a PR of 5-8.75, which ties her for a fifth place ranking in the Big 12.
JIMENEZ LOOKS TO FINISH STRONG ... Redshirt senior Betzy Jimenez is prepped to race her last time at the Big 12 Indoor championships. She is ranked second in the 3,000 (9:20.26) and sixth in the mile (4:45.50).
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