Bearkat runners put on a show

SHSU Sports

Related Photos

D.J. Shafer
D.J. Shafer

Discussion

May 10, 2009

Dennis, Spiller bring top times into today’s running finals

By Cody Stark The Huntsville Item Sun May 10, 2009, 01:30 AM CDT

NACOGDOCHES — Blazing is the best way to describe the show Sam Houston State hurdlers Lane Dennis and Tywanisha Spiller put on for the folks sitting in the stands at Homer Bryce Stadium on Saturday evening during the running prelims of the Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

After Spiller blew away the field in the 110-meter hurdles, Dennis kept the crowd buzzing two events later by posting the fastest 400 hurdles time in the conference this season.

“Ty and Lane were unbelievable,” SHSU head coach Curtis Collier said. “Lane was just a few tenths off his best time ever and hopefully he can do that tomorrow and give himself a chance to get back to the national championships.

“Ty kind of came out of nowhere and now she heads into tomorrow with the best time.”

A former state hurdles champion at Huntsville High School, Dennis came into Saturday’s prelims already having the top time in the SLC this spring at 51.54 seconds, just ahead of Adlus Wiltz of Southeastern Louisiana (51.76).

Wiltz easily won the first heat with a 52.33, but that wasn’t even close to Dennis. The defending champion in the event, the Bearkat senior made clearing the hurdles look effortless, blowing away the field in the second heat with a regional-qualifying time of 50.98 to advance to the finals along with teammate Jay Newman (53.35).

“I got out good and used that first half to set it up for the second deuce,” Dennis said of the race’s two parts. “It was my kick. I was kicking on that second half, kept my knees pumping and knew it was going to be a good race. I wanted to make a statement. That kick was unbelievable.”

Spiller was definitely the feel-good story of the day. A walk-on from Houston last year, the sophomore won the third heat of the 100 hurdles with a regional-qualifying mark of 13.83 seconds.

Spiller’s time easily beat her season best (14.16) and was the third best in the conference this season. Tiana Lee (14.23) and Jordan Heggie (14.31) also qualified for the finals.

“I just had a decent start and was motivated by (Lee) because she was running with me,” Spiller said. “I kept pulling and pulling and ran a good race. I was so surprised that I collapsed at the end. I was so happy because I was a walk-on last year and now I’m going to regionals.”

As quickly as the excitement came, it left just as fast.

Earlier in the afternoon, junior Jessica Fisher, who was expected to score big in the 200-meter dash, showed signs that she was back from injury when she posted the second-best qualifying time in the 100 at 11.80 seconds, the fourth-best time in the conference this season.

But then something went wrong. She pulled up while making the turn in the 200 when her hamstring tightened up and might not be able to go in the finals today.

“I’m going to give it some rest, stretch it out and see if I can go tomorrow,” Fisher said. “I’m going to try.”

Fisher’s injury could be a big blow to the women’s chance to move up in the standings because the Bearkats won’t get the points they were counting on in the 200 and will not get anything if she can’t run in the 100. It also hurts the sprint relay.

Sam Houston State is currently in fourth place with 31 points through eight events. Stephen F. Austin is first (87.50), followed by Texas State (54.50) and Texas A&M-Corpus; Christi (43).

“Up until Jessica went down, we had outperformed our performance chart,” Collier said. “That is a huge blow to us. She wasn’t supposed to get points in the 100 then she gets the second top qualifying time. Now she probably isn’t going to run. That will take away our chances to get some points.”

One of the most interesting races in today’s finals is going to be the men’s 400-meter dash. Sam Houston State’s Darryl Hayes (46.39) and Michael Courtney (46.75) have two of the top three qualifying times. Throw in Northwestern State’s Michael Green (46.74) and expect plenty of fireworks.

If the Bearkats can get two top finishes in the 400, it will give the men a chance to move up the standings. Sam Houston State is in third place with 48 points and are behind Southeastern Louisiana (54) and SFA (50). Texas-San Antonio is fourth with 39.50.

“Hayes was super and that was just off our school record in the 400,” Collier added. “Michael Courtney is just a real good runner. I expect the 400 tomorrow will be one of the most competitive races of the day. The guy from Northwestern State is a stud like Darryl and Michael and there is a guy from UTA (Takeshi Fujiwara) who is starting to get back in form and might be in the mix too.”

Other finals qualifiers for the men include Julius Michael (1,500-meter run), John Thomas (110-meter hurdles) and Matt Stephenson (800-meter run).

Monika May and Desiree Taylor also qualified for the finals in the 400-meter dash.

Today’s field events begin at 10:30 a.m. and the running finals are set to go off at 5.

Text Only

SHSU Sports

Time to crank it up
Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz knew coming into the season that he was going to have his hands full turning around the Bearkats’ football program.
The rest of the coaches in the Southland Conference apparently agree.
Coming off a 5-6 season, a fifth-place finish in league play and the loss of 15 starters, Sam Houston State has been tabbed to finish seventh in the SLC preseason coaches’ poll, which was announced Wednesday during the Southland Conference Football Media Day at the L’Auberge du Lac Resort.

July 28, 2010 1 Photo
Pitching dominates Triple-A All-Star Game
Like the Major League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif., pitchers dominated the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday in Allentown, Pa.

July 14, 2010
Almost there
After years of toiling in the minor leagues, Dustin Martin can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Rising through the ranks of the minor league system all the way from Rookie League, the former Sam Houston outfielder is playing some of his best baseball these days and will play in Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game in Allentown Pa., which will be televised at 6 p.m. on the MLB Network.

July 10, 2010 1 Photo
Gallant shining again in Cape Cod League
Maybe, just maybe, on the mound closing games is where Dallas Gallant needs to be if he’s going to make a name for himself.
For the second summer in a row, the Sam Houston State pitcher has performed marvelously when he finishes games for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, a member of the distinguished Cape Cod Baseball League.

July 9, 2010
Bearkats enjoy banner year in classroom
With the release of grade point averages for the more than 400 Bearkats participating in varsity sports, plus the announcement by the Southland Conference office of the annual Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, the 2009-10 season goes in the books as another banner academic year for Sam Houston State University.

June 25, 2010
Belcher, Vilardi golf tournaments help rival football programs
Golfers in the Huntsville area can help the football programs at both Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, two longtime rivals that soon will be adding new excitement to their annual “Battle of the Piney Woods” when they kick off this fall at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

June 17, 2010
Kelly ready for NCAA golf regional
When Sam Houston’s Scott Kelly tees off Thursday in the NCAA South Central Regional men’s golf tournament, his goal will be simple. He wants to become the first Bearkat golfer to earn a spot in the national tournament.
“As an at-large entry, it’s difficult to advance but it’s not out of the question,” Kelly said. “I’m going into the tournament with high expectations and will give it my best shot.”

May 19, 2010
Dreaming big
His mind has been working overtime. Huntsville senior Quenntin Tucker has spent the past two weeks preparing for the Class 4A Region III track meet.
Tucker practices the discus by day, then dreams about it at night. Physically and mentally, he’s ready for the big meet.
“I had a dream about this,” Tucker said last week during a short break from practice. “In the dream I finished second in our region, then I finished second at state.
“I woke up that morning smiling.”

May 1, 2010 1 Photo
Same old story
The Bearkats must’ve felt as if they had a little bit of déjà vu.
For the second straight Saturday, the Bearkats used a monster inning to climb out of a huge hole only to see it slip away.
This time, it was Stephen F. Austin, which rallied for five runs in the final two innings and held off Sam Houston for a 14-13 win.

May 1, 2010 1 Photo
UCA has Bearkat softball team on ropes
The Bearkats saw the light dim on their Southland Conference tournament aspirations Saturday afternoon.
Desperately in need of a series win to gain ground in the chase for the sixth and final seed, the Sam Houston State softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Central Arkansas.

May 1, 2010 1 Photo
More SHSU Sports Headlines

SHSU Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Bearkat runners put on a show

Dennis, Spiller bring top times into today’s running finals

Site Map

Contact Us