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Texas-sized competition

23 track athletes head to Texas for one of the biggest meets of season

The 73rd annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays gets under way today through Saturday in Austin, Texas, and the UA track team is sending 23 athletes from both the men's and women's teams to compete.

Considered to be one of the four biggest relays of the season, the Texas Relays features more than 125 teams competing in the four-day event.

Among the many standouts will be the current world record holder in the 100-meters, Maurice Green, and the 1996 Olympic Champion in the 100m, Canada's Donovan Bailey.

"This is one of those high quality meets," UA head coach Dave Murray said. "It's one of the so-called big relays, one of the top four in the nation. This is an excellent meet because you're running against some of the best collegiate runners in the country."

UA sprinting coach Fred Harvey also anticipates a big weekend for the Wildcats.

"I'm really expecting some really good things," Harvey said. "We're expecting to get some NCAA qualifying marks, like with (sophomore Brianna) Glenn going against some of the best runners in the country in the 100."

Glenn, who is coming off a strong performance in the 100m in her last two meets, in which she set the school record (11.49 seconds), will be in a field abundant with stars including the current holder of the fastest time in the 100m this season, University of Texas sophomore LaKeesha White.

"It was one of my favorite (meets) last year because of the amount of teams," Glenn said. "You get a chance to run against the top runners and see how you do. Everything's at that next level."

Accompanying Glenn will be two other hot Wildcat runners in the 400m - senior Carolyn Jackson and sophomore Mike Kenyon.

Jackson is coming off her strongest performance of the season, running 52.88 seconds in last weekend's Jim Click Shootout held in Tucson.

Kenyon is working off the second fastest time he's run in the quarter mile with a 46.48, the fourth fastest time in UA history.

"All of us are performing well this season and it'll be a good time to have a gut check against some of the best competition out there," Kenyon said.

First up for the Wildcats tomorrow are senior Nicole Thomas and junior Keith Varga, who will each be competing in the 400m hurdles.

"I expect to run a stronger provisional time (for NCAA)," Thomas said. "Everybody who goes should perform very well and should step up to the level of competition."