TCU Set For NCAA Regionals
5/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Outdoor Track
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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The TCU men's and women's track and field teams will showcase 16 athletes at the 2016 NCAA West Preliminary at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kan. May 26-28. The event is the first of two meets as part of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that begin this week and conclude in Eugene, Oregon June 8-11.
For live updates throughout the meet, follow @TCUtrackfield on Twitter. Live results will be available through Flash Results.
The NCAA West Preliminary
The NCAA's West Region for track & field includes the 121 Division I schools located west of the Mississippi River. Athletes from those 121 institutions who rank among the top-48 in their respective events earn berths into the NCAA West Preliminary Round. The best 24 relay teams also advance to NCAA Prelims. Over three days in Lawrence, those 48 athletes and 24 relays will compete in a 'bracket'-style format to qualify for the NCAA Championships to be held in Eugene, Oregon, June 8-11. The fields of the various events will be whittled down from 48 to 12 by the meet's end, with those 12 athletes or relays teams earning berths to the NCAA Championships, with the qualifiers from the East Preliminary (hosted in Jacksonville, Florida) completing the field to compete in Eugene.
Big 12 Outdoor Champions
Senior Brianna McGhee won the 100 meter hurdles at the outdoor conference championships after running the nation's sixth-fastest time in the prelims at 12.88.
Senior Ronnie Baker brought home his fourth Big 12 gold medal as he notched a victory in the 100-meter dash with a finals time of 10.15 at the outdoor championship in Fort Worth.
Shattered Records
Senior Brianna McGhee broke her own school record in the 100-meter hurdles at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships after finishing at 12.88. McGhee's effort ranks sixth in the NCAA this season. McGhee's latest achievement marked the fourth time she broke the 100 hurdles record and a .28 second improvement on her personal best this year. Throughout the outdoor season, McGhee has brought the program record down .36 seconds.
Junior Paola Miranda topped her school record in the hammer throw at the Tom Jones Memorial with a TCU-best mark of 195-10 (59.69m). Miranda's mark ranks No. 26 on the 2016 Division I West Outdoor Qualifying List.
Freshman Fellan McGuigan broke the school record in the hammer throw after throwing for a first-place mark of 211-6 (64.47m) at the Jim Click Shootout. McGuigan's mark is currently the ranked No. 10 on the 2016 NCAA Division I West Outdoor Qualifying List
In the outdoor season opener, senior Megan Smith broke a 23-year-old school record in the shot put as she placed first with a mark of 17.21m (56-05.75). Her effort took down Stevanie Wadsorth-Ferguson's program record of 56-4.75, set in 1993. Smith's mark is ranked 12th in the NCAA this year and is the farthest mark recorded at the Lowdon Complex in Fort Worth.
Horned Frogs In The Meet
Baker is one of only two college athletes to run sub-10 second 100 meters this season. Baker currently leads the NCAA in the 100 meters with a time of 9.95.
With the nation's sixth-fastest time in the 100 hurdles at 12.88, senior Brianna McGhee will represent TCU at the West Regionals. With a season-best time of 44.92, McGhee will accompany junior Iphona-Clemence Paiement, sophomore Sabrina Moore and freshman Kayla Heard in the 4x100 relay.
After earning three medals at the Big 12 Championships, senior Sam Watts will compete in the 200-meter dash as he holds a season-best time of 20.68, set at the Tom Jones Memorial. Watts' time ranks 18th in the West Region. Watts will be joined by junior Malik Summer, junior Raymond Bozmans and freshman Darrion Flowers in the 4x100 relay. The quartet combined for a time of 39.41 at the Big 12 Championships.
Sophomore Sabrina Moore will compete in the 100 meters after running a season best 11.59 at Drake Relays.
Taking flight in the women's long jump will be junior Makaila Flannigan, who posted a season best mark of 20 feet 1.75 inches (6.14 meters) at the Jim Click Shootout. Flannigan's distance ranks 26th on the West Outdoor Qualifying List.
Junior Raymond Bozmans will join Baker in the 100 meters as he heads into regionals with a season-best time of 10.41. Bozmans will also run in the 4x100 relay.
Freshman Kayla Heard is set to compete in the 400-meter dash. Heard holds a season-best time of 54.06 in the event.
Junior Adam Damadzic will represent TCU in the men's discus as he recorded a season-best mark of 185 feet 2 inches (56.44 meters) at the Jim Click Shootout. Damadzic holds the 20th-best mark in the West Region this year.
Sophomore Scotty Newton will compete in both the triple jump and the long jump in Lawrence. Newton holds the West Region's 16th-best long jump mark this season at 25 feet 5.25 inches (7.75 meters) and the 11th-best triple jump mark at 52 ft. (15.85 meters).
Senior Megan Smith is set to compete in the women's shot put with a season best mark of 56 feet 5.75 inches (17.21 meters). Smith holds the No. 10 shot put mark in the West Region this season.
What's Next?
The Frogs who advance through the West Preliminary Rounds will earn their spot in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon at the historic Hayward Field.
Road To The Bowerman
Ronnie Baker took home gold in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships for the second-straight year. Baker's time of 6.47 broke the NCAA meet record, school record, and is the third-fastest time in NCAA history.
Baker was named the Men's Big 12 Outstanding Performer of the Year after taking home gold in the 100 meters in front of the home crowd at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships behind a time of 10.15 seconds - one-tenth of a second faster than second place. The latest hardware addition was the fourth Big 12 gold medal of his career.
Baker was also named the South Central Athlete of the Year for the 2016 NCAA Division I Indoor season after running a nation-leading time of 6.51 at the Big 12 Championships in February. In all, Baker earned nine first-place finishes throughout the indoor campaign.
Baker was named to the Bowerman Watch List before the season began, and he has held his spot in each watch list since. The Bowerman is awarded every year to the top male and female collegiate athlete in NCAA track & field. It is the highest individual honor in the sport.
Awards/Achievements:
NCAA Indoor Champion - 60 meters (6.47)
Big 12 Outdoor Champion - 100 Meters (10.15)
Big 12 Indoor Champion - 60 meters (6.51)
Big 12 Athlete of the Week - Feb. 3, March 23, April 6
UTSFCCCA South Central Athlete of the Year
Most Outstanding Performer - Texas Relays
2016 Pop Boone Athlete of the Year
TCU Men's Track MVP
Men's Big 12 Outstanding Performer of the Year
