Southeastern can’t host official track meets because the track at Strawberry Stadium isn’t regulation size, but on Saturday, Dec. 4, an inter-squad meet was held.
Events scheduled for the men and women were the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles, 300-meter dash, 800-meter dash, 4-by-400 meter relay, long jump, high jump and triple jump. Some of the pole vaulters competed on Dec. 3 in Tickfaw, La.
Head Coach Sean Brady gave the performances an overall grade of B plus. After the meet he said his mood level was high because of what he saw in the athletes.
He wasn’t the only one in high spirits. Sophomore Abram Taylor was a redshirt freshman last season and is ready to get moving this year. He said, “I thought the meet went well and it was very good for the team to get the competitive juices flowing.”
Tamra Grayson, a junior transfer from New Mexico Junior College, won the women’s 300-meter dash and was the second leg on the winning women’s 4-by-400 meter relay.
Grayson said, “I felt pretty good and just tried to stay focused before and during the race – that was my goal. As a team I think it gave us a good chance to see where we are and know what we need to work on so when we go to a meet we’ll be ready to roll.”
Even the spectators had a great time, and the 4-by-400 meter relay seemed to be a hit.
“I really enjoyed it,” Toshia Jackson said. “I liked watching the girls 4-by-4 running against some of the men, and I liked the high jump.”
Former runner Tya Carodine said, “I had a lot of fun. I was happy it wasn’t cold this time. We had an inter-squad meet two years ago and it was freezing outside, so the nice weather was a pleasant surprise! The 4-by-4 was probably my favorite race because a few coaches and former athletes made a team of their own. It was nice catching up with friends – a very enjoyable day out at the track!”
Some athletes weren’t as pleased with the way the meet turned out for them. Freshman Alicia Noel said she felt she could have done better but thought the meet was successful in finding out where everyone is at this point in their training.
Domonique Morley, a sophomore from Nassau, Bahamas, thought she had a moderate performance. She said, “I’m not practicing with the team. I don’t have anyone to push me since I’m working out by myself. I’m not pleased, but I feel that I did okay.”
Morley’s amateurism wasn’t completed with the NCAA, so she’s ineligible this semester.
A new track is currently under construction and scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2011. It will be NCAA certified eight-lane track so that the Lions and Lady Lions may host meets and even go in rotation to host the conference meet.
Southeastern’s first official track meet is on Jan. 15 at Louisiana State University.