Track and Field Set to Host Dr Pepper Invitational
3/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
March 21, 2008
WACO, Texas -
BEARS BACK IN ACTION AT THE DR PEPPER INVITATIONAL
The Baylor men's and women's track and field teams open the outdoor season this weekend in Waco, Texas as the Bears host the annual Dr Pepper Invitational at the Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex. The one-day meet begins on Saturday at 9 a.m. with field events. Running events begin will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a rolling schedule. Following competition at the Dr Pepper Invitational, the Bears return to action on March 28 as Baylor travels to participate in the Abilene Invitational. Live results of the Dr Pepper Invitational will be available online at www.BaylorBears.com, and complete meet recaps will be available following the meet.
LAST YEAR AT THE DR PEPPER INVITATIONAL
The Baylor track and field teams won 22 events and set nine regional qualifying marks at the 2007 Dr Pepper Invitational held on Saturday at the Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex. Highlighting the afternoon was Brittany Devereaux's (
LAST TIME OUT
The Baylor men's 4x400-meter relay won its third-straight national championship with a world-leading time of 3:05.66 on Saturday night at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Bears, who also won the 2007 indoor and outdoor national championships in the event, win their third-straight national title, becoming just the fourth team in NCAA history to accomplish the feat. LSU most recently won three 4x400-meter relay titles in a row, winning the 2005 outdoor and 2006 indoor and outdoor championships. SMU accomplished the feat in 1986-87, winning the 1986 indoor and outdoor titles and the 1987 indoor championship. Baylor also holds the NCAA record, winning five straight relay titles from the 1990 indoor championships through the 1992 indoor title. Baylor's time of 3:05.66 is the fastest in the world this year, beating the Bears' previous world-leading time of 3:06.89 at the Tyson Invitational in February. Baylor now owns three of the six fastest times in the world this year. TCU, the eventual national runner-up, owned the fastest time of the meet, clocking 3:06.19 in the second heat. Baylor needed a faster time, since the 4x400-meter relay is run as a three-section final determined by times. Trey Harts opened up for Baylor with a 46.8 split out of the blocks. Harts came through the first 200 meters in fourth place, but made his kick on the second lap, handing off just behind Texas A&M. Marcus Boyd sat behind the Aggie runner through 200 meters and passed Texas A&M on the backstretch of the second lap, handing off with the lead after a 46.8 split. Justin Boyd took the stick in first place and held on to the lead on his quarter-mile, splitting 46.4 to pass in first place. LeJerald Betters, who pulled up in the open 400 meters with a leg cramp on Friday afternoon, pulled away from the field on the anchor leg with a 45.2 split, leaning across the finish line to ensure the fastest time. Baylor wins its eighth indoor national championship, and the school's 17th overall (eight indoor and nine outdoor). Betters earns his third overall national championship, while Harts, M. Boyd and J. Boyd each won their first-ever national title. Baylor also won its 21st-straight 4x400-meter event against NCAA competition. The Bears' last loss to a collegiate team came at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing third behind LSU and TCU. The men's team finished in a tie for 19th place overall with 11 team points, while the Lady Bears tied for 56th overall with two team points. Lauren Hagans earned her second All-America honor in as many days with an eighth-place finish in the women's 3,000 meters. Hagans time of 9:15.12 was a four-second personal best and ranks as the third-fastest 3,000 meters in Baylor history.
Players Mentioned
