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Jan. 30, 2010

Complete Results

College Station - Four school records by the Aggies and a collegiate record from Oregon's Ashton Eaton in the heptathlon made for an exciting second day at the Texas A&M Challenge in the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.

In the scoring by conference the Big 12, represented by Texas A&M, Texas and Baylor, won the men's title with 297 points and the women's crown with 260 in front of 2,444 fans.

The Pac-10, with Oregon, Stanford and Washington State, was runner-up in both with 235 points for the men and 237 for the women. The SEC, competing with Arkansas, Florida and South Carolina, totaled 144 points in the men's meet and 192 points in the women's.

"The Big 12 is developing a pride about track and field as a conference," Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry said. "I think it's pretty evident that the Big 12 is stepping up to be the premier conference, in my opinion. Of course, I'm a member of the Big 12. I think we are going to continue to get better in this conference.

"It's a whole culture that you have to change regarding a scored meet, the way things have happened in track. It's got to change. This is a nice kind of meet to have. These scores are significant and they mean something to somebody. If fans can relate to that, then it's a good thing."

Texas A&M men closed out the Challenge meet with a stellar time in the 4 x 400 as they won in 3:04.86, the fastest collegiate time since 2007, over Baylor and Florida. The foursome of Tran Howell (46.93), Bryan Miller (46.12), Tabarie Henry (46.06) and Demetrius Pinder (45.75) bettered the school record of 3:05.92 they set last weekend.

"We wanted some revenge," Tabarie Henry stated. "Because the first time we ran against Baylor I went down with a severe cramp and didn't run. So, I wanted to race them. It was a good show."

Now the Aggies are the seventh fastest school ever in the 4 x 400 indoors as they defeated Baylor (3:05.52), the defending NCAA Indoor champions, and Florida (3:06.72).

"Any time you know you're going to line up against Baylor and Florida you know something good is going to happen," Coach Henry said. "Today, it was a great race."

Tabarie Henry also broke a school record in the open 400 as he won in his season debut with a 45.81 world-leading time that supplanted a 21-year-old A&M mark of 45.94 set by Howard Davis in 1989.

"Hard work pays off," said Tabarie, who remained in College Station over the Christmas break. "I thought I would have a 46-low in me, but the coaches told me I have a 45 in me. I'm not a guy who chases times, I let it happen on it's own. I've learned to be patient on my season."

Julian Reid claimed the triple jump with a school best of 53-11.75 to better the A&M mark of 53-11 held by current teammate Zuheir Sharif, who finished second in the Texas A&M Challenge with a 52-1.75 effort. Aggie teammates Tyron Stewart (50-11.5) and Melvin Echard (49-11.75) finished third and fifth.

"It's always wonderful to take the record from someone who is currently here," Reid said. "That it is one of my teammates is even better, because I know he is going to challenge me and try to get it back.

"Personally, I think my teammates are the big jumpers to compete against this year. So I get all the motivation I need to compete just by being around them."

The fourth A&M school record set on the day came in the men's 3,000 meters where Kevin Burnett clocked an 8:07.73 to place 10th. His effort bettered the 20-year-old record of 8:08.06 held by Ralph Meyer in 1990.

"I know I still have a lot of work to do," Burnett noted. "I broke the school record, but still finished 10th in the meet. That shows what great competition we had here this weekend. I feel like I have a lot more in me.

"Watching teammates do a lot better helps get you pumped up and prepare for your own event. It's a great atmosphere here and makes you ready to race."

Curtis Mitchell reclaimed the world-leading status in the 200 meters as he cruised to a 20.69, the third fastest time on the Aggie all-time list.

"I just want to keep getting better every week," said Mitchell, who lowered his time from a 20.99 set last week. "I run for my mom, who is back home working two jobs. I want to do everything I can to help her. I'm just really happy that a kid from Florida can go to California and then come here and really let my light shine. I'm just so thankful."

Henry and Mitchell added to the growing list of NCAA automatic qualifiers for Texas A&M, joining Porscha Lucas (200), Jessica Beard (400), Demetrius Pinder (400) and the Aggie men's 4 x 400.

Just missing her own school record was Natasha Ruddock in the women's 60 hurdles where her 8.16 win just missed her 8.15 A&M record she set last week.

Ruddock led an Aggie 1-2-3 sweep of the event as Gabby Mayo (8.23) and Vashti Thomas (8.25) followed in close fashion. After her work in the hurdles, Thomas placed second in the long jump with a leap of 20-8.5, just half an inch away from her indoor personal best.

Impressive victories for Texas A&M were also registered by Gerald Phiri (60), Jessica Beard (200), Sandy Wooten (600 yards) and Deidre Tarver (weight).

Phiri gained the lead early in his sprint final and finished with a 6.66 victory over Marquise Goodwin of Texas (6.78), Florida's Jeremy Hall (6.78) and Baylor's Whitney Prevost (6.80). Phiri later placed third in the 200 in 21.05.

In the women's 200 Beard posted a 23.34, just off her career best of 23.28, to claim the win over Mayo's 23.68. Beard, who is currently the third fastest collegian this season and the U.S. leader in the 400, also established a career best of 7.56 in the prelims of the 60.

Wooten produced a 1:22.71 win the 600 yards as she prepares to defend her 2009 Big 12 title in the rarely run event. Wooten, who holds the school record, recorded the fifth fastest performance ever at Texas A&M.

Aggie newcomer Andrea Sutherland placed third in the 600 yards with a 1:23.88 while Tiffany Singleton finished fifth in 1:24.29.

Tarver turned in a consistent series and ended the competition her best effort of the day, a 59-10.25 toss in the weight throw that was just two inches off her career best.

A runner-up in the men's 600 yards, Michael Preble recorded the third fastest time at A&M with a 1:09.62 as teammates Joey Roberts (1:10.12) and Oscar Ramirez (1:10.38) placed fourth and fifth.

COLLEGIATE RECORD - HEPTATHLON

Eaton totaled 6,256 points to break the collegiate record score of 6,208 set by Trey Hardee of Texas in 2006. Eaton scored 1,017 points with a 7.86 in the 60 hurdles. Then he cleared 16-3.25 (898 points) in the pole vault before closing out the record chase with a 2:38.02 in the 1,000 meters.

"Yesterday I was feeling good and I was on pace, but I didn't let myself worry about it," noted Eaton, who trailed Hardee's first day score by 32 points. "Because there are so many things that can go wrong in a multi. However, I didn't really know I had a chance until after the pole vault.

"They told me the time I needed in the last race, and I knew then that I had this. I really like this facility. This track is really fast and really helped with my 60 and hurdle times."