DRC..NT Women picked to win

[OldTimer]

Track & field: UNT women picked to win

Defending Sun Belt champ Mean Green men tabbed for second

05/09/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas senior sprinter Candace Rowe predicted earlier this week that the Mean Green women would claim the program’s first conference title at this weekend’s Sun Belt Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"We’re going to win it," Rowe said. "They don’t know about those North Texas girls."

Apparently, they do. The UNT women were picked to finish first in the league’s coaches’ poll, which was released Thursday. UNT received six of 10 first-place votes on the women’s side.

The Mean Green men, the defending league champion, were predicted to finish second. Middle Tennessee, which won the indoor title earlier this year, is the men’s favorite after receiving seven of nine first-place votes.

"I don’t think we’ve ever been picked to win it," said UNT director of track and field Rick Watkins of his men’s team, which also owns the 2000 Sun Belt championship trophy. "We have harped on them in years past that the rankings don’t matter, because it all comes down to what you do Friday, Saturday and Sunday."

Watkins said that goes for the women as well, though he was pleased that the conference’s coaches recognized the program’s progress. The UNT women placed third at last season’s Sun Belt outdoor meet, the program’s best finish at an outdoor conference meet since 1987.

The Mean Green women finished second at this season’s Sun Belt indoor meet.

"I think our women deserve a lot of credit and a lot of respect and have earned it," Watkins said. "That [poll] shows that the other coaches recognize how far our women’s program has come. Hopefully that won’t change between now and Sunday."

Freshman high jumper Deidra Wesley is the only UNT woman who has the best mark or time in her event entering the meet. The UNT women are relying on the same formula that has been so successful for the Mean Green men at past Sun Belt meets: having more competitors place than other teams. Watkins said three or four UNT women could place in several events.

The Middle Tennessee men, on the other hand, are favored primarily because of a few standouts. The Blue Raiders have the best times in seven running events — more than twice as many as any other school — including the 400- and 1600-meter relays.

Middle Tennessee junior Mardy Scales has the top time in the Sun Belt in the 100 (10.27) and 200 (20.77) and runs the first leg of the 400-meter relay. Freshman Sean Waller has the top time in the 400 (46.72) and anchors the 1600-meter relay team.

"They’re extremely talented," Watkins said. "They’re not necessarily deep, but they’ve got quality guys in a lot of different events."

The UNT men and women hope that hosting the meet will give them a home-track advantage. If nothing else, it puts their pride on the line.

"This is our track," said senior sprinter Cherri Rowe, Candace’s twin. "I don’t want anybody else to win on our track."

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870.