FRESNO, Calif. -- The final day of the 2007 Western Athletic Conference Championships could not have gone better for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters’ track and field squad took its third straight championship in a row dating back to the 2005 season.
“What a great day for Tech track and field,” Tech head coach Gary Stanley said. “What a great day for Tech’s athletic department. What a great day for Louisiana Tech University. I’m so proud of these kids, both teams and the assistants. Our men finished with the highest point total they’”
After putting up 24 points Friday, the Techsters (164) exploded with 138 total points Saturday to take the win over second place Nevada with 123 points.
The women’s 4x100-meter relay team took first with a time of 45.19 seconds, while the men took first as well at 40.33. Tech also swept the top five places in the women’s 400 with senior Nina Gilbert leading the way with a time of 53.48 followed by freshman Kamelia Stroy, senior Miram Barnes, sophomore El Charrita Reynolds and senior Krystal Cole each adding to the Techster total. The 4x400 team finished second at 3:43.74.
The women’s 100 was almost no different as senior Latonia Wilson finished first at 11.47 followed by senior Lasadies McClain and freshman Shannon Williams at second and third. Freshman Rakeisha Green and senior Sophia Jackson also scored at sixth and seventh place, respectively. Barnes also finished second in the women’s 400-hurdles with a 1:00.08 mark.
“Miriam made a great statement today,” Stanley said. “She decided it was more important for this team to have a championship ring on the finger instead of an individual medal around her neck.”
Wilson, McClain and Williams also swept the top three places in the women’s 200 with Wilson running a 23.46, while McClain finished at 23.49.
Sophomore Phelecia Reynolds scored six points for the Techsters in the discus at 153 feet, nine inches.
The Bulldogs finished third place at the end of the day with a final total of 117. The men swept the relays with the 4x100 winning at 45.19 and the 4x400 team finishing first with a time of 3:11.86.
Senior Matt Craig swept the individual championships in the long and triple jump with a 24-3.50 in the men’s long and a 51-8.00 in the triple.
Sophomore Albert Fullwood took the individual championship in the men’s 400 with a time of 46.80, while sophomore Michael Coleman won the individual championship in the men’s 100 at 10.33. Coleman also took the individual championship in the men’s 200 with a time of 21.14 with Fullwood right behind at 21.40.
Senior John Kent took the individual championship in the men’s 110-hurdles with a time of 14.20, while senior Wendell Woods finished fourth.
Scoring for Tech’s women’s squad Friday was senior Shaterika Allen who threw 52 feet, 2.75 inches for a first place finish and 10 points. Freshmen Latoya Collins and Christina Tupper finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s long jump at 19-9.50 and 18-8.00 for a combined 14 points and had the same results in the women’s triple at 41-3.00 and 40-00.75.
On the track, junior Zach Schuler finished third in the men's 10000 run with a time of 32 minutes, 27.80 seconds for six points for the men, while senior Tim Marshall finished fifth at 33:11.77.
Tech not only racked up on points; it garnered awards, as well. Wilson finished as performer of the year and high point winner of the year, while Collins finished as freshman of the year for the women. For the men, Coleman finished as performer of the year and Fullwood finished as freshman of the year. Stanley finished with the coach of the year award.
“What a great day for Tech track and field,” Tech head coach Gary Stanley said. “What a great day for Tech’s athletic department. What a great day for Louisiana Tech University. I’m so proud of these kids, both teams and the assistants. Our men finished with the highest point total they’”
After putting up 24 points Friday, the Techsters (164) exploded with 138 total points Saturday to take the win over second place Nevada with 123 points.
The women’s 4x100-meter relay team took first with a time of 45.19 seconds, while the men took first as well at 40.33. Tech also swept the top five places in the women’s 400 with senior Nina Gilbert leading the way with a time of 53.48 followed by freshman Kamelia Stroy, senior Miram Barnes, sophomore El Charrita Reynolds and senior Krystal Cole each adding to the Techster total. The 4x400 team finished second at 3:43.74.
The women’s 100 was almost no different as senior Latonia Wilson finished first at 11.47 followed by senior Lasadies McClain and freshman Shannon Williams at second and third. Freshman Rakeisha Green and senior Sophia Jackson also scored at sixth and seventh place, respectively. Barnes also finished second in the women’s 400-hurdles with a 1:00.08 mark.
“Miriam made a great statement today,” Stanley said. “She decided it was more important for this team to have a championship ring on the finger instead of an individual medal around her neck.”
Wilson, McClain and Williams also swept the top three places in the women’s 200 with Wilson running a 23.46, while McClain finished at 23.49.
Sophomore Phelecia Reynolds scored six points for the Techsters in the discus at 153 feet, nine inches.
The Bulldogs finished third place at the end of the day with a final total of 117. The men swept the relays with the 4x100 winning at 45.19 and the 4x400 team finishing first with a time of 3:11.86.
Senior Matt Craig swept the individual championships in the long and triple jump with a 24-3.50 in the men’s long and a 51-8.00 in the triple.
Sophomore Albert Fullwood took the individual championship in the men’s 400 with a time of 46.80, while sophomore Michael Coleman won the individual championship in the men’s 100 at 10.33. Coleman also took the individual championship in the men’s 200 with a time of 21.14 with Fullwood right behind at 21.40.
Senior John Kent took the individual championship in the men’s 110-hurdles with a time of 14.20, while senior Wendell Woods finished fourth.
Scoring for Tech’s women’s squad Friday was senior Shaterika Allen who threw 52 feet, 2.75 inches for a first place finish and 10 points. Freshmen Latoya Collins and Christina Tupper finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s long jump at 19-9.50 and 18-8.00 for a combined 14 points and had the same results in the women’s triple at 41-3.00 and 40-00.75.
On the track, junior Zach Schuler finished third in the men's 10000 run with a time of 32 minutes, 27.80 seconds for six points for the men, while senior Tim Marshall finished fifth at 33:11.77.
Tech not only racked up on points; it garnered awards, as well. Wilson finished as performer of the year and high point winner of the year, while Collins finished as freshman of the year for the women. For the men, Coleman finished as performer of the year and Fullwood finished as freshman of the year. Stanley finished with the coach of the year award.