May 30, 2006
FT. WORTH, Texas - After collecting seven automatic berths at the Midwest Regional in Austin, Texas, last weekend, the TCU track and field team has garnered 11 at-large bids to the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In all, 18 Flyin' Frogs including both the men's and women's 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads will be heading to Sacramento, Calif., for the national meet June 7-10.
"We're excited to have the number of athletes going to the national meet," TCU head track and field coach Darryl Anderson said. "I think this is unprecedented for us, and we're expecting positive things to happen."
At the regional meet last week, the TCU women placed fourth out of 32 teams behind sophomore sensation Virgil Hodge. Hodge, who was instrumental in helping the 4x100 relay squad qualify for the NCAA meet, won a pair of individual gold medals in both the women's 100 meters and 200 meters.
TCU at-large recipient Jamee Jones will also compete in the 200 meters while joining Kishelle Paul as part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.
Julie Curtis was an automatic qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles.
Nathandra John was an automatic qualifier while Marquita Davis and Deborah Jones were at-large selections in the 400 meters. Calandra Stewart earned a spot in the 1,500-meter run after finishing sixth in the event at regional.
The ninth-ranked Frog men also picked up five at-large berths with Otis McDaniel, already an automatic qualifer in the 100 meters, receiving a nod for the 200 meters.
Senior Lewis Banda, who was ill prior to the race in Austin, has proven to be a strong contender in 2006 and earned an at-large bid in the 400 meters.
Freshman Tommy Killen, who finished eighth in the discus throw at regional, will get a shot at the national title, while both the Frog men 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams will also be competing at the NCAA. Che Chavez, Delwayne Delaney and Justyn Warner complete the TCU men contingent.
Around the Mountain West Conference, TCU, BYU and Colorado State are the top three schools sending the most representatives to the NCAA meet. BYU will also send 18 Cougars to the national meet followed by Colorado State with seven.
The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place at the Alex Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif., with Sacramento State serving as host. In addition, live television coverage will be offered by CSTV on June 9, while CBS Sports will offer live final-day coverage on June 10 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. CDT.
