Six track and field student-athletes earned Lone Star Conference Athlete of the Week honors for their efforts, league officials announced today.
TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Nick Smith, Angelo State University, JR, Rowlett, Texas, Rowlett HS
Smith would have contributed towards four NCAA Division II provisional qualifying marks had it not been for gusty wind during the 200-meter dash. Still, the junior from Rowlett, Texas, put on an impressive display at the Texas Tech Invitational (4/2) when he ran the third-fastest 100-meter in the Lone Star Conference (10.49), second fastest 200 (21.13), helped the 4x100-meter relay team post another qualifying time (41.08) and contributed to the fastest 4x400-meter relay time in the LSC this season (3:12.53). All four marks were better than the provisional standard, though the wind was greater than four mph during the 200.
CO-MEN’S FIELD
Wade Goode, Angelo State University, SR, Midland, Texas, Midland HS
Goode punched his ticket to the 2011 Outdoor Track and Field Championships and hit Angelo State’s first automatic qualifying mark of the season when he threw the discus a personal-best 178’5” (54.39m) and finished sixth at the Texas Tech Invitational (4/2). Goode also finished fourth in the hammer and seventh in the shot put last Saturday.
Daniel Draper, Eastern New Mexico University, SR, Moriarty, N.M., Moriarty HS
Draper turned in another top performance in the Javelin toss last Saturday at the Texas Tech Open. Draper’s toss of 211’7” was good for a second place finish at the meet, a personal best and a team record. Draper, who already has a provisionally qualifying spot for the NCAA championships, was just shy of picking up an automatic qualification.
CO-WOMEN’S TRACK
Derekia Coleman, Tarleton State University, FR, Fairfield, Texas, Fairfield HS
Coleman has made an impact already for the TexAnns in just her first season at Tarleton. On Saturday at the UTA Bobby Lane Invitational, Coleman ran the 100-meter dash in 11.91 seconds, easily qualifying for nationals. She becomes the second Tarleton track and field athlete to do so this season. Besides that, the Fairfield native also ran a personal best in the 200-meter with a time of 24.47.
Rachel King, West Texas A&M University, SO, Wichita Falls, Texas, Wichita Falls HS
King set an NCAA Division II provisional mark in the women’s 100m hurdles this past weekend at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock. The sophomore hurdler finished fifth overall in the event, crossing the finish line in 14.29. She was first overall among all division II athletes in the race and she currently sits with the No. 9 fastest time in the nation.
WOMEN’S FIELD
Lauren Pratt, University of the Incarnate Word, SR, Houston, Texas, Pearland HS
In just her first competition of the spring Pratt won the long jump at the Trinity Alumni Classic. Her distance of 19’2” did four things: won the event, was third best in UIW school history, top mark in the LSC this year and it put her on the provisional list for the D-II national championships in May. She is seeking her second consecutive trip the national meet in the long jump.