With the regular season schedule complete, South Plains College is set to host the 2016 Track and Field Outdoor National Championship meet on May 17- May 19 at the Texan Track and Field Stadium on the campus of South Plains College in Levelland.
It's no secret the Texans and Lady Texans will come into the meet as favorites to take home yet another national crown, as South Plains swept the men's and women's Outdoor championships last season in Kansas. The Texans will be looking to make collegiate history when they take to the track on Tuesday morning, as they try to become the first program to win 10 consecutive national titles.
"We are happy to be home and not have to travel," head coach Chris Beene said. "It's nice to compete in front of the SPC fans and Levelland community. It's pretty simple. Everyone has to compete. They've done all the work, but now it's time to get after it. We compete, then we will have a great meet."
Currently ranked second in the NJCAA, the Texans compiled 44 national qualifying marks during the regular season, with six different Texans holding the top marks in the NJCAA in their respective events. Sophomore Gabe Moore racked up 7039 points in the decathlon at the 2016 Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on March 30 in Austin, giving him the highest point total in the country amongst all competitors.
Adrian Williams broke the school record in the javelin at the Oklahoma John Jacobs Invitational on April 22, as his throw of 223' 9" currently ranks first in the country. Fabian Edoki, a freshman from Nigeria, soared 26' 3.75" at the 2016 UTEP Springtime meet on March 26 in El Paso, which currently ranks first in the nation.
Kelvin Keter has proved to be one of the top athletes in the country in the 3000 steeplechase, as the sophomore from Kenya holds the top mark in the NJCAA after he ran a final time of 9:12.36 at the Oklahoma John Jacobs Invitational. Okeen Williams, a freshman from Jamaica, will come into the meet as the favorite in the 400 hurdles, as he currently holds the top mark in the country after running a 51.15 at the 2016 Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
The Lady Texans will also be favored when they step on the track to defend their crown, currently ranked fourth in the country after finishing the regular season with 42 national qualifying marks on tap. The Lady Texans will be led by All-American Morgan Hartsell, a two-time national champion in the pole vault, who currently holds the top mark in the country with a height of 12' 7.5".
University of Oklahoma signee Medinah Spencer will come into the championship meet as the favorite in the 400 hurdles, after the sophomore from Baltimore, Maryland posted a time of 1:00.44 at the 2016 Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. The Lady Texans also hold the top mark in the NJCAA in the 4x400 relay, as their team comprised of Spencer, Mauricia Prieto, Latriceia Smith and Deja Harrison posted a final time of 3:38.80 at the ACU Oliver Jackson Twilight Meet on April 27.
FloTrack will be on site broadcasting the championship meet live on their website, which can be accessed at the link below. Updates and results will also be available at the South Plains College athletic website, www.spctexans.com. To access the live stream, please visit http://bit.ly/1OkyC6S.