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The University of Mississippi Athletics
UM Tracksters Head To NCAA Mideast Regional Meet
5/29/2003 | Track and Field
May 29, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss track and field squads will be sending 17 athletes to the first annual running of the 2003 NCAA Regional Track and Field Championships at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, May 30 and 31. The top five finishers in each event will qualify or the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships to be held June 11-14 in Sacramento, Calif.
"We are thrilled to have 17 athletes qualified for the regional meet," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker. "We have struggled throughout the season with injuries and are hoping to have some break-through performances this weekend." Sophomore hurdler Antwon Hicks enters the meet as the top Ole Miss competitor. Hicks ranks second in the NCAA and the Mideast Region in the 110-meter hurdles with his time of 13.46. Hicks was unable to run in the SEC finals of the event due to injury.
Senior thrower Stacy Andrews will be competing in both the discus and hammer throw. Andrews, the Ole Miss record-holder in both events, enters the meet ranked fourth in the discus (185-10) and 10th in the hammer throw (201-7).
Also competing for the Rebels will be: sophomore Chris Lawson (100, 200, 4x100, 4x400), Franz Bernard (400, 4x100, 4x400), Shantel Glass, (long jump, 4x100), Taye Biddle (4x100), Brandon Atkinson (triple jump), Brett Canale (hammer throw), Clinton Fletcher (4x400) and Demondrick Shumaker (4x400).
Sophomore Marquita Aldridge will lead the way for the Lady Rebels. Aldridge enters the meet ranked 13th in the long jump with her season's best mark of 20-0.25. Aldridge was a Verizon All-American in the long jump last season and competed at the World Junior Championships.
Aldridge will join fellow sophomores Camilia Pittman, Chiquita Stephens and Antisha Anderson on the 4x100-meter relay team. The Lady Rebels relay enters the meet with the ninth-fastest time at 45.58.
Pittman will also compete in the open 100 and 200 meters, while Stephens will run the 100 meters. Anderson will race in the 100-meter hurdles. Other Lady Rebels competing at the Mideast Regional Meet are: sophomore Octavia Carter (100 hurdles, alternate 4x100), sophomore LaToya McBride (high jump) and freshman Robyn Gaunder (discus throw).
Competition begins in throw events both Friday and Saturday at noon, while the running events will commence with trials Friday at 4 p.m. with the women's 4x400-meter relay. Running will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. with the finals of the women's 4x400m.
