As the members of the Sam Houston State University women’s track team prepare for the advent of their outdoor track season this weekend, several members of the Student Government Association are working to ensure their first Indoor Track Championship is never forgotten.
SGA president Christopher Whitaker recently drafted a bill for today, March 1, to be declared Women’s Track Team Day in honor of their victory at the Southland Conference Indoor Track Championship meet on Feb. 16-17.
According to a release from SGA, Senate Proclamation S07-11 was written on Feb. 26 and is being sponsored by Senator Ray Martin.
Whitaker, who authored the bill, wrote that the bill is justified by the women’s victory at the SLC Championship meet, the large number of top finishers at the meet, and the impact the women’s performance had toward the acquisition of the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Cup.
The women earned the Southland Conference Indoor Track title by defeating 2006 champion Stephen F. Austin, who finished the meet in fourth place.
Following the meet, several members of the team were awarded post-season honors, including head coach Curtis Collier who was named SLC Women’s Indoor Track Coach of the Year.
Senior pole vaulter Jennie Sewell earned the title of Women’s Indoor “Field Events Athlete of the Year” after picking up first place at the championship meet with a school record-setting jump of 13 feet and 1.72 inches.
Freshman sprinter Jessica Fisher was named “Freshman of the Year” after earning victories in both the 60 meter and 200 meter dashes at the championship meet.
To finish the season, five men and five women will travel to the Last Chance meet in Arkansas this weekend to compete for a trip to the NCAA National Championships.
“I’m actually really nervous,” Sewell said. ” I feel pressured since this is my last year. I don’t know if I’ll qualify; it depends on how I vault. I want to go, but I don’t know if that’s in the plan for me.”
Sam Houston State has never had a representative at the NCAA national meet. This year, one male and one female vaulter will travel to the meet as well as the men’s and women’s 4×400 meter relay teams.