TCU
TCU Invitational
TCU collects eight gold medals at home meet
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM
April 22, 2006
FT. WORTH, Texas - Sophomores Virgil Hodge and Jonathan Jackson were the highlights of the day for the Flyin' Frogs as the Seventh Annual TCU Track & Field Invitational came to a close early Saturday evening at the Lowdon Track & Field Complex in Fort Worth, Texas. Hodge notched three gold medals on the day, while Jackson broke the school record in the men's triple jump.
In addition, TCU had a total of 18 NCAA regional qualifiers on the day, eight each from its men and women's teams.
"I thought we had a good day," TCU head track and field coach Darryl Anderson said. "Both teams showed up today and competed very well. I'm comfortable with our performance and progress this season. I know when Conference and Regionals arrive, we'll be there to compete."
Hodge, a native of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, picked up a pair of gold in the women's 100 and 200 meters. She posted NCAA regional qualifying marks in both events, finishing 11.34 and 22.87, respectively.
The sophomore sprinter also ran the second leg in the women's 4x100 relay squad that broke the previous meet record set in 2002 by former Frog women La'Toya White, Chaunte Baldwin, Tiffany Starts and Monica Twum. Hodge, Kishelle Paul, Jamee Jones and Deborah Jones teamed up for a first-place finish with a time of 44.34.
Jackson was the spotlight for the TCU men as he set a new school record in the men's triple jump. The Grand Prairie, Texas, native leaped 53-00.25 (16.16m) into first place and broke the previous school mark of 52-08.75 (16.07m) set by Brandal Lawrence in 2003.
For the second year in a row, the TCU women's 4x400 relay squad successfully defended its title with another meet record in the event. The quartet of Marquita Davis, D. Jones, Paul and Nathandra John turned in a record-setting performance time of 3:36.63 to win the event.
TCU women made a sweep in the 400 meters with John, D. Jones and Marq. Davis as the top three finishers, respectively. John took the gold with an NCAA regional qualifying mark and season-best 53.38 time. Jones was also an NCAA regional qualifier in the event with a time of 54.33, while Davis finished third in 55.47.
Freshman Candis Kelley made a strong showing in the field events as she won the shot put with a 47-04.25 (14.43m) toss. It is the third time this season Kelley has won the event.
The Frog women received strong finishes from J. Jones, Julie Curtis and distance runner Calandra Stewart. Jones secured a pair of NCAA regional qualifying marks with a third-place showing in the 100 meters (11.61) and was later the runner-up in the 200m (23.52).
Curtis and Stewart added another silver medal to their collection. Curtis, a senior from Manhattan, Kan., placed second in the 400-meter hurdles with 1:01.39 time, while Stewart was runner-up in the 1500 meters after finishing in 4:30.73.
Senior Kip Kangogo picked up the first gold medal on the day for the TCU men. He won the 1500 meters for the second straight year, crossing the line in 3:49.16.
The Frog men had solid performances in both the running and field events. Jackson Langat, Lewis Banda, Justyn Warner, Otis McDaniel, Lewis Banda, Joe Brown and Tommy Killen were among the top two collegiate performers in their respective events.
Langat was runner-up in the 800 meters, with a 1:50.38. Warner, who placed fifth overall in the 100 meters with a 10.37, was one of three TCU runners to record an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the race. McDaniel, who later recorded a season-best time of 21.07 in the 200 meters, was also a regional qualifier along with Delwayne Delaney (10.50).
The TCU men had a pair of close races toward the end of the day in the 400 meters and 4x400 meter relay. Banda finished third overall in the 400 meters, while TCU's 4x400 meter relay squad of Che Chavez, Bradley Reed, Langat and Banda made a second-place showing with a 3:06.45 time.
In the men's field events, Brown and Killen both took the silver in their specialty events. Brown tossed a 203-01 (61.90m) in the javelin, while Killen had a personal best in the discus with a throw of 189-11 (57.90m). Both were NCAA regional qualifying marks.
Next up for the TCU tracksters is the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa. The Frogs will compete at one of the nation's historic meets April 27-29.
Players Mentioned
