May 31, 2015
AUSTIN--North Texas track and field has completed the 2015 outdoor track and field season. The mean green will get a well-deserved break before returning to practice this August.
North Texas brought nine athletes to Austin, Texas to compete in the NCAA West Preliminary Round. The competition in Austin was fierce, as the best school's in the west region were all in attendance, along with many of the nation's fastest athletes. In each event, the top 12 athletes qualified for Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, which will take place June 10-13.
"Getting to the NCAA championships is always one of our team's individual goals, said head coach Carl Sheffield. "I wish we were a little more competitive here his year."
Top-tier track schools like the University of Oregon, Texas, and Texas A&M proved tough competition for North Texas. The Mean Green boasted some close finishes, as sophomore Collin Heard was only one spot away from a chance to compete in Saturday's 200-meter semi-final.
"All of the individual athletes that competed this week will return next year, except Shahaf Bareni," said Sheffield. Bareni set the North Texas high jump record at the 2013 NCAA National Championships.
Athletes Troy Taylor, Connor Bey, Collin Heard, Mona Landry, Jazmine Martin, Caleb Pryor, Jamal Marshall and Kedron Sowells will all try for Nationals again next year.
This year, the men's cross-country team was the first North Texas team to win a Conference USA Championship. The women's team placed fourth and then men's team placed fifth in this year's C-USA Indoor Championships.
North Texas had an exceptionally long and strenuous outdoor season, and returning athletes look forward to getting another shot to qualify for NCAA Nationals next year.
"We will get to the business of completing this year's recruiting class over the next month," said Sheffield. North Texas is "looking to get a fresh start" when they come back to school in August.
For full NCAA West Preliminary Round results, click here.
