MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (2/26/06) North Texas’ bid to repeat at the Sun Belt Indoor Track and Field Championships fell short as Western Kentucky clipped the Mean Green women’s team 115.5 - 97 at the Murphy Center.
But the Mean Green will not go home empty handed as freshman Brandi Stanfield collected Sun Belt Women’s Field Performer of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year honors.
Stanfield assured herself a trip to Fayetteville, Ark. for the NCAA Indoor Championships with her efforts on Sunday. The freshman improved upon her provisional qualifying mark by nearly a foot, winning the triple jump with a leap of 43-feet-5-inches.
Stanfield’s jump is the sixth best in the nation this season and snaps her own school record as well as the Sun Belt’s. The Austin native is expected be the first Mean Green athlete to participate in the indoor national championships.
Chi Chi Echebelem broke her second school record of the weekend in a third place finish in the 400-meter dash. The sophomore broke Chiqueta Ellis’ seven-year old record with a time of 55.51. Echebelem snapped the 200-meter dash record on Saturday.
The Mean Green men took fourth place with 71 points. The men were led by Brandon Irabor who managed the school record in the 200 meters. The sophomore tied the record yesterday, but made it his own today with a time of 21.27 in a second place finish.
The 4x400-meter relay team notched a provisional qualifying time in a second place finish. The team earned a time of 3:14.61.
The Mean Green now focuses its attention on the outdoor season which kicks off at the Dr. Pepper Invitational in Waco, Texas on March 25.
Sun Belt Indoor Championships Individual Award Winners
Outstanding Female Track Performer - Donita Harmon, Florida International
Outstanding Female Field Performer - Brandi Stanfield, North Texas
Outstanding Male Track Performer - Vincent Rono, South Alabama
Outstanding Male Field Performer - James Thomas, Middle Tennessee
Top Female Scorers - Donita Harmon, Florida International; Diana Jipchirchir (25 points)
Top Male Scorer - Vincent Rono, South Alabama (40 points)
Female Freshman of the Year - Brandi Stanfield, North Texas
Male Freshman of the Year - Darreal Beal, Arkansas State
