Coming Up in the WAC...
January 26
Fresno State at Air Force Elite Invitational
La. Tech, Rice, SMU at LSU Invitational
UTEP, Tulsa at Texas Tech Invitational
Previously in the WAC...
January 19
Boise State at Idaho State Invitational-NTS
Houston Invitational:
La. Tech men-12th; women-8th
Rice men-4th; women-2nd
SMU men-9th; women-5th
Tulsa at Missouri Invitational-NTS
Injury Report
The UTEP womens squad will begin the season without three-time All-American Anna Tarasova because of a knee injury. The Miners kick-off the season at the Texas Tech Invitational this weekend. Tarasova claimed the triple jump titles at both the WAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2001. She also holds the all-time indoor WAC record with a mark of 44-2 3/4 (2001) and the all-time WAC outdoor record at 44-9 (2001). In addition, she holds the WAC Outdoor Championship record with a mark of 44-0 (2000). At last years NCAA Indoor Championships, Tarasova was third, while placing fourth at the outdoor championships.
In the Polls
In the new Trackwire poll, released on Jan. 22, the Rice women moved up to 11th from last weeks ranking of 13th. The Owls earned 17 points and are tied with N.C. State. UTEP dropped out of the rankings after an idle week. Much of the same criteria used to determine the Dandy Dozen is applied to the rankings. Florida and South Carolina flipflopped this week, with the Gators leading the poll and enjoying a two-point advantage over South Carolina. For the men, SMU again tallied 13 points and shares the 16th ranking with Mississippi State and Oklahoma. Tennessee leads the charge, following its victory at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last year.
Others Nominated in Mens Track
Vaughn Walwyn, a Rice junior, placed second in the long jump in his opening meet in 2002, the Houston Invitational. His leap of 24-03 tied his personal best. SMU freshman Martin Allgeyer won the 3,000 meters at the Houston Invitational with a time of 8:16.43, tops in the WAC. Tulsa sophomore Adrian Young won the 200-meter dash at the Missouri Invitational last Friday with a time of 22.59, beating out 16 other runners.
Others Nominated in Womens Track
Louisiana Tech junior Tawanna Williams placed second in the weight throw at the Houston Invitational with a toss of 50-8 3/4 (15.46m). She also placed third in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 48-10 1/4 (14.89m). Also at the Houston Invitational, Rice senior Aimee Teteris finished fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 56.00. Teteris was a member of the 4x400 relay that placed second and she also ran the 800 leg of the DMR that finished first in 12:08.82. Tracey Ball, a senior for SMU, won the 200 meters at the Houston Invitational in 24.30. Ball took third in the 400 meters with a time of 55.73. Tulsa junior Monica Joannes won the 600-yard run with a time of 1:24.62, besting 11 other runners.
Last Weeks Results
At the Houston Invitational, the Rice women claimed three wins, while SMU took two titles. Tracey Ball and Nancy Guillen won the 200 meters and weight throw, respectively. Also scoring for the Mustangs were shot putter Karen Freberg, long jumper LaVada Hill and triple jumper Diana Nikitina. Rices distance medley relay won with a time of 12:08.82. Tanya Wright won the 800, while Alice Falaiye won the long jump title for the second-straight week. Rice scored 65 points in the meet to finish second, while SMU finished fifth. On the mens side, Rice scored 43 points to come in fourth. Keith Pierce and Scott Loftin finished second and fourth, repsectively, in the 3,000 meters. Ryan Harlan placed second in the 60-meter hurdles, while Rice distance medley relay teams finished second and third. SMU placed ninth in the meet, paced by two wins. Martin Allgeyer won the 3,000 meters and the Mustang DMR team took first as well.
Boise State fared well at the non-scoring Snake River Invitational last Saturday in Pocatello, Idaho. Athlete of the week Mark Hoxmeier won the shot put with an NCAA provisional-qualifying mark of 61-3. Sprinter Ken West won the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.42. For the women, Abbey Elsberry broke the Boise State record in the weight throw with her NCAA provisional qualifying throw of 59-7 3/4. Sadie Sweet also set a school record in the pole vault.
Tulsa won two individual titles and two relay titles at the Missouri Invitational. The Hurricane has won at least one title in all three events this season. Adrian Young won the 200-meter dash for the men, and in womens competition, Monica Joannes won the 600-yard run.