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Flyin' Frogs win MWC Title
March 1, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The TCU women captured the 2008 Mountain West Conference Indoor Championship on Saturday at the Cadet Field House on the campus of the Air Force Academy, while the Flyin' Frog men wrapped up competition in second-place.
"Wow, it was a great two days," said head coach Darryl Anderson. "It's an outstanding accomplishment for our entire university. I am lost for words. It's the first time we have won a track and field title in the Mountain West Conference and the girls really came through today. We had some people really step up on both sides and it is a great day for TCU as an athletic department and as a university. This title is for all the girls that have come through this program the past four years and are a part of this program. I appreciate everything all of you have done and you all are a big part of this championship. I hope that you all enjoy this moment as much as we are going to." Overall, TCU won its first conference title since 2004 and first in the Mountain West Conference. Individually, TCU head coach Darryl Anderson was honored at the end of the meet as the MWC Women's Coach of the Year, while Virgil Hodge capped an outstanding MWC indoor career with Women's Outstanding Performance honors. For the weekend, TCU won 12 different event titles, set three new school records, posted two NCAA automatic marks and recorded six NCAA provisional marks on the final day of competition in Colorado Springs. TCU won the women's competition with 129 points, followed by Colorado State (121.5), BYU (112), San Diego State (94), Wyoming (64), New Mexico (51.5), Utah (36), UNLV (33) and Air Force (22). BYU won the men's title with 169 points, followed by TCU (128), Air Force (127), Wyoming (100), Colorado State (88.5) and New Mexico (44.5). "The men fought really hard today and were outstanding," said Anderson. "Coming into the meet we thought we had a good chance to get second and we pulled it out." Trailing Colorado State by a half of point going into the women's 4x400 relay, TCU's Jessica Clarke, Kishelle Paul, Kristal Juarez and Brittany Blaylock gave the Flyin' Frogs its first MWC Indoor Championship by clocking a winning-time of 3:45.47. On the men's side, TCU's Clemore Henry, Dell Guy, Jordan Pitts and Matthew Love secured the Purple and White runner-up honors by crossing the finish line with a first-place time of 3:14.13. Hodge continued her domination on the track on Saturday, winning both the 60 and 200 for the second-consecutive season. In the 60 meters, Hodge captured first-place honors by clocking an NCAA provisional time of 7.30 seconds. The St. Kitts' mark broke her own school record of 7.31 seconds set last season in Albuquerque, N.M. Her time of 7.30 seconds is currently tied for the third-best time ever recorded in MWC women's championship history and 10th fastest time in the NCAA. Sophomore Brittany Blaylock followed in second-place with a time of 7.50 seconds. On the men's side, TCU captured the three fastest times in the event with junior Andon Mitchell winning the 60 meters with an NCAA provisional time of 6.70 seconds. Mitchell was followed by Otis McDaniel and Justyn Warner who clocked times of 6.72 and 6.75, respectively, to finish second and third overall. Mitchell became the third consecutive Horned Frog to win the men's 60-meter dash and recorded the fourth-best time in MWC men's championship history. "All three guys in the men's 60 meters were solid and did an outstanding job today on the track," said Anderson. In the 200, Hodge crossed the finish line in first-place with an NCAA provisional time of 23.53. For her career, the senior has now won the 200 meters indoor title three-straight years. In the event, TCU captured the first three spots with Clarke and Blaylock, clocking times of 24.02 and 24.12, respectively, to finish in second and third-place. Paul rounded out the TCU scoring, crossing the finish line in fifth-place with a time of 24.69. "Virgil once again was amazing. She has been the straw that stirs this drink ever since she has been here with me. She comes in and gets her two titles today and wins Female Athlete of the Year and really was outstanding," said Anderson. "I feel privileged that I get to do this one more time with her during the outdoor season." On the men's side, Mychal Dungey led all runners by posting an NCAA provisional time of 21.17 seconds. The freshman won his first-ever MWC title and posted the 15th best time in the NCAA this season. He was followed by McDaniel who recorded a time of 21.28 to finish in second-place, while fellow junior Warner placed fifth overall with a time of 21.59 seconds. Mitchell and Jay Cooper rounded out the TCU scoring, clocking times of 21.59 and 22.04, respectively, to finish in sixth and eight-place. "Mychal Dungey was phenomenal today. He really stepped up," said Anderson. In the women's triple jump, Neidra Covington, who won the women's long jump title on Friday, successfully defended her MWC crown with an NCAA automatic leap of 13.41m (44-00.00). By soaring 13.41m (44-00.00), the sophomore broke her own school record in the event and posted the fifth-best mark in MWC women's championship history. Her leap is currently tied for the seventh best jump in the NCAA. "Neidra Covington was big today for us. She is becoming very good. She stepped up today and set a new school record, while also posting two personal best marks," said Anderson. On the men's side, Jonathan Jackson captured the event title with an NCAA automatic leap of 16.26m (53-04.25). His jump broke his own school record in the event set earlier this winter and is currently ranked as the third best leap in the NCAA. Jackson's mark also ranks as the third-best triple jump mark in MWC men's championship history. In the women's shot put, Candis Kelley became the first female student-athlete in MWC history to win the women's shot put title three-straight years. Kelley tossed 15.06m (49-05.00) to win the event. On the men's side, Tommy Killen led TCU with a third-place finish with a toss of 16.19m (53-01.50). "Candis Kelley got her third indoor title today after having a rough start to her season. I was really pleased for her that she came in today and righted the ship to get the win," said Anderson. On Saturday, TCU was victorious in both the men and women's 60-meter hurdles. On the men's side, Pitts captured his first MWC title with the second-best time in MWC men's championship history. His winning time was 7.92 seconds. Paul won her second MWC crown of her career on the women's side, clocking a winning-time of 8.37. Her time of 8.37 seconds, which ties her for fifth all-time in the MWC women's record books, provisionally qualifies her for the NCAA Championships. "Kishelle Paul was big today and got her title in the women's 60 meter hurdles," said Anderson. Other highlights on the day included Che Chavez crossing the finish line in second-place in the men's 400-meter dash with an NCAA provisional time of 46.87 seconds. Guy followed in third-place by recording a time of 47.32. On the women's side, Kristal Juarez also earned runner-up honors, posting a time of 54.98 seconds. "Its amazing to think that Kristal got second considering she didn't have any training in the fall. She was outstanding," said Anderson. In the men's 800 meters, Sean Zurko placed fifth overall by clocking a time of 1:54.12, while sophomore Festus Kigen finished in third-place in the men's 3000-meter run with a time of 8:37.69. "All across the board, the biggest pat on the back goes to the 17 women and 20 men we brought to this meet. They all had a big impact on us winning this championship and finishing second overall on the men's side. I hope they all enjoy it and I hope the women understand the importance of what they just did," said Anderson. TCU will next be in action at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. on March 14-15.
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