2006 Big 12 Indoor Championships
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25
Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track
Lincoln, Neb.
Live Results: huskers.com

Feb. 22, 2006

LINCOLN, Neb. - First-year head coach Todd Harbour leads the Baylor track and field team into the 2006 Big 12 Conference Indoor Championships Friday and Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track.

The Bears enter the meet with the top times in four men's events (200 meters, 400 meters, 60-meter hurdles, 4x400-meter relay) and two women's events (1,000 meters, distance medley relay).

Some Bears have already assured themselves a spot in the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships with automatic qualifying times. Freshman Jacob Norman (Temple, Texas) has an automatic qualifying time in the 60 meters, while the women's distance medley relay has also qualified.

The women finished third last year, their highest Big 12 finish since also finishing third in 1999. The men, however, had their lowest finish since Big 12 competition began, placing ninth.

Baylor claimed three event titles at the 2005 Big 12 Indoor Championships, with Elizabeth Wilson setting the school record en route to winning the 200 meters. Darold Williamson claimed his second indoor conference crown in the 400 meters, then anchored the Bears' 4x400-meter relay to its eighth straight title.

Following the championships, there is one more opporunity to qualify for the national championships at the Last Chance Meet March 4 in Ames, Iowa. The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held March 11-12 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Who To Watch - Men
Chris Gillis: Senior All-American ranks fifth in the Big 12 in the long jump.

Quentin Iglehart-Summers: Freshman has the top 400-meter time in the Big 12 at 46.90, an NCAA provisional qualifying time.

Jerome Miller: Senior holds the top time in the conference at 7.77 in the 60-meter hurdles, a strong NCAA provisional qualifying time.

Jacob Norman: Freshman has the second-fastest time in the Big 12 in the 60 meters. Set the school record with an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 6.62. Also has the third-fastest time in the 200 meters.

Reggie Witherspoon: Junior transfer has the top 200-meter time in the Big 12 at 21.06 and the fourth-fastest time in the 400 meters at 47.24, both NCAA provisional qualifying times.

4x400-Meter Relay: Probable lineup of Witherspoon, Mutai, Fitts and Iglehart-Summers will look to secure the Bears ninth straight title in the event.

Who To Watch - Women
Erin Bedell: Freshman has the second-fastest time in the Big 12 in the 1,000 meters, trailing only injured teammate Lauren Hagans. Has the range to run competitively from 800 to 3,000 meters and will anchor the Bears' distance medley relay.

Lyndsy Bedell: Sophomore has made significant improvements each week and could score in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

Angel Perkins: Senior has the third-fastest 400-meter time in the Big 12 at 53.67, an NCAA provisional qualifying time. Also runs the anchor leg on the Bears' 4x400-meter relay.

Kandace Tucker: Ranks second in the Big 12 in the 200 meters. Tied the school record with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 23.53.

4x400-Meter Relay: Bears enter championship with the second-fastest time. Have run Taylor, Tucker, Grace and Perkins in each race this year.

Distance Medley Relay: Enter the championships with the conference's fastest time at 11:07.72, qualifying automatically for the NCAA Championships and shattering the school record by nearly 20 seconds. Will have to overcome the loss of Hagans.