By Steve Holt, Sports Writer
Against two perennial Texas track and field powerhouses – Baylor and TCU – along with other teams, the ACU men’s and women’s teams posted several provisional qualifying times and marks while competing at the Baylor Dr Pepper Invitational in Waco. The women’s team enjoyed the most individual success for ACU, qualifying eight individuals in eight events, as well as the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relay teams, for the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Meet.
Two individual men qualified for nationals in as many events, along with both relay teams.
Head coach Don Hood said his teams were pumped up coming into the competition.
“Just knowing we had good competition fired everyone up,” Hood said. “I knew we’d compete hard. And then, to top it all off, it was a beautiful day.”
For the women, junior Trina Cox posted strong provisional times in two events: the 1,500-meter run, in which she placed second in 4 minutes, 28 seconds, and the 3,000-meter run, which she won in 9:40.07.
Hood said Cox was especially impressive against the superb distance runners from Baylor.
“She was strong as a bull,” Hood said. “She ran good times because she ran to win.”
Sophomore Keva Wilkins continued her seasonal success Saturday in the 400-meter dash, an event in which she placed fourth at the indoor national championships earlier this month. Wilkins won the event Saturday with a provisional time of 54.41, milliseconds away from the automatic time of 54,0.
Freshman Kim Prather joined runners from Baylor.
“She was strong as a bull,” Hood said. “She ran good times because she ran to win.”
Sophomore Keva Wilkins continued her seasonal success Saturday in the 400-meter dash, an event in which she placed fourth at the indoor national championships earlier this month. Wilkins won the event Saturday with a provisional time of 54.41, milliseconds away from the automatic time of 54,0.
Freshman Kim Prather joined Cox as the other double-qualifier Saturday, finishing fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.93) and fourth in the 200-meter dash (24.36).
Junior Angie Aguilar, who earlier this month won her first national title at the indoor national meet, finished second in the pole vaun and finishing second in the 3,000-meter run. The four-time individual champion eased to victory in the 1,500-meter run with a strong provisional time of 3:49.91. The Kenyan was second in the 3,000-meter run in 8:16.02, however, barely being edged out by fellow countryman Kip Kangogo of TCU (8:15.64). The 3,000-meter run is not a nationals event in Division II.
Jordan Johnson was the only other individual to post a provisional qualifying time, finishing fourth in the 400-meter dash in 47.77.
“That was a great opening-up time in the 400 meters,” Hood said.
The 4×400-meter relay team posted a provisional time of 3:14.78, placing fourth. The men’s 4×100-meter relay team was second in 40.45 behind a strong TCU squad, which ran 40.31, to qualify provisionally.
“We were even and close to leading TCU going into that last exchange,” Hood said about the sprint relay. “TCU’s one of the top teams in the country, so to be up there with them was exciting.”
Both Wildcat track and field teams will compete next on home turf, as the Oliver Jackson Open will take place Saturday at Elmer Gray Stadium.
