By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athleic Director for Sports INformation
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Already owning some of the best performances in the Ohio Valley Conference this season and eight school records, the Tennessee Tech track & field team doesn't plan to back down this weekend at the Music City Challenge.
It will mark the third time this season that coach Wayne Angel's team runs on the indoor track at Vanderbilt University, with a travel squad of 21 Golden Eagle student-athletes scheduled to compete.
Angel said his team hopes to improve on what have been some impressive numbers during the first eight weeks of the season, and use the meet as a tune-up for the OVC Championships
"We will use the Music City Challenge as a final tune-up, giving everyone an opportunity to compete before the OVC championships in two weeks," said Angel. "Our athletes who are on the bubble of making the championships will have another chance to prove that they are worthy to travel.
"For the athletes who have established themselves, they will use this meet to hone their skills and help us put the final pieces of the puzzle together as we finalize our travel roster," Angel said. "I look forward to more fireworks this weekend."
Action gets underway Friday at 4 p.m. for Tech, with the high jump and the long jump. Two running events are on the agenda Friday night, with six Tech runners in the 200m dash and two running the 5,000-meter race.
Saturday's schedule for Tech gets underway with the 3,000-meter run at 10 a.m., and concludes with the 800-meter run at around 4 p.m.
There are several Golden Eagles whom Angel expect to shine at the Music City Challenge.
"Sarah Brandt will look to challenge the school record in the mile and D'Airrien Jackson will look to regain the title of school record holder in the 800 meters," he said. "Look for Na'Asha Robinson to break the school record again in the 400 meters."
The Golden Eagles added three school records to their harvest last weekend at Notre Dame in the Meyo Invitational, taking advantage to run against some of the most successful collegiate track & field programs in the country.
"We will definitely benefit this week from our experience at Notre Dame," Angel said.
It's the final outing for the team before competing in the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships, Feb. 26-27 at Tennessee State's Gentry Center. The Golden Eagles expect to make a large dent in the competition, judging from the conference best lists. Tech has nine individuals listed among the best in the OVC, including two best times in the conference, and two relay teams among the top four times.
If all of those times convert into points at the OVC meet, the Golden Eagles should accomplish the team's best finish in history.
After action last weekend, Robinson and Jackson own the two fastest times in the OVC at 400 meters, while three Golden Eagles – Brandt, Stremler and Jackson – are among the top eight at 800 meters. Brandt's school record last week is the fastest time to date in the conference.
The 4x400m relay team of Robinson, Jackson, Leibenberg and Brandt owns the second-best time in the league, setting the school record at Notre Dame in 3:48.29.
Tech currently in OVC Top 10
60 Meters - Robinson 5th
200 Meters – Robinson 5th
400 Meters – Robinson 1st, Jackson 2nd
800 Meters – Brandt 1st, Stremler 3rd. Jackson 6th
5000 Meters – Murray 5t
4 x 400 Relay 2nd
DMR Relay 4th
Triple Jumo - Smith 5th
Here are the times and events scheduled this weekend at the Music City Challenge
for Golden Eagle student-athletes:
Friday
4 p.m. – High Jump (Drummond)
5 p.m. – Long Jump (Driscoll, E. Robinson)
7 p.m. – 200m (Hymon, McGee, O'Neal, Driscoll, Washington, Leibenberg)
8:25 p.m. – 5,000m (Bezuidenhout, Leibenberg)
Saturday
10 a.m. – 3,000m (Murray)
10:30 am. – Mile Run (Storms)
11 a.m. – 800m (Retano, Cooper)
11 a.m. – Shot Put (Kington, Susnjar)
11:30 a.m. – 400m (Washington, Stremler, Leibenberg)
1:40 p.m. – 60m (Hymon, O'Neal McGee, N. Robinson, Washington)
2 p.m. – Triple Jump (Smith)
2:20 p.m. - Mile [seeded] (Brandt)
3:20 p.m. – 400m (N. Robinson)
3:50 p.m. – 800m (Jackson)
