McNeese track and field athletes to compete on three different fronts on Friday

March 6, 2008

McNeese State track and field athletes will compete at three different locations Friday and in both indoor and outdoor meets.

With the indoor season winding down, the Brown brothers, Darrick and Marcus, and Christi McRae will take part in last chance meets in an attempt to qualifying for the NCAA national championship meet.

The Browns will both enter the long jump event at a meet on the LSU campus while McRae will run the 400 meter dash in an indoor meet on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Both Browns need to go 25 feet in the long jump to qualify for the nationals. Thus far this season Darrick has a 24-7 best and Marcus a 23-8.

McRae has a school record best of 55.8 in the 400 meters this season.

The remainder of the track and field team will make its outdoor debut in a meet at Sam Houston State.

Among the key performers who will be participating at Sam Houston for the Cowboys will be pole vaulter Jimmie Heath, freshmen javelin throwers David Richardson and Ben Chretien, John Jamail and Vaalyn Jackson in the shot put, school record holder Freddie Hannie in the hammer throw and distance runners Mark Hoey, Jordan Neil and Stephen Scullion.

Top entries for the Cowgirls will be pole vaulter/javelin thrower Julie Buller, distance runners Tinette Burger and Amy Guinn, shot putter DeAnn Washington and high jumper Lindsay Brooks.

FORMER MCNEESE ASSISTANT COACH

Former McNeese State assistant track coach Steve Manz recently took a big step toward earning a berth on the USA Olympic team for the upcoming Olympics.

Manz finished fourth in the shot put at the US Indoor Track championship in Boston, getting off a heave of 65-5.

He is presently in training in Ashland, Ohio and will begin his outdoor season in a few weeks. Manz' best outdoors effort in the shot is 66-7 but believes that he will get 70 feet this season.

That distance is expected to earn him a spot on the Olymic team.

Manz served as the McNeese assistant track coach in 2006. He was a three time all-American at Michigan State and was a finalist at the 2004 Olymic trials.

More information on Manz can be found on his web site at www.stevemanz.com

COWBOY RELAYS

McNeese State will host its annual Cowboy Relays on March 22 and the school is looking for entries.

Head coach Brendon Gilroy said that more university teams are needed for the meet which will run all day long that day.

Teams interested in competing can contact Gilroy at 337-475-5204. Coaches can also get information on the meet at the McNeese website of www.mcneesesports.com.