Notes on Red Raider Invitational
June 21, 1999 | Indoor Track
January 29, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas -
About the Red Raider Invitational...
Texas Tech returns to the Athletic Training Center to compete in their second home meet of the indoor season, the Red Raider Invitational, on Jan. 29-30. The meet features several teams that competed two weeks ago at the Red Radier Open including Abilene Christian, Dallas Baptist, McMurry College and the University of Juarez.
At last year's Invitational the men's and women's teams took first-place among Division I teams competing including Texas, UTEP, North Texas and UTSA. The women shined having three first place finishes. Current Red Raider Evette Turner finished first in the mile with a time of 5:04.20. The women's distance medlay relay team and high jumper Crystal Harlan also took first places for Texas Tech. On the men's side, Mike Njenga was the team's only top finisher. He won the 3,000-meters with a time of 8:23.74.
This year's meet will feature few of the Red Raiders top runners as most are taking the weekend off to rest and train for the crucial upcoming stretch. In the next three weeks the teams will be competing at the Butler University track meet, which which features some of the nation's best competition and produces many national championships qualifying times, the Red Raider Classic, the final home meet of the 1999 indoor season, and the Big 12 conference championships in Manhattan, Kansas, on the campus of Kansas State University.
It will be a critical time to see if former All-Americas Josephus Howard and Desmond Johnson can post times good enough to earn them a spot in the NCAA meet.
For the women, it will be a time to see if Evette Turner, who finished ninth in the mile at last season's indoor national championships, can repeat her performance. Another to watch will be Ngozi Iwu. Coach Sholars and his staff feel the sophomore from Houston, who has steadily improved at every meet this season, has the talent and determination to be a national force in the 400 or 800-meter runs.
Hello Again
The Red Raiders will see some familiar faces this weekend at the Invitational. It will be the second time Texas Tech has competed against athletes from Dallas Baptist, McMurry College and the University of Juarez this season. However, the most familiar team would have to Abilene Christain who has competed in all three meets the Red Raiders have been at this season
No Sophomore Slump for Iwu
After having a solid freshman campaign in 1998, Ngozi Iwu is showing her to one of the most dominant forces on the womens indoor track team in 1999. Already, she has set two school records in two events. Iwu claimed the top mark in the 400-meters with a time of 55.36 at the Rocky Mountain Cup on Jan. 23. She also earned the top mark and the Athletic Training Center record in the 600-yard dash with a run of 1:22.85 at the Red Raider Open on Jan. 16.
Runnin with Rohan
Junior Rohan McDonald has already shown that there will be no let down from his All-America performance during last years indoor season. McDonald, who originally hails from St. Catherine, Jamaica, provisionally qualified for the NCAA indoor national championship this past weekend at the Rocky Mountain Cup with a time of 46.73. With four meets remaining,including the conference championships, McDonald will have a several opportunities to further improve on his already excellent time.
Sham Slams the 200
Sophomore Shameron Turner improved on his personal best in the 200-meters by almost one second at the Rocky Mountain. Turner recorded a time of 20.98 to provisionally qualify for NCAA indoors. His best time last season in the 200 indoor was 21.58.
1999 Top Mens Performances D. Johnson, S. Turner, J. Howard, R. McDonald Mile Relay 3:12.18 1/16/99 *Best time in Big 12 as of 1-26-99Rohan McDonald 600-yard 1:10.61 1/16/99 Red Raider Open *Texas Tech Indoor Record *Athletic Training Center Record *Third Time in Big 12 as of 1-26-99 400-meters 46.73 1/23/99 Rocky Mountain Cup *Provisionally qualified for NCAA Indoor Champ. *Fourth best time in Big 12 as of 1-26-99
Shameron Turner 200-meters 20.98 1/23/99 Rocky Mountain Cup *Provisionally Qualified for NCAA Indoor Champ. *Personal best time in the event
1999 Top Womens Performances Ngozi Iwu 600-yard 1:22.85 1/16/99 Red Raider Open *Texas Tech Indoor Record *Athletic Training Center Record *Second best time in Big 12 as of 1-26-99 400-meters 55.36 *Texas Tech Indoor Record *Fifth best time in Big 12 as of 1-26-99
Sherri Colemen 55-meters 7.02 1/16/99 Red Raider Open *Top time in Big 12 as of 1-26-99 60-meters 7.45 1/23/99 Rocky Mountain Cup *Texas Tech Indoor Record *Second best time in Big 12 of 1-26-99
Leigh Daniel 3,000-meters 10:26.31 Mile 5:09.54 1/16/99 Red Raider Open *Took first-place in both events