This week the Cougars will make their way to Austin where they hope to excel against the best of the best at the Texas Relays. The event will be held at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium on the University of Texas campus.
The team hopes for speedy recoveries for Whitney Harris, Quin’shundolyn McPherson and Joe Irabor as this should be the most competitive meet so far in the outdoor season. Head coach Leroy Burrell said athletes who are from the state look forward to the meet every season because of its history and tradition.
“It’s the third largest meet in the country. It’s a big meet for us,” Burrell said. “Texas kids circle that on their calendar every year.”
The clock at the previous meet malfunctioned when Errol Nolan crossed the finish line in the 200-meter dash in 18.72 seconds, well below Usain Bolt’s world record of 19.19 seconds. An accurate split could not be produced, but Nolan and his coaches believe he set a personal-best mark.
Burrell said he was eager to see how Nolan performs in the competitive atmosphere, but in order for the team to be successful at the meet it must stand united.
“I’m really looking forward to see what Errol (Nolan) does, but he needs some support. I know Doug (Kelley) will run well there. I think Jason Perez and Cameron LaCour will too. On the women’s side, Kalyn Floyd and Whitney Harris,” Burrell said.
At the previous meet, Burrell placed athletes in alternative events in an attempt to gain fitness. The Cougars fielded two 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relay units for both men’s and women’s teams.
“We looked at the Rice meet as a training opportunity. We trained Sunday and rested Monday and are going to wind it up Tuesday,” Burrell said.
“We really have to perform well as a unit if we’re going to be successful. That’s what we’re going to stress to the athletes. We’re a unit. We need to act as a unit, compete as a unit and we’ll live and die with the results as a unit.”
The meet will feature regular individual events but includes several special relays that are not usually offered at meets. The 4×200-meter relay, 4×800-meter relay and 4×1500-meter relay are examples.
Next week the Cougars are westward bound as they travel to Tempe, Ariz. to compete in the Arizona Invitational held at Arizona State University.
