Don makes the deadline by the narrowest of margins with previews of ACU, Angelo State and UIW as well as his predictions for the LSC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Predictions for the 1st Ever Lone Star Conference
Indoor Track Meet – February 23-24
I think it is great that the LSC will host a conference
indoor track meet this year. I laud Commissioner Stan Wagnon who was thinking
outside the box to make sure that this meet would be a success. In the NCAA, if
a conference fields 6 teams for a conference event, the NCAA will pump funds
into the competition to make sure it does not run a deficit. And, in the case of
track and field, it must be 6 teams for each gender. The LSC had 5 teams on the
men’s side and 7 on the women’s side who were willing to compete in an indoor
track meet (the Angelo men did not choose to compete and the entire team from
Tarleton and Commerce do not compete indoors.) The LSC extended an “affiliate” invitation
to D-II Harding University in Arkansas, who competes as an independent in track
and field, since the fledgling Great American Conference does not host an
indoor or outdoor conference track meet. Now, the LSC has a guaranteed 6 teams
in each gender and a championship competition is born.
The meet appears to be highly competitive in each gender.
With only 6-8 teams competing and since the Texas Tech track (where the meet
will be held) only has 6 lanes on its indoor track, there will only be 6 places
awarded in each event. This will favor the smaller squads with top talent (ACU)
and will work against the teams who depend on their great depth to be
competitive (West Texas, Angelo). The addition of Harding in the mix will make
the meet all that more interesting – the question will be: from whom will
Harding poach points? It appears to be a different answer in each gender.
WOMEN
Outdoors, the team race here has long been a battle between
ACU and Angelo – decided by only ½ of a point in Angelo’s favor in 2012. West
Texas A&M is more of factor each year on the women’s side, finishing 3rd
in the LSC outdoor meet in 2012. On the women’s side of the equation, it looks
like Harding will cut heavily into Angelo’s points (and, to a lesser degree
into ACU’s). On the women’s side, Harding should have a profound effect on the
overall standings. Here is how I see it working out in the women’s team race:
1.
ACU – the Wildcat women look very strong,
although they have a surprisingly small squad of only 16-17 women. I see them
scoring 130-140 points and winning by around 15-20. Lots of points in the
sprints (including the hurdles) and in the throws (shot put and particularly
the weight throw) . They also have one great jumper and one great distance
runner. Look for 2 great competitions involving ACU athletes – the triple jump
where ACU’s Amanda Ouedraogo and Angelo’s Kearah Danville are the 2 best triple
jumpers in D-II by a country mile and ACU’s Chloe Susset matching up in the
mile and the 3K with Harding’s outstanding Polish distance runner Ewa
Zaborowska.
2.
West Texas A&M – I give the nod to the Lady
Buffs for the runner-up spot. This team has been improving steadily since track
was added back in Canyon 4-5 years ago. They are very strong in the distances
(3K/5K) and the throws (shot put, weight throw), but they are competitive in
virtually every event in the program. If they score heavily in the heptathlon
and pick up decent points in the sprints (5-10 points), they could challenge
ACU for the entire thing. I see WT scoring somewhere in the 115-125 point range
as a team.
3.
Angelo State – I just don’t see the indoor
setting being the best place for Angelo. Looking at the performance chart to
date, Harding is cutting heavily into their distance points, the place where
ASU really won the outdoor crown in 2012. Angelo is extremely strong in the
jumps (see above), and have outstanding individual athletes in the shot put and
the 800. If Angelo can somehow break in for some points in the sprints and pick
up 15-20 points in the distances, they could still challenge WT for 2nd
or even give ACU a run for their money. That said, I see them scoring in the
95-105 point range.
4.
Harding – led by the aforementioned Zaborowska,
the Harding women will be a solid addition to this meet. The Lady Bison also
appear to be strong in the pole vault and they have a strong sprinter who could
be a factor in all three sprint events. If they get any points in the jumps or
throws, they could challenge Angelo. I see them scoring in the 70-80 point
range as a team.
5.
Incarnate Word – there is a definite break
between the 1st tier and 2nd tier teams this year in the
LSC. UIW has a solid team that is capable of scoring points in the sprints,
middle distances and jumps. I don’t know that they will win any events, but
they have a chance of scoring in many events. If they could find some points in
the throws or the distance events (where they have been quite strong in the
past), they could move up to challenge a tier one team. I see them with 45-50
points and that should put them safely in 5th.
6.
TAMU-Kingsville – showed some signs outdoors
last year that they were becoming more competitive on the women’s side. They
are hurt by having voids in the throws and in the middle distance and distance
events. They should pick up many of their points in the vault and high jump. I
see them scoring 30-35 points.
7.
Midwestern – one thing is for certain, MSU will
score their points in the distance events. They have a national class cross
country program and all of their kids are distance runners – they do not have
any field event people and only one quartermiler. They will probably score
25-30 points in the 800, mile, 3K, 5K and the distance medley relay.
8.
Eastern New Mexico – the coaching change that
happened at the beginning of the school year at Eastern appears to have wreaked
havoc on the Zia track squad. It appears that they will score most, if not all,
of their points in the jumps, vault and weight throw. They could pick up 1-2
points in the middle distances. It appears that the new coach (hired just
before Christmas) will have to rebuild this team from the ground up. Look for
them to score 10-15 points in this meet.
MEN
This should be a rousing three team battle between WT, ACU
and Kingsville. A wild card in the whole meet will be how much can ENMU’s
Isaiah Samoei endure, since he is entered in the mile, 3K, 5K and will no doubt
anchor their Distance medley relay. Samoei is the best distance runner in the
conference and if he can manage that difficult 4 events in just over 24 hours,
he will steal points away from both ACU and WT.
1.
West Texas – this looks to me to be WT’s meet to
lose, but I said the same thing last year about Kingsville at the outdoor meet
and somehow ACU eeked out the win. WT is extremely strong in the middle
distance and the distances – if they score more than 60 points in the 800,
mile, 3K and 5K, they will be hard to beat. The Buffs have also built up a
strong hurdle corps and could score 15-20 points in that one event. WT is also
strong in the jumps and they have the best young cadre of throwers in the
conference. It all adds up to WT scoring 155-160 points and winning the first
even indoor conference meet. And, this team is young, they should continue on
this upward trend for the foreseeable future.
2.
ACU – it is neck-and-neck for 2nd
place, but I suspect that ACU and pull it out and they could still contend for
the title. ACU is very strong in the sprints (with some new, young sprinters),
as well as the weight throw and the heptathlon. They have potential strengths
in the jumps and the distances. Their outstanding multi-athletes will help them
not only in the heptathlon, but in several individual events as well. If ACU
can find some points from some of their walk-on kids, they could still win it
all. I see them scoring 130-135 points.
3.
TAMU-Kingsville – you know, I see the Hoggies
scoring the same 130-135 points as ACU, so a swing of a point or two could make
the difference. The Hoggies are hamstrung (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun) by
the loss of the great Jonathan Woodson – the top sprinter in the LSC and one of
the best in D-II, who is rehabbing a football injury. He may be available
outdoors, but that will not help Kingsville here. Kingsville is led by 2 of the
most electric field event performers I have seen in a while – Jordan Yamoah in
the vault and Jeron Robinson in the high jump. These guys are dynamite to
watch. TAMU-K will score heavily in the jumps, the throws and the middle
distances. If they somehow find some points in the short sprints and the long
distances, they could surpass ACU and could contend for the title.
4.
Eastern New Mexico – like their women, the
Greyhounds have been hurt in the ill-timed coaching change (is there ever GOOD
timing for a coaching change?) They were able to retain Isaiah Samoei and he
could literally have a hand in scoring 2/3rds of their total points. Look for
Eastern to score around 50-55 points and Samoei could score 30-40 of those.
Scary thing for ENMU – Samoei is a senior.
5.
Harding – a solid team, but not as strong as
their women’s team. They field a good 4x400 relay that could win it all. They
have some good sprinters pick up points in the throws and the vault. Look for
Harding to score around 45-50 points and if ENMU’s Samoei should falter running
so many events, Harding could slip past ENMU for 4th place.
6.
Incarnate Word – I thought 2 years ago that UIW
was ready to move to the next level in the LSC< but they have had some bad
luck and have fallen back a bit. They should score pretty well in the sprints
and the vault. Their throwers seem to have digressed a bit. UIW probably scores
around 25-30 points and will need to find points in the distances, jumps, or
throws to have any chance to move up a place or two.
Should be a fun weekend of track and field in Lubbock. I
hope some of the athlete’s families and fans are able to make the trip to
Lubbock. It is a fast track, particularly for sprinters. I think you will see a
lot of kids qualify for the national meet this weekend on the fast track and in
a good, competitive setting of a conference meet.
Top Times (leading into the meet)
LIVE Results
(From the LSC Website)
The Lone Star Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Meet will be contested on February 23-24 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Participating Men’s Teams (6): Abilene Christian, Eastern New Mexico, Harding, Incarnate Word, Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A&M.
Participating Women’s Teams (8):
Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Eastern
New Mexico, Harding, Incarnate Word, Midwestern State,
Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A&M.
Location:
550 University Ave, Lubbock, TX 79401
Directions
Fans should use the Northwest Entrance.
Schedule:
DAY 1: Saturday, February 23, 2013
WOMEN’S PENTATHLON MEN’S HEPTATHLON
11:00a 55m Hurdles 10:30a 55m
11:40a High Jump 11:15a Long Jump
1:00p Shot Put 12:30p Shot Put
2:00p Long Jump 1:45p High Jump
3:00p 800m
RUNNING EVENTS (Women’s followed by Men, unless otherwise noted)
4:30p 55m Hurdles Prelim
5:00p 400m Prelim
5:30p 55m Prelim
6:00p 5,000m Final
6:55p 200m Prelim
7:25p Distance Medley Relay Final
FIELD EVENTS
3:00p Men’s Weight Throw
3:00p Men’s Pole Vault
4:00p Women’s Weight Throw
4:00p Women’s Long Jump followed by Men
6:00p Men’s High Jump
DAY 2: Sunday, February 24, 2013
MEN’S HEPTATHLON
9:00a 55m Hurdles
9:45a Pole Vault
11:15a 1,000m
RUNNING EVENTS (Women followed by Men, unless otherwise noted)
11:00a Mile Final
11:20a 55m Hurdles Final (Men followed by Women)
11:40a 400m Final
12:00p 55m Final
12:20p 800m Final
12:40p 200m Final
1:00p 3,000m Final
1:20p 1,600m Relay Final
FIELD EVENTS
11:00a Men’s Shot Put
11:30a Women’s Triple Jump followed by Men
12:30p Women’s Shot Put
12:30p Women’s Pole Vault
1:00p Women’s High Jump
Schedule:
DAY 1: Saturday, February 23, 2013
WOMEN’S PENTATHLON MEN’S HEPTATHLON
11:00a 55m Hurdles 10:30a 55m
11:40a High Jump 11:15a Long Jump
1:00p Shot Put 12:30p Shot Put
2:00p Long Jump 1:45p High Jump
3:00p 800m
RUNNING EVENTS (Women’s followed by Men, unless otherwise noted)
4:30p 55m Hurdles Prelim
5:00p 400m Prelim
5:30p 55m Prelim
6:00p 5,000m Final
6:55p 200m Prelim
7:25p Distance Medley Relay Final
FIELD EVENTS
3:00p Men’s Weight Throw
3:00p Men’s Pole Vault
4:00p Women’s Weight Throw
4:00p Women’s Long Jump followed by Men
6:00p Men’s High Jump
DAY 2: Sunday, February 24, 2013
MEN’S HEPTATHLON
9:00a 55m Hurdles
9:45a Pole Vault
11:15a 1,000m
RUNNING EVENTS (Women followed by Men, unless otherwise noted)
11:00a Mile Final
11:20a 55m Hurdles Final (Men followed by Women)
11:40a 400m Final
12:00p 55m Final
12:20p 800m Final
12:40p 200m Final
1:00p 3,000m Final
1:20p 1,600m Relay Final
FIELD EVENTS
11:00a Men’s Shot Put
11:30a Women’s Triple Jump followed by Men
12:30p Women’s Shot Put
12:30p Women’s Pole Vault
1:00p Women’s High Jump
