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The Rice Thresher
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by RYAN KEEDY THRESHER STAFF
Instead of worrying too much about their full slate of regular season meets, both squads are gearing up to add two more Western Athletic Conference track championships to the three that Rice has already won this year. The most recent tweaking came last weekend, when the Owls hosted the Bayou Classic at the Rice Track Stadium, and the teams will continue the process at this weekend's Texas Relays in Austin. None of the meets are taken too seriously by either the athletes or coaches. Instead, the Owls approach them with an attitude concentrated more on improving than winning. Men's head coach Ray Davidson said he didn't care that his team came in second behind Stephen F. Austin State University at the Bayou Classic. He stressed that these meets are simply preparations for the greater goal of a WAC Championship. Women's head coach Victor Lopez shared Davidson's mindset after his squad also came in second behind SFA at the Bayou Classic. "The team is on track for the WAC," Lopez said. "We are still training, and all the past meets plus this week's Texas Relays are part of the training. Therefore, we are not looking for great or unbelievable performances but good, solid marks." One of the brightest stars last week was junior Scott Byer, who won the 200- and 800-meter runs at the Bayou Classic. Winning two events is an accomplishment in and of itself, but Davidson said he was especially impressed by the fact that the wins came in contrasting sprint and distance events. Also outperforming the competition was junior sprinter Keisha Robertson, who won the 100- and 200-meter sprints. "My strength is in the 200," Robertson said. "I feel like I have the speed and the endurance to get through that, and it's my favorite race. I need to work on my starts, which are always important, and also [on] staying relaxed." Robertson said she is looking forward to the WAC tournament, which will be held May 17-20 in El Paso, and beyond. "Right now, we're preparing for conference," she said. "Our program is scheduled so that we peak at conference near the end of the season, and all the meets leading up to it are just fine-tuning for conference. We're trying to win again." She may be a better 200 runner, but Lopez said he can see Robertson being a national contender in both the 100 and 200. "Keisha is doing very good," Lopez said. "She is on track to have her best year. I can see her being an NCAA qualifier in the 100 and 200. She is learning and feeling more confident about competing at this level." Despite the success of athletes such as Byer and Robertson, neither team is quite yet a well-oiled machine. There are a few kinks to work out, and some adjustments must be made before they will be ready for the WAC Championships. The women's team in particular has a few wounds to mend before reaching full strength. "We are a little banged up as three of the key people are having nagging little injuries," Lopez said. "Nothing major and nothing to stop them from competing if they have to, but enough to minimize the training and be careful." The three athletes - sophomore Keitha Mosely and juniors Kelechi Anderson and Konnett Mays - will take this weekend off from competition, while the rest of the team will be at the Mount SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. The men's team also has some injuries and may be forced to sacrifice a first-string distance medley relay team for the Texas Relays. Davidson said he is considering resting sophomore relayer Keith Pierce in order to allow him to recuperate from some recurring pains. Holding back on the distance medley would also have the added benefit of allowing fellow relay runner Lachlan McArthur, a junior, to concentrate on qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the steeplechase this week. - back - |
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