• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

May 19, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - The seventh Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships concluded today at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus. In a meet that came down to the final races, the women finished fifth with 81 points and the men took eighth with 52 points.

The final race of the three-day meet was the 4x400 relay. In the second heat of the men's finals, the Bears set out to win their third straight title and their fourth in seven tries. The Baylor quartet of Joel Martin, Robbie Quiroga, Jamen Saziru and Darold Williamson did not disappoint. With two of the scheduled runners injured, the four athletes stepped up to bring home the gold with a time of 3:03.90. The women also ran a spectacular race. Jasmine Opusunju, Shanta Bibbs, Tiffany Wise and Lakadron Ivery clocked a 3:36.61 to finish second.

The women's steeplechasers dominated the field in the 3,000-meter race. Freshman Angela Marvin flirted with the meet record, but won the race just shy of the mark, clocking a 10:27.90. She was followed to the finish line by teammates Jessa Vacek and Stephanie Bennett. Vacek took second in 10:45.66 while Bennett was third in a time of 10:48.26. Leah Marbach also scored in the event, finishing in 11:09.80 to take seventh. Overall the women's team earned 26 points in just the one race.

Williamson was deprived of the opportunity to defend his indoor 400-meter conference title earlier in the year, but he came out strong today to win his second outdoor conference title in as many years. The All-American won the men's 400 in a time of 45.76. Freshman Jeremy Wariner took third, clocking a 46.59. Martin also scored for the Bears in the event, finishing eighth with a time of 47.67. In the women's 400, freshman Shanta Bibbs clocked a 55.98 to finish seventh.

The men also ran well in the 400 intermediate hurdles. Jordan Lewis edged teammate Seth Billy for the title. Lewis clocked a 51.33, and Billy took second with a time of 51.35. In the women's 400 hurdle race, Danielle Myricks finished third, recording a time of 58.91.

The Bears got off to a solid start on the final day of the competition. In the first race of the night, the women's 4x100 relay quartet of Danielle Myricks, April Holliness, Elizabeth Wilson and Ivery finished second with a season-best time of 44.72. In the open 100, Ivery finished fourth with a time of 11.59. Holliness was ninth, crossing the finish line in 11.96. Ivery also ran well in the 200. With a season-best time of 23.04, she finished second.

Kyle King ran a strong 5,000-meter race, taking fourth in a time of 14:20.40. Freshman Wil Fitts scored for the men as well, finishing seventh in the 800 with a time of 1:50.35.

In field events, senior Eboni Hammond contributed to the women's point total, taking seventh in the discus tying her season-best mark with a throw of 152-4.

Overall two Baylor individuals and one relay entered the meet as the defending champions. All three repeated as Debbie Thornhill won the 10,000, Darold Williamson won the 400 and the men's 4x400 relay took the title. The Bears also added two new gold medals to the trophy case courtesy of Angela Marvin in the steeplechase and Jordan Lewis in the 400 hurdles.

"There were a lot of upsides as well as some downsides," head coach Clyde Hart said. "The injuries are always a downside. We showed that we can reach down deep and find people to compete. We are getting where we need to be at the right time."

Next up for the Bears will be the NCAA regional meet. Baylor will compete in Lincoln, Neb. on May 30-31.