The Texas A&M men’s track team beat Louisiana State 88-68, and 1,408 fans gathered in Gillian Indoor Track Stadium Saturday to watch. The A&M women lost 82.50-76.50.
Jessica Beard, World Champion Gold Medalist and Aggie Class of 2010, was honored by coach Pat Henry at the beginning for setting a standard of winning and breaking records. The Aggies continued the legacy Saturday — despite the women’s loss, two school records were broken.
Natosha Rogers, junior distance runner, who broke the school record in the mile, was not only confident about her record-breaking performance but also the rest of the season.
“I definitely expected myself to go faster today,” Rogers said. “I know I have more in me, also but I need to get some speed work in my legs.”
Senior Laura Asimakis broke the pole vault record. Junior distance runner Henry Lelei just missed the men’s mile record as he placed third overall — just half a second from the record.
The Aggies also recorded a number of top 10 times, including junior hurdler Dominique Flemings’ No. 10 time in the 60 hurdles and sophomore middle distance runner Aliese Hyde finishing sixth in school record books in the 800 meter run.
On the men’s side, sophomore thrower Casey Strong finished third in the weight throw, and senior middle distance runner Michael Preble recorded a No. 9 time in the 800.
Younger athletes also played a role in the competition with 15 freshmen (seven men, eight women) contributing to their team point total.
Coach Henry praised the athletes, but explained that it is not an excuse for this team.
“Really across the board we got freshmen that are pretty good for us,” Henry said. “There aren’t any freshmen, there aren’t any sophomores. You’re a track person, you’re a college athlete, it makes no difference what year you are. The season started — let’s go.”
Two athletes debuted in the meet as Kamaria Brown, freshman sprinter, and Ameer Webb, a junior sprinter, got off to good starts.
Brown ran a 53.77 in the 400 meter dash claiming third place and also helped the 4×400 relay team run a 3:36.82. Webb accumulated 10 of the 86 points for the men by winning the 60 and 200 meter dash.
Webb’s times for both races as well as the women’s 4×400 were all just outside of the top-10 marker in school history.
When asked about the rest of the season, the only thing Webb had in mind was the national championship.
“Just to be in nationals and to line up in one of those nine lanes,” Webb said. “That’s all I’m looking for.”