The weather is cool outside, the sun is beaming down, and there is not a cloud in the sky. It can be no other season than track season. The 54th Annual Texas Southern Relays held at Rice University’s Track and Field Complex in Houston kicked off the 2005 outdoor track and field season for many colleges and universities across the nation.
The relay presented two days of track and field at its best, being held March 18th through the 19th. Prairie View A&M men’s track team came into the meet very confident on Friday and Saturday, after having a very successful indoor season.
The highlights for the Panthers were definitely in the sprinting events.
Prairie View A&M started the meet by having four runners finishing in the top six of the 100-meter final with Chris Taylor in 2nd (10.82), Benjamin Boyd in 3rd (10.85), Chauncey Lanier in 5th (10.89), and Ethan Prince in 6th (10.89).
Prairie View A&M sprinter Jack Owens had the second fastest time in the preliminary round of the 100-meter dash running a blazing 10.61. In the 200-meter dash Karlon Jackson finished in 8th place of the finals with a time of 22.81, for the Panthers.
The 400-meter final was another bright spot for Prairie View A&M as Jason Okoro finished second with a time of 47.60, followed by teammate Alex Sidey finishing 6th 49.12.
The 4×100-meter relay is arguably the most exciting race in the sport of track and field, and Prairie View didn’t fail to shine in the race. Prairie View A&M’s quartet of Chauncey Lanier, Jack Owens, Ethan Prince, and Chris Taylor finished in fourth place of the fianls with a time of 40.94. The Panthers were beaten by Butler Community College (39.90), University of Houston (40.12), and Southwestern Christian College (40.28).
Prairie View A&M definitely got their revenge in the 4×200- meter relay by qualifying three relay teams for the final.
Prairie View A&M men’s 4×200 A, B, and C teams all qualified for the finals finishing in 1st, 5th, and 6th. The “A” team, comprised of runners Benjamin Boyd, Jack Owens, Ethan Prince, and Chris Taylor, took the 4×200-meter relay crown by capturing first place with a time of 1:25.11.
Prairie View A&M’s “B” team ran a 1:28.14, followed by the “C” team running a 1:28.85.
The Panthers completed the relays by finishing 4th in the 4×800 relay (7:58.66), and 10th in the 4×400 relay (3:15.12).
Other strong contributors on the Panther track and field squad were Darian Epting (7th in 110-meter hurdle final 14.94), Cleveland Sampleton (6th in High Jump 6-8, Broderick Gartica (1st in Discus Throw 48.40 meters, and George Hestor 3rd in Shot Put 14.58 meters).