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1999 College Sports Spring Preview
Texas and Reid are both reigning champs. |
TRACK & FIELD
Top Teams
1. Texas
After ending LSU's 11-year reign last season, the Longhorns will repeat
as the nation's best program. Jamaican-born senior Suziann Reid (400-meter) and
junior Erin Aldrich (high jump) are returning national
champions.
2. UCLA
An outstanding recruiting class joins discus thrower Seilala Sua, one of
two collegians to be ranked first among all U.S. women in an event by Track
& Field News in 1998. The sophomore was also Track & Field News's
No. 7 shot-putter in the
nation.
3. Louisiana State
Last year the dynastic Tigers finished tied for a dismal
22nd. Claudine Williams (800 meters), Monique Freeman (long jump) and
Keisha Spencer (triple jump, high jump) were juco champions last year and could
restore LSU's winning tradition. Williams's best time (2:01.92) would have won
the NCAA 800 in
'98.
4. Southern California
Prized recruit Angela Williams broke Chandra Cheeseborough's
22-year-old prep record of 11.13 for the 100 meters last June by .02 of a
second. She and senior Torri Edwards, third in the NCAA 100 meters last year,
give the Trojans the country's best sprint
tandem.
5. SMU
With nine countries represented on its roster, SMU holds an international
meet every time it steps out on the track. Senior high jumper Kajsa Bergqvist of
Sweden finished second at last year's NCAA championship after placing first
as a sophomore.
6. Baylor
Seniors Stacey Bowers (triple jump) and Yulanda Nelson (400 meters)
pace the Bears, who will battle rival Texas for bragging rights in the
4¥400.
7. Arizona
Amy Skieresz is two shy of tying Wisconsin's Suzy Hamilton with nine
career indoor and outdoor NCAA titles. The 10-time All-America (cross-country,
3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters) is planning to run this spring despite the
presence of a benign tumor on her right femur that was discovered in
November.
8. Georgia
Senior Debbie Ferguson, a silver medalist on the Bahamas'
4¥100-meter relay team at the Atlanta Olympics, will defend her 100- and
200-meter crowns at the
NCAAs.
9. Florida
Senior Hazel Clark is ranked fourth among all U.S. women by Track
& Field News in the 800, but she is only the third best in her family at
that distance. Sister-in-law Jearl Miles-Clark, 32, is ranked No. 1 in the
U.S., and sister Joetta Clark, 36, is
No. 2.
10. Georgetown
Strong in the relays, the Hoyas also have legs over the long haul
with distance runners junior Autumn Fogg and senior Kate
Landau.
Hot Dates
April 22-24
Penn Relays, Philadelphia, which all of the top track programs in
the country will attend
June 2-5
NCAA championship meet, Boise,
Idaho
Division II
Abilene (Texas) Christian senior Tracey Barnes of Jamaica will be hard-pressed to top her showing at last year's Division II championships, in which she ran away with the 200 and 400 and anchored both victorious relay teams.
Division III
Sprint trio Leema Madden, Meshailay Robinson and Denita Eason will help Christopher Newport , of Newport News, Va., hold off Wheaton (Mass.) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Cybersources
www.trackwire.com
www.trackandfieldnews.com
Rankings, results and
news
Collegiate and national
rankings
OTHER SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
Softball
Track & Field
Tennis
Golf
Lacrosse
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