The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Regional Meet
Antwon Hicks Advances To NCAA Outdoor Championships
5/29/2004 | Track and Field
May 29, 2004
BATON ROUGE, La. - Ole Miss junior Antwon Hicks earned his third-straight trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships by placing third in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 NCAA Mideast Regional Meet on Saturday. Hicks, who ran a season's best 13.56, was one of five hurdlers to advance from the Mideast.
"Today's race was okay," said Hicks, who hails from Hot Springs, Ark. "I cut some time off, but I am still getting into shape and I have yet to run a great race this outdoor season.
"It felt good to get out and run with some of the best guys in the field. I got a chance to see what I can do against them and to see what it will be like at nationals. I am anxious to get back on the track and practice, so I can cut some more time off."
Hicks, the 2004 NCAA Indoor hurdles champion, is on a come back after suffering a foot injury in practice following the NCAA Indoor Championships. He finished second at the 2004 SEC Outdoor Championships and is currently ranked third in the NCAA overall with his time of 13.53.
The Lady Rebel 4x100-meter relay team narrowly missed qualifying for nationals to open the competition for Ole Miss. Freshman Amber Bledsoe got Ole Miss off to a good start and following a perfectly executed hand off to junior Chiquita Stephens, Ole Miss entered the second exchange in first place.
Freshman Kimberly Mulkey and Stephens had a bobbled exchange costing Ole Miss a good deal of time. Mulkey handed-off to junior LaToya McBride, who ran a strong leg, catching Ole Miss up to the fourth-place position with their time of 45.19. The top three relay teams advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and the Lady Rebels were just one one-hundredth of a second out of third place.
"We had our chance today," said Stephens, who hails from Cleverly, Md. "We had a lot of things going our way, but that hand-off really cost us. We will just have to learn from this and stay focused for next year. I think this incident will serve as great motivation."
The Rebel 4x400-meter relay closed the competition for Ole Miss and also came up just a hair short of a qualifying mark. The Rebels finished fourth, just one spot out of advancing to the national meet.
Junior Demondrick Shumaker opened the relay for Ole Miss and handed off to freshman Kao Wokoma with the Rebels in second place. Wokoma ran a great leg but was edged into the third position down the stretch.
Wokoma handed the baton off to junior Mark Gregory. Gregory battled for three quarters of his leg, before being knocked into fourth place just prior to handing off to senior Franz Bernard. Bernard, despite a great split, was not able to catch Ole Miss and the Rebels finished in fourth place with their time of 3:06.93.
"I would say I am disappointed, but I don't think that is the right word," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker. "I am really proud of our kids and the way they competed. They ran very hard and just came up a hair short in both relays.
"It is hard to be disappointed when they give you that kind of effort, however, not advancing to nationals and being just one spot away is hard to swallow."
Hicks will travel to Austin, Texas, June 9-12 for competition at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships, where he will be competing for his third All-American title and second NCAA title.
Ole Miss Results
Women
4x100-Meter Relay
4. Ole Miss (Amber Bledsoe, Chiquita Stephens, Kimberly Mulkey, LaToya McBride), 45.19
Men
110-Meter Hurdles
3. Antwon Hicks, 13.56
4x400-Meter Relay
4. Ole Miss (Demondrick Shumaker, Kao Wokoma, Mark Gregory, Franz Bernard), 3:06.93
