LEVELLAND — The South Plains College men's and women's track and field teams will compete in their final regular season meet on Friday at the Texas Tech Matador Qualifier at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center in Lubbock.
Action will get underway with the field events at 3 p.m., with running events set to begin at 4 p.m.
South Plains is coming off a successful stint at the Tyson Invitational last weekend at the University of Arkansas which saw several school records fall throughout the meet.
In the women's 5000 meters, the sophomore duo of Seselia Dala and Leslie Romero each shattered the previous school record of 17:43.44, set by Lillian Bodaru in 2007. Dala ran the second fastest time at the NJCAA level with a 17:32.05, followed by Romero whose final time of 17:39.31 ranks fourth in the country.
Sophomore standout Natassha McDonald posted the fastest time in the NJCAA in the women's 400 meters, crossing the line a 54.37. Freshman Holland Martin set a new personal best and posted the second-best mark in the NJCAA as he soared 23' 11" in the men's long jump.
"We took a smaller group to Arkansas because it is more of an elite meet as far as competition is concerned, but we had some really good things happen," South Plains head coach Erik Vance said. "Seselia Dala from Tascosa broke our indoor 5k record by 11 seconds and we were really pumped up to see her do that. Then, in that same race, Leslie ran under the previous school record by four seconds. For those two to go out and break the school record and set new personal best was really special."
Ranked third in the latest USTFCCCA national polls, the Texans have acquired 34 national qualifying marks in 14 different events heading into the weekend, and will look to add to that number while competing against a field of the nations' elite.
Currently ranked fourth in the country, the Lady Texans have acquired 23 national qualifying marks to date, including three marks which rank first in the country. Along with McDonald's top time in the women's 400, freshman Jelena Rowe ranks first at the NJCAA level with a clearance of 6' 0.5" in the women's high jump, set at the Charlie Thomas Invitational on Feb. 2. South Plains also holds the top time in the women's 4x400 as Ashley Hughes, Agnes Abrocquah, Patrice Moody and McDonald ran a 3:42.43 a week ago in Arkansas.
Teams competing on Friday: Adams State, Angelo State, Baylor, Central Christian (KS), Eastern New Mexico, Florida State, Hardin Simmons, Harding, LeTourneau, Lubbock Christian, Midwestern, New Mexico Jr College, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma City, Our Lady of the Lake, South Plains, Southwest, Tarleton, Texas A&M – Commerce, Texas Lutheran, Texas Tech, Trinity, Southern Nazarene, UACJ, Wayland Baptist, West Texas A&M, Western Texas.
You can live stream the meet at the following link. There will be a one time charge from Texas Tech for $6.95 for a 24-hour access code: http://texastech.com/watch/purchase.aspx?process=purchase
Live Results: www.pttiming.com. Final results will be available at www.texastech.com or www.tfrrs.org
Meet Schedule:
FIELD EVENTS
3:00 pm Long Jump Women and Men
Shot Put Women, Men to follow
Pole Vault Women
High Jump Women and Men
5:30 pm Triple Jump Women and Men
Weight Throw Women, Men to follow
Pole Vault Men
RUNNING EVENTS
4:00 pm Mile Women Sec vs Time
4:15 pm Mile Men Sec vs Time
4:30 pm 1000 meters Women Sec vs Time
4:45 pm 1000 meters Men Sec vs Time
4:55 pm 60 Hurdles Women Final
5:10 pm 60 Hurdles Men Final
5:25 pm 400 meters Women Sec vs Time
5:45 pm 400 meters Men Sec vs Time
6:10 pm 60 meters Women Final
6:25 pm 60 meters Men Final
6:40 pm 600 meters Women Sec vs Time
6:50 pm 600 meters men Sec vs Time
7:05 pm 800 meters Women Sec vs Time
7:15 pm 800 meters Men Sec vs Time
7:25 pm 200 meters Women Sec vs Time
7:40 pm 200 meters Men Sec vs Time
8:10 pm 3000 meters Women Sec vs Time
8:40 pm 3000 meters Men Sec vs Time
9:00 pm 4x400 meter Relay Women Sec vs Time
9:20 pm 4x400 meter Relay Men Sec vs Time
9:35 pm Projected Finish