Betters, Jones Qualify for Semifinals at NCAA Championships
6/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
June 6, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -
LeJerald Betters and Nichole Jones advanced through their first preliminary rounds on the first day of competition at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.
Also, on Wednesday, head coach Todd Harbour announced that assistant head coach Danny Brabham would return to the Baylor coaching staff. Brabham, who last month announced his retirement from coaching, had a change of heart, and will be welcomed back to the Bear's coaching staff for his 19th season in Waco.
"Today was another day at the office, with some highs and some lows," said Harbour. "We feel good that we got some people into the semifinals, but then we had some tough races that were a little disappointing. Getting Nichole (Jones) into the semis with a time that's not far off her personal best was a big plus. And I thought LeJerald (Betters) ran a very smart race, running just as fast as he needed in order to qualify."
Betters (Waco, Texas), the Big 12 Outdoor Freshman of the Year, automatically qualified for the semi-finals in the men's 400 meters, finishing second in his preliminary heat in 46.47. His time was the sixth-fastest of the preliminary rounds. J.T. Scheuerman (Littleton, Colo.) finished fifth in his heat with a time of 47.11. Quentin Iglehart-Summers took fourth in his preliminary heat in 47.36. Scheuerman and Iglehart-Summers finished 20th and 21st, respectively.
Jones (Spring, Texas), the reigning Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year, finished fourth in her heat of the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:06.20. Lauren Hagans (Little Rock, Ark.) took seventh in 2:10.95. Jones posted the fastest time of the non-automatic qualifiers, and recorded the ninth-fastest time of the preliminary round. She advances to the semi-finals of the women's 800 meters on Thursday afternoon. Hagans finished 24th overall.
The Bears opened the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 4x100-meter relay. Baylor was forced to use its seventh different relay combination of the season, due to injuries to Courtney Thomas (Kilgore, Texas) and Trey Harts (Lake Charles, La.). The Bears finished fifth in the third heat running 40.31. R.J. Anderson (Big Pine Key, Fla.) led off for Baylor, passing to Reggie Witherspoon (Marietta, Ga.) down the backstretch. Scheuerman ran the curve leg, and passed to Betters on the anchor leg. Baylor placed 13th overall in the preliminaries and did not qualify for the event finals.
The Lady Bears took fifth place in their heat with a time of 45.61. Jessica Gregory (Richmond, Texas) ran the leadoff leg for Baylor and passed to Carla Grace (San Antonio, Texas) on the straightaway. DeAna Carson (Long Beach, Calif.) ran the third leg, with Katrina Taylor (Baton Rouge, La.) taking the stick for the anchor leg. The Lady Bears finished 17th in the preliminary heats and will not compete in the event finals.
Baylor will return to action on Thursday afternoon as Reggie Witherspoon will run the preliminary rounds of the men's 200 meters starting at 3:30 p.m. PDT.
Wednesday Results
Women's Events
4x100-Meter Relay:
1. LSU - 43.68
17. Baylor - 45.61
800 Meters
1. Katie Erdman, Mich. - 2:04.14
9. Nichole Jones, BU - 2:06.20
24. Lauren Hagans, BU - 2:10.95
Men's Events
4x100-Meter Relay
1. LSU - 39.36
13. Baylor - 40.31
400 Meters
1. Siraj Williams, LSU - 46.08
6. LeJerald Betters, BU - 46.47
20. J.T. Scheuerman, BU - 47.11
21. Quentin Iglehart-Summers, BU - 47.36
Players Mentioned
