NORMAN, Okla. (2/18/06) The North Texas track and field team was firing on all cylinders on Saturday, powering its way to five gold medals in the season’s final tune-up meet, the Sooner Indoor.
The Mean Green was led by an unlikely hero, its mid/distance squad, which accounted for six top-three finishes. A program known more for its sprinting prowess, the North Texas men have not had a mid-distance individual conference champion since 1974, while the women have never managed a mid-distance crown.
Newcomer Shayla Hart looked to change all that with her first place finish in the 600-yard run. The freshman finished in 1:28.62, just shy of Kim Williams’ month-old school record.
Cassie Storms posted the team’s best mile time of the season while taking first place. The senior had a time of 5:22.42 in the victory, followed by Jill Brennan and Alex Sherwin who finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The men’s mile squad, led by freshman Billy Giano, took second through fourth place. Giano also had the squad’s top time of the season (4:26.16) in the second place finish. Josh Rogers finished third with a time of 4:28.37, while Frank Ngeno finished fourth in 4:28.50.
Temitayo Harriman and DeShayla Spencer both set career best times in the 1,000-meter run. Harriman, a sophomore, finished second in the men’s run with a time of 2:35.17, while the freshman finished third in the women’s in 3:15.66.
Not to be outdone, the field events managed a pair of wins as well as a school record. Alana Tyler brought home gold in the weight throw with a record toss of 51-feet-4.5-inches. The freshman snapped the year-old school record by five inches.
Heath Smith tied for first place with a weight throw of 49-feet-11.75-inches. The junior also finished second in the shot put with a throw of 50-feet-2-inches.
Ciji Brooks proved why she is considered the fastest shot putter in the nation with her first place finish in the 60-meter hurdles. The senior posted a personal best time of 8.69, the fourth fastest time in the Sun Belt in 2006.
The North Texas women’s team looks to repeat as Sun Belt Indoor Champions next week at the conference championships beginning Feb. 24 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
