Muna Lee runs 11.15 hundred metres in Austin (© Kirby Lee)
Exceptional early season sprinting was the order of the day at the Texas Relays. Two young American women were the chief perpetrators, both students at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Friday (4/4) Muna Lee won her heat of the 100 meters in 11.15, fastest time in the world so far in this young season. Next day, Lee began work by anchoring the L.S.U. team to a stunning 1:30.07 victory in the 4x200 (that’s an average 22.5 per carry!). Then she anchored her team’s equally swift 10-meter victory over arch-rival Texas in the 4x100, 42.63 to 43.65. And finally, she won the 100m final in a wind-aided 10.97 (+3.1).
On Friday, Lee’s teammate, Lolo Jones, posted the season’s fastest 100m hurdles of the year, 13.05. Then on Saturday she lowered that to 12.90 in the final. Jones also ran the third leg on that 42.63 4x100.
The Texas women also showed well, with Raasin McIntosh winning the 400m hurdles in 54.60, 5m clear of Jamaican internationalist Alison Beckford. She then added a 51.2 leg on Texas’ winning 4x400. Texas was anchored by Sanya Richards, who also contributed a 51.2 carry and crossed the line in 3:26.96 – a time only bettered by national teams.
In the men’s speed department, five university teams ran the 4x100 in under 39.62, and Texas sped to a very fast 1:20.79 for the 4x200 meters. But the highlights of the day were a couple of races by all-star teams assembled under the aegis of USA Track and Field. A USA “Blue” team of Mickey Grimes, Bernard Williams, Darvis Patton and Kenny Brokenburr edged a Maurice Greene-anchored HSI team, 38.75 to 38.89. Greene made a good-sized dent on Brokenburr’s lead, and his coach, John Smith, said, “Maurice ran very well. I’m satisfied.”
Similarly, in the men’s 4x400, two USATF all-star teams battled it out, with a team of James Davis, Corey Nelson, Jerome Young and Milton Campbell winning in 3:00.66.
In the field events and multis, Jamaican Maurice Smith edged Argentina’s Santiago Lorenzo, 7,925 to 7,911. Two young women throwers showed to good advantage. Laura Gerraughty of North Carolina won the shot (17.43) and the hammer (62.22), and Becky Breisch of Nebraska won the discus with 58.69. These marks aren’t especially notable, but the two will bear watching.
Long jumper Brian Johnson, winner of the NCAA indoor recently at 8.28, won the long jump here with 8.05, but sprained his takeoff ankle and will be out for several weeks.
