Women's Track Heading to the UTEP Invitational
4/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Alabama women's track and field team returns to action this Saturday in El Paso, Texas at the UTEP Invitational.
"This is going to be a great meet weekend," Alabama head coach Sandy Fowler said. "This is usually a great meet. UTEP always brings in great teams. Our athletes have goals to try to work for. They need to be selfish and work to improve themselves and not worry about the rest of team."
Fowler is expecting several of her athletes to step up this weekend and earn regional qualifying marks beginning with LaTasha Pharr.
"I think we will have quite a few people step up this weekend," Fowler said. "I think we will have a battery of folks qualify for regionals. They know that once they get it done, they can just worry about training until the SECs."
One of the athletes Fowler is looking forward to watching perform on Saturday is LaTasha Pharr who is competing in the 100m hurdles, triple jump, 100m dash and the 100m relay.
"LaTasha Pharr should make a major drop in the hurdles as should Rachel Wilson," Fowler said. "LaTasha is ready to jump as well. She feels great; she just needs confidence to bring her through. The triple jump is her baby, the event she loves most."
Fowler also expects her distance performers to have a good day.
"Megan Carnes, Elizabeth Wancowicz and Julia Hicks in the 1,500 will be in a really fast competition," Fowler said. "They just want to run fast and the conditions should be good for them. I would also like to see a qualifying time from Jen Gray in the 800."
The Tide's All-American in the 100m, Tahesia Harrigan, will be competing in the event for the second straight weekend. Harrigan ran the 16th fastest 100m (11.37 seconds) in the world this year last weekend at Texas.
"Tahesia Harrigan should be ready to make another drop in her time," Fowler said. She didn't like coming in fourth at Texas last week. After competing in the World Championships last year, she knows what she needs to do."
Miruna Mataoanu will be looking to continue her momentum as well after qualifying regionally in both the high jump and the triple jump in Austin last week.
"Miruna should do a tremendous job in the triple jump for us," Fowler said. "I think she will have a good shot at a personal best this weekend. Last weekend she had some factors working against her like a head wind and still was able to have a great performance."
Fowler is looking forward to the competition.
"I'm excited about this meet," Fowler said. "I'm expecting us to do a lot of good things and I believe that we can compete with every other school there."
The Tide throwers will kick off the day for Alabama on Saturday, beginning with the hammer throw at 10:30 a.m. The day will wrap up at 6:00 with the running of the 4x400m relay.
