MSU Track Teams To Compete For National Championships

Just two weeks ago, Mississippi State put on a stellar showing at the NCAA Mideast Regional with the men finishing a program-best fifth after taking top honors in three events and the women placing 16th.

Now, the focus and implications are even greater, with a national championship at stake.

On Wednesday, MSU travels to the University of Arkansas for the NCAA Outdoor Championships at John McDonnell Field. The four-day event concludes on Saturday, with CBS airing the meet from 6-9 p.m. on Friday and noon-2 p.m. on Saturday.

In all, Mississippi State has 11 student-athletes competing, including seven on the men’s side.

“We have a great opportunity to turn some heads,” coach Al Schmidt said. “I feel we will carry a lot of momentum out of the regionals.”

The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 13 in this week’s USTFCCCA poll, are competing in five events, while the Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 57, are in three.

For the men, John Bailey and Dwight Mullings will be battling in the 400-meter dash, while D’Angelo Cherry and Emanuel Mayers will be in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles, respectively. Both Mullings and Mayers won their events at the regionals.

In addition, the 4x400-meter relay team of Trey Charles, Bailey, Mayers and Mullings enter as one of the favorites after winning this event in the regionals, where their time of 3:04.79 currently ranks as the seventh fastest in the country this year.

“They had an outstanding weekend,” Schmidt said. “I think they can turn even more heads this week.”

The final event for the men is the 4x100-meter relay, a team that’s comprised of Justin Christian, Cherry, Mullings and Mayers.

For the Lady Bulldogs, senior All-American Marrissa Harris is back in the heptathlon. After winning the 2008 SEC crown, she finished 14th in the nationals last year. This week, she heads to Fayetteville ranked 10th following her 5,579-point effort at the SECs, where she finished second.

The Memphis native also qualified for the 100-meter hurdles, where her time of 13.18 at the SECs is the 11th fastest this season.

“I can see her getting 5,800 points,” Schmidt said. “She’s capable of that.”

Harris will be joined in the heptathlon by LaQuinta Aaron. The other two Lady Bulldogs that advanced are long jumpers Wendy Copeland and Priscilla Gaines.