Texas A&M qualifies 49 athletes for NCAA Championhip field

May 20, 2011

COLLEGE STATION - As two-time defending NCAA Outdoor Champions, the quest by the Texas A&M men and women for an unprecedented third consecutive double title haul will start with the NCAA West preliminary rounds in Eugene, Oregon next weekend.

The Aggies will have a crew of 49 athletes (22 men, 27 women) competing for advancement into the NCAA Championship final rounds, which will take place June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa on the campus of Drake University.

A&M's group in Eugene will occupy 67 positions among 31 events. The breakdown includes 30 positions for the men in 14 events along with 37 positions for the women in 17 events.

One athlete, Daphne Fitzpatrick, has already qualified for the NCAA Championship weekend in the heptathlon, where her school record score of 5,811 points ranks fourth in the nation.

The University of Oregon's historic Hayward Field, the site of the Aggies second dual team championship victory last June, will serve as host of the NCAA West region, beginning next Thursday and running through Saturday.

Texas A&M men won its second NCAA Outdoor Championship by a single point over Florida at Hayward Field a year ago while the Aggie women dominated with a tally of 72 points to outscore runner-up Oregon by 15 points.

Heading into the NCAA West preliminary rounds, where the top 12 finishers advance to Des Moines, A&M features 10 No. 1 seeds, five events each for the men and women.

All four Aggie relays are top ranked in the West - men 4 x 100 (38.71), men 4 x 400 (3:00.45), women 4 x 100 (42.87), women 4 x 400 (3:27.33). During the Big 12 Championships Texas A&M became the first school to win all four relay titles in the same year.

Individual No. 1 seeds include Gerald Phiri (100 - 10.06), Tabarie Henry (400 - 44.83), Julian Reid (triple jump - 54-8 ¾ w), Jeneba Tarmoh (100 - 10.94w, 200 - 22.46), and Jessica Beard (400 - 51.55).

Texas A&M has five NCAA qualifiers in two events, the men's 200 and the women's javelin. The Aggies also have four over events where four athletes achieved NCAA qualification - men's 100, along with the women's 100, 200 and triple jump.

BOWERMAN WATCH: Jeneba Tarmoh added to list

After her second conference triple title (100, 200, 4 x 100) and being honored as the women's Big 12 Performer of the Year, A&M sprinter Jeneba Tarmoh moved from the Bowerman's mention list to the prestigious watch list.

Tarmoh joins teammate Jessica Beard on the Bowerman watch list. This is the third season United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association has put together a watch list for the Bowerman honor, which is presented to the top collegiate track and field athlete during the December convention for the organization.

Two other Aggie females are currently on the watch list for the Bowerman in Dominique Duncan and Gabby Mayo. Two Texas A&M men are also on the watch list with Tabarie Henry and Demetrius Pinder.

TRACK & FIELD NEWS: Jessica Beard on cover of June issue

Texas A&M senior Jessica Beard graces the cover of the June issue of the monthly magazine Track & Field News. The issue previews the NCAA Outdoor Championships and has a feature on Beard inside.

In addition to Beard, three other Aggies have pictures in the issue, including Coach Pat Henry along with sprinters Jeneba Tarmoh and Demetrius Pinder.

The mid-season form chart predicts the Texas A&M women to win with 62 points ahead of Oregon (57) and LSU (53). For the men the magazine tabs Florida to win with 65 points over Florida State (62) and the Aggies (55). An updated form chart will be online now that the conference meets have concluded.

NCAA Outdoor - West Region Preliminary Rounds

Texas A&M has 67 qualifiers in 31 events, which includes 49 athletes. Daphne Fitzpatrick has already qualified for the NCAA Championship field in the heptathlon.

Texas A&M No. 1 seeds in the West Region:

Men (5) - Gerald Phiri (100), Tabarie Henry (400), 4 x 100, 4 x 400, Julian Reid (triple jump)

Women (5) - Jeneba Tarmoh (100, 200), Jessica Beard (400), 4 x 100, 4 x 400

Men (30 A&M qualifiers in 14 events, with seed placement) - 22 athletes

100 (4): 1. Prezel Hardy, Jr.; =34. Tran Howell; =43. Michael Bryan

200 (5): 2. Prezel Hardy, Jr.; 14. Gerald Phiri; 27. Carlyle Roudette; =30. Michael Bryan

400 (3): 1. Tabarie Henry; 2. Demetrius Pinder; 7. Bryan Miller

800 (2): 5. Michael Preble; 9. Joey Roberts; 26. Oscar Ramirez

5000 (1): 35. Kevin Burnett

110H (1): 12. Wayne Davis

400H (1): =44. Seth Mabry

4x100: 1. Texas A&M (Howell, Phiri, Pinder, Hardy)