Feb. 9, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Competing on the first day of the highly competitive Tyson Invitational, the TCU track and field team got off to a strong start by posting a school record in the women's 4x400 meter relay and had nine athletes earn top-20 finishes on Friday.
Held at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the University of Arkansas campus, the Tyson Invitational features a collection of the top track and field athletes from around the world.
"It was one of those things where I thought we competed hard and we are getting better," head coach Darryl Anderson said. "We are in a highly-competitive meet and this competition will be beneficial for us and we should be ready to go for Mountain West Conference Championships."
Capping an already successful day, TCU's 4x400 relay team of Nathandra John, Marquita Davis, Deborah Jones and Kishelle Paul ran into the history books by breaking the school record they set just a few weeks ago with a time of 3:37.48. TCU's time placed them fourth, as the relay team broke the previous school record of 3:38.11. TCU's time of 3:37.48 also gave the Flyin' Frogs their second NCAA provisional mark in the 4x400 relay this season.
"I'm proud of how we ran, but I know we can get better," Anderson said. "We are only going to improve with time."
Another highlight on the day for the Frogs was the performance of Delwayne Delaney, who finished second in his heat and ninth in the prelims to advance to the finals of the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.80. In the finals, Delaney finished seventh with a clocked time of 6.79. Winning the event title was Clemson's Jacoby Ford with a time of 6.60. Ford is also a wide receiver on the Tigers' football team.
"It (the final of the 60 meters) was like an NCAA final," Anderson said. "I was really proud of Delwayne tonight. It speak volumes about him and he did an outstanding job."
Also competing well in the 60 meters for TCU was Justyn Warner, who finished second in his head and 16th in the prelims with a season-best time of 6.84.
In addition to Delaney and Warner in the men's 60 meters, the TCU women also put forth a strong showing in the 60 meters with Virgil Hodge winning her heat and placing 15th in the prelims with a time of 7.49. Jamee Jones also competed in the 60-meter dash and finished 22nd in the prelims with a time of 7.60.
In the women's 5,000 meters, TCU senior McKale Davis finished sixth with a personal-best time of 17:24.72. It is the second time this season Davis has set a personal best in the event.
Joining Davis with a successful showing in the 5,000 meters was Matt Manly, who set a personal best in the event for the second time this season with a clocking of 15:59.23.
Competing in the women's 400 meters, Nathandra John and Marquita Davis finished one-two in their heat and placed 15th (55.27) and 25th (55.97), respectively in the prelims. Also competing in the 400 meters, Deborah Jones placed 20th with a time of 55.64.
In the field events, freshmen Trey Jordan and Neidra Covington paced TCU with a pair of top-20 showings.
Covington, had a leap of 5.54m (18-02.25) to finish 18th in the long jump, while Jordan placed 20th in the shot put with a toss of 15.45m (50-08.25).
TCU will conclude competition at the Tyson Invitational on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
