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The SLC Indoor is this weekend in Norman, Oklahoma at the OU indoor track facility....not as nice as the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville but pretty good venue. Check out the Heisman Statue Park just outside.....pretty neat.

UCA will have a young team with some talent who are about to get introduced to the rigors of a college conference track meet with tough qualifying in all but the 3000/5000m run. Notice all the "FR" among our ladies...it is rare FR score high at conference meets...another 2-3 years makes a world of difference...

Best case....a very good day would end with 20 points and several nice PRs....top teams last year had well over 100.. UCA did not score in 2009...have an off day and that could happen again....

Link to complete qualifiers....

http://flashresults.com/flashtexas/slc2010/slcwin022210.pdf

Go SugarBears!!

UCA qualifiers:

W60m: 12th 7.85 Megan Snow FR Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
(7.60 or so to win)

W400m: 12th 58.86 Mary Douglas JR Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
20th 59.46 Daliesha Taylor JR Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic

(57 or so to win)

(Note: Daliesha had quite a high school career in the 400m and some day will pop one in college)

W800m: 14th 2:21.13 Daliesha Taylor JR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit
16th 2:21.68 Heather Estetter SO Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
27th 2:24.14 Courtney Efurd FR Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
30th 2:24.60 April Martin FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit
(2;12 or so to win)
(Heather has been nursing an injury but if well can run a lot faster than 2:21...like sub 2:15...she often anchored FS Northside's 4x400m relay in high school and has blazing speed. Courtney has run well below 2:20 in high school...my guess is she will run Mile and 3000m at SLC)

WMile: 15th 5:12.65 Courtney Efurd FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

24th 5:18.94 Heather Estetter SO Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic

(4:50-4:55 to win...5:10 or so to score.....Courtney and Heather could each get PRs and it will take that in finals to score)

W3000m: 26th 10:36.03 Courtney Efurd FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit
(Courtney has a chance to get a big PR.....it will take 10 flat to so to win....she will probably try to go after Mile and do what she can in 3k)

W5000m:
10th 20:10.49 Sabrina Peterman FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
11th 20:26.37 Dacey Mitchell FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
(Good shot at big PRs....to win will take 18 minutes or so and 19:20 to score...just have fun and try to get into mid 19s)

WPV: 9th 3.40m 11-01.75 MiKinley Rea FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit
(PV is notorius for weird results...I saw reigning Olympic gold medalist fail to clear any height one night at Randal Tyson TC then clear 19" the next day in an exhibition....McKinley clearly has a chance to score nice points with a solid vault...winner should be 12' + but who knows)

WLJ: 9th 5.53m 18-01.75 Jasmine Ellis FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit
(Jasmine is on the bubble for scoring...probably need 19+ to win but 18' 3" could do well)

WTJ: 10th 11.45m 37-06.75 April Martin FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
14th 11.16m 36-07.50 Jasmine Ellis FR Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
18th 10.52m 34-06.25 Jessica Potter FR Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
(about 40' to win...not likely our SBs will score but April has a chance with some improvement)

WSP: 18th 11.91m 39-01.00 Judith McGrew FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit
20th 11.73m 38-06.00 Tasha Bryles FR Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic
21st 11.51m 37-09.25 Mackenzie Johnson FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit

(50" to win and 43" to score...maybe we can get some nice PRs)

W Pentathlon:
7th 3173 Jasmine Ellis FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
12th 2600 Megan Snow FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
14th 2060 Mallory Muckensturm FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

(3500 to win...Jasmine clearly can score with a good day)

Will add men's later.

UCA men's qualifiers:

Just as for the SBs, the Bears are very young...only one senior and two juniors among qualifiers.

Best case...if Bears hit on all cylinders, they could score 35+...top teams probably 90+ normally.....UCA scored 9 last year...

Go Bears!!

Link to qualifiers....
http://flashresults.com/flashtexas/slc2010/slcmin022210.pdf

M60:
21st 7.04 Phillip Boles SO Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

Top times in 6.60-6.70 range both of which may score at NCAAs. Boles needs to learn from the experience.

M400:
8th 49.50 Sage Raphael SO Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

Top 3 spots may go under 48 or better....Sage is on the bubble for 4th-8th...surviving prelims is a must

M800m:
17th 1:58.05 * Matt Mason JR Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic

Time for Matt to get to 1:55 .. ...capable if healthy....winners should be near 1:53......

MMile:
24th 4:27.43 Danny McBride SR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit

Danny has his work cut out for him.... he has run quite a bit faster in prior years so he is capable if healthy....winner may be under 4:10....

M3000m:
18TH 8:47.32 Tony Stewart FR Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic

This has potential to be a surprise...Tony is still learnng to run this event ....winner should run about 8:15 and it should take 8:30 or better to score......

M500m:
7th 15:46.68 Tony Stewart FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
11th 15:58.04 Logan Dockery JR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
21st 16:09.49 Danny McBride SR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

Tony and Logan each have excellent chance to score...probably better than 15:50 to score and 15:20 to win.....this is a race that takes discipline and not letting yourself get lost on the track plodding with the back of the pack.....no one has a strong qualfiying time and it would not surprise me that someone really drops their time.....Bears Trivia.....we have had three exceptional 5k runners over the years who were in low 14s for 5k...in 70s we had three at 15 or better on one team...

M60 hurdles:
17th 8.44 Demarcus Harrison SO Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

Scoring does not look likely BUT...these are hurdles and anyhting can happen...one mistake turns champions into also rans....I have seen the Top 5 in the nation fail to make it thru prelims or fall in finals.....maybe 8.0 or better to win and 8.20 better to score...

MHJ:
2nd 2.06m 6-09.00 Bobby Washington SO Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic
3rd 2.05m 6-08.75 James Anderson SO Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic

Excellent place to score big points....winner probably needs 7+"...do 6' 9" and probably do well....pretty cowded field at 6'8+

MPV:
11th 4.62m 15-01.75 Daniel Reese FR Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic
20th 4.30m 14-01.25 Ryan Kotch FR Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's Invit

Another sleeper who could do very well on a good day...top vaulter about 16' 0" and a big group at 15"1 to 15' 7".....Daniel is out of Class 3A Genoa Central near Texarkana and Ryan is from Conway....Both are a vaulting products of the Arkansas Vault Club near Hot Springs ...both have done 15' 8" and still very young as vaulters...they know how to do 16' 0"..just need to get it done....PV is reknown for surprise winners....

MLJ:
4th 7.11m 23-04.00 Jaron Criswell SO Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU
22th 6.64m 21-09.50 Jeremy Stuckey SO Central Arkansas 2/5/10 SIU McDonald's

Jaron has a great shot at a high place...24' could win and anything above 23'4' could be big....

MTJ:
14th 14.13m 46-04.25 Jaron Criswell SO Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic
21 13.38m 43-10.75 Jeremy Stuckey SO Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

Jaron has his worked to do in TJ...tougher event than LJ due to mechanics...however, he is capable of further if he can get his rhythm down with his steps...winner should be low 50s and 48+ to score....

M Weight Thow:
17th 14.03m 46-00.50 Austin Emerson SO Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic

Steep hill for Austin.....65" to win and 55" to score....

M Heptathlon:
10 3552 Michael Stage SO Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.
11 3545 Jake Good FR Central Arkansas 1/23/10 Arkansas State Invit.

Winner probably over 5500 and 4200+ to score...always possible in Hep to add points if a person has a really solid day

4x400m relay:
8th 3:22.21 Central Arkansas 2/13/10 Iowa St Classic

Bears actually won NAIA 4x400m relay at least once with a time that could win this weekend....those were the days.....Bears havea good chance to score here and even pick up another spot or two with someone really geting a better than normal leg....watch out for the monkey in that last turn....

Distance medley relay
5th 10:43.67 Central Arkansas 12/5/09 ASU Kick-Off Klassic

A great relay event....as much as I love the 4x4 this is even better...start with a 1200m, handoff to sprinter for a speedy 400m, then a fast tempo 800m and end with a 1600m (mile)...Bears at 5th in qualifying time with potential to move up a spot...4000m race (2.5 miles more or less)....top NCAA times are in 9:30s....Bears at their best are probably capable of 10:25.... but SLC leader is only 10:10...

http://www.ucasports.com/sport.asp?action=news&sportid=14&article=3563

Thanks for the info 52! I would love to see more support for the Track and Field teams..any way possible!

If you mean fan support, that is a hard nut to crack...the NCAA nationals had a hard time filling John McDonnell Stadium last summer which is the best venue in the US to see the best of the best in college....the US Olympic Trials and US Nationals draw maybe 20,000 ....compare to Europe where they draw 40,000 to the European Juniors!!! The two best attended college meets in the US each year usually are the Penn Relays in Philadelphia (30,000+) and the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon....these are both sepcial situations with great history...every real track fan has on their to do lists to get to these meets at least once. Arkansas hosts the SEC meet this weekend and likely a 5000 capacity facility among the best in the world with absolutely terrific competition will not sell out in The Track Capital of Mid-America (ie, Fayetteville).

UCA has a first class track facility but needs real grandstands to be able to host the SLC Outdoor... I appreciate the track as it is great for our athletes to train on which helps recruit...someday we will have real meets and I dream of becoming the location for all high school state meets but we are not yet ready for that....until then the UCA Relays on 3/13 will have to do.....interestingly, that is the same day as the NCAA D1 indoors at Fayetteville but with us not being eligible for anyone to compete we might as well host an outdoor meet.....wear your long johns...I heard we need about $250,000 of improvements to bring up to standard to host the SLC....

Track is all about conference meets and national meets....everything else is just practice (really just trying to get qualfying times)....there is an experiment going on now across the US with the re-emergence of "dual" meets to try to stimulate more rivalry interest....matchups like Arkansas vs Texas, Missouri vs Kansas, Oregon vs USC, et al......duals do go faster which is better for spectators but does little to help you get qualifying times....our best "rival" would be either UALR or ASU...as an athlete it would be fun to have a UCA/UALR/ASU/UAPB 4-team meet each year.....90% of the athletes competed in high school against one another.....UCA would be an ideal place to hold that meet every year....I think track fans could find that interesting as long as the teams have some competitive athletes....

Funding will always be a challenge....we really need a good indoor facility in central Arkansas and I would prefer it be at UCA......maybe if we ever have a need to build a new basketball arena, we could put an indoor track in the Farris Center.... that would allow our teams to train more effectively in bad weather and provide a venue for a high school meet that helps the younger athletes.... no doubt would also help recruiting....it need not be Randal Tyson Track Center to be useful and helpful....

Coach Martin has done a god job attracting athletes...78 members of both teams combined is very good....among them are several of the best track athletes UCA has ever fielded.....

It only takes a few athletes to get notice....that does not mean national championships but respect.... Northern Iowa is in the middle of a frozen nowhere but is seen as a place with very fine distance runners.....Stillwater is not quite as isolated but they always have several top distance runners including a fellow who won NCAAs last summer in the 1500m as a true freshman....get a vaulter who does 17+ or a jumper who triple jumps 52+ or a 7" high jumper or a sub 1:50 800m runner and you get to the big meet and start getting noticed....all that is possible at UCA....the state has one of the best US pole vault training programs for youth near Hot Springs who has a national reputation for producing fine vaulters....two 17+ boys and several 12+ girls in high school..... we should benefit from that program (currently are with Daniel Reese, Ryan Kotch and McKinley Rea).

If you mean financial support I am positive that Brad will be glad to take your check. Otherwise, we need an organized effort to develop corporate sponsorhsip.

One final comment. In the 60s/70s UCA and SAU (then Southern State) would likely have beaten Arkansas in track. John McDonnell started wth one guy from Ireland and became the most successful coach in NCAA history...John was unproven when he started in a school with no strong tradition in track in an out of the way place with poor facilities....I am not suggesting that UCA can duplicate what McDonnell achieved...I don't think it will ever be repeated anywhere....but don't think we cannot become a solid track school with All-American performers who win lots of conference medals and trophies....

Damn ... I guess if you're going to dream, dream big.

I was just referring to more posts about the athletes accomplishments and maybe some fans going to events...

Sorry about the diatribe but all of that is possible...we have had tracksters in years past that had performances that would make D1 qualiying list today....no reason that cannot happen again.....we are very young this year....

Recap of 1st day at SLC:

SugarBears....4 points

Placed 5th in Distance Medley Relay (known as the DMR).... Heather Estetter ran 1200m leg, Mary Douglas ran the 400m, Daleshia Taylor ran 800m and Courtney Efurd ran 1600m...

No one else advanced to finals...Mary Douglas was close in 400m at a 58.79 time...Jessica Potter just missed scoring in HJ....

Jasmine Ellis less than 100 points from scoring in the pentathlon.....she was 7th in the 60m hurdles, 3rd in the LJ and 5th in SP....Megan Snow was 6th in the SP and 9th in LJ....

Bears... 7.5 points

Placed 4th in DMR with Danny McBride on 1200m, Nick Miller on 400m, Matt Mason on 800m and Tony Stewart on 1600m....

Daniel Reese tied for 5th in the PV...

No one else made it thru prelims except Sage Raphael was 7th in 400m at 49.25 with a good chance to move up in finals tomorrow....Bobby Washington barelly missed in HJ and Jaron Criswell fouled in LJ and did not get a legal jump....both of these were chances for good points...

Tomorrow...

Not a lot of points on the table but some....

Both teams have a shot in 4x400m relay....

Both teams have runners in 300m with a shot.....Tony Stewart is best bet....

McKinley Rea should be in PV and have a good chance to score....

April Martin is a long shot in TJ....

Go Bears and SugarBears!!

FINAL RESULTS

http://www.ucasports.com/sport.asp?action=news&sportid=15&article=3574

Conference meets are often humbling.....the freshmen got their eyes opened as to what it takes to score....several near misses....they will get better...both men's and women's programs are less than 4 years old....

Women's Team Scores

1 Stephen F. Austin 151.0
2 Texas-Arlington 122
3 UTSA 105
4 Sam Houston St. 59
5 Northwestern St. 46.5
6 Texas State 46
7 McNeese State 37
8 Texas A&M-CC 30
9 Lamar 23
10 Nicholls State 20
11 SE Louisiana 15.5
12 Central Arkansas 8

Men's Team Scores
1 UTSA 120.0
2 Stephen F. Austin 99.5
3 Sam Houston St. 90.0
4 Texas-Arlington 82
5 SE Louisiana 77
6 Lamar 61
7 McNeese State 59
8 Texas State 31
9 Northwestern St. 30
10 Central Arkansas 10.5
11 Texas A&M-CC 2