May 31, 2003

Lincoln, Neb. - The Texas Tech men's team entered the day in second-place and where they finished the meet would come down to the final race, the 1,600-meter relay, while the women were just looking to get as many NCAA qualifiers as it could at Ed Weir Track in Lincoln, Neb.

With all but the 1,600-meter relay in the books, the Red Raider men's team stood in fifth-place place and had room to move up if they could run a good relay.

Head Coach Wes Kittley made a move in his line up for the final event of the day as Tech would be led off by Matt Stewart. Stewart got out of the blocks and held ground with the rest of the favorites turning in a 46.54 split. Julieon Raeburn would take the stick to the front of the pack and hold the lead by the slimmest of margins before giving way to Jonathan Johnson in a time of 45.7. Johnson would fight off the third leg of Baylor all the way around the track giving way to Albert Booker in a time of 45.1. Booker would open up a lead by as much as eight meters down the back stretch ahead of a Darold Williamson of Baylor. Heading into the final 100 meters Booker was fighting Williamson back. With 25 meters to go Williamson took the lead but Booker was not finished. The Texas Tech sophomore would make a final attempt to regain the lead at the wire but come up just short, clock a final time of 3:03.41, setting a new school record.

Johnson had the top time in the Big 12 entering the conference championships and would go on to win the event for the second-consecutive year two weeks ago. This week Johnson entered the meet with the top time in the Midwest Region and much like two weeks ago, he would hold onto that top spot on the track. But the gold medal would not come easy. The Abilene, Texas, native's strategy of leading the pack paid large dividends as there was a pair of tangle-ups amongst the pack.

With 200 meters to the finish line, TCU's Jackson Langat tried to move to the outside and around Johnson. The four-time All-American held Langat off for the final two turns and began to run away form the pack down the final straightaway to a 1:47.64 finish.

Despite all the success of the men's team, the story-of-the-day came from the women's team. After missing the 2002 outdoor season due to medical problems, Brionne Yosten will advance to the NCAA Championships in the 1,500-meter run. The Hereford, Texas, native placed third Saturday afternoon in the finals with a time of 4:22.30. Yosten could have easily fallen back to fifth but down the back stretch Yosten found the strength to hold off Laura Lavoie of Kansas and Erin Sims of Texas.

"I was just trying to fight them off because I didn't know how much I had left," said Yosten. "I am very excited about making it to nationals. I feel like a totally different person from a year ago. I feel strong which is good because last year I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to run competitively again."

The men's pole vault was looked upon as an event where Tech could score some much needed points after slipping from second to fifth in the point's race at the conclusion of the javelin. The Red Raiders got an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships, but it would not be Bobby Most. Jared Thornhill would stay clear through his first three heights before fouling out at 17-feet, 3-inches. Prior to Thornhill's third attempt, Nebraska's Eric Eshbach had already missed and had more misses at earlier marks so the sophomore was assured of third.

Most passed on all his attempts until 16'-11". But just like Friday, swirling winds in the Eastern most area of the track made vaulting very difficult for all 41 athletes entered in the event. After claiming the Big 12 title just two weeks ago the freshman did not have a successful attempt. Ken Wilson would also no-height as he was unable to overcome an ailing shoulder as did Seth Harris.

The men's 400-meter relay entered the day with the sixth-fastest time of the preliminaries. The quartet would get the stick around the track in a time of 40.13 and finish fifth scoring four points and moving the team into second, four back of Texas A&M.

Booker had a very short rest period after running the lead leg of the 400-meter relay before running in the finals of the open 400. The finals of the 400 would see the top two finishers break the stadium record and Booker place fifth with a time of 45.79 just edging out Chris Lloyd of Texas Southern and Ashton Collins of Texas who both ran a 45.80.

After running the second leg of the 400-meter relay, Raeburn had to return to the track for the finals of the 200. The senior made his way to the finals via winning his heat on Friday with a time of 20.71, the seventh-fastest time of the day. Today the Trincity, Trinidad, native had to fight a headwind but posted a fourth-place time of 20.85, earning the right to compete at the national championships in two weeks.

Olivia Clardy would compete in the first flight of the hammer throw where she would hit a finals-qualifying mark on her first attempt of 169'-7". After fouling on her first two attempts in the finals, the sophomore would bust loose with a 170'-2" mark and score the first point of the meet for the women.

In the women's side of the 1,600-meter relay, the quartet managed to find their pace as the team of Tori Polk, Rachelle Evans, Karletha Cook and Licretia Sibley posted a season-best time of 3:35.51 which ranks second in school history. Altough the team placed fourth and did not receive an automatic bid to the championships, the mark might gain them an at-large bid.

Athletes not getting an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships will have to wait until early next week to see if they will get an at-large bid.

Midwest Regional Champions Jason Young (Discus) Jonathan Johnson (800M)

NCAA Automatic Qualifiers Brionne Yosten (1,500M) Jared Thornhill (Pole Vault) Albert Booker (400M) Jonathan Johnson (800M) Julieon Raeburn (200M) Jason Young (Discus) Chad Pharis (High Jump) Men's 1,600-meter relay