Georgia Southern 4X100m Relay Team Makes Last Run for Postseason Bid
5/10/2013 2:38:00 AM
VIDEO: Preview interview with Coach Marlo Mincey
STATESBORO, Ga. – Once finals are finished this week, Head Track Coach Marlo Mincey and the four members of the Georgia Southern 4X100m Relay team will pack and head to Atlanta for the Georgia Tech Invitational this weekend. The Eagles race Saturday, May 10th, at 1 p.m., looking to their improve time and secure one of the 24 coveted spots at the NCAA preliminaries later this month. Information on the meet and live results are available here: (http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/geot-mw-track-meet-info.html).
The team of Jasmin Walker, Ebony Carter, Alyssa Felton and Amber Vaughn, is currently ranked among the top 24 of relay teams eligible for postseason, but all teams racing this weekend in the NCAA East Division are still vying for a chance to continue their seasons. The Eagles' current best mark in the 4X100m Relay, 45.44 came at the Samford Open at the end of April where they took first place at the meet and set the Samford facility record. Georgia Southern finished ahead of second-place Tennessee.
"We are just working on little things, just making sure we're consistent, we're staying in shape, we're staying healthy and we are understanding our positions on our team," said Eagle Head Coach Marlo Mincey. "They are really hungry and they are beginning to understand how great of an opportunity this is. It is finals week and we have voluntary practice this week, and they have been able to get out and get focused."
Historically, Georgia Southern has fared well at Georgia Tech's Griffin Track as two University relay records and an individual record were set there in 2003 and 2004. The 4X100m Relay record that stood for four years was eventually broken in 2007 and the 4X400m Relay record lasted only for only a couple of weeks when the time was eclipsed in the NCAA East Region finals. Coach Mincey ran the lead leg of the 4X4 in 2003 and returned in 2004 to the Georgia Tech Invitational, leaving with the Georgia Southern record in the 400m Hurdles, a mark that still stands today.
"We came back after conference championships and ran at a race where I felt like we were a little bit flat and probably could have used more mental and physical rest," Mincey said. "They came out and ran even faster that week after championships. We've had a busy two weeks, and I feel like we're still sharp. We can break the school record, I think we have the individuals who can go out and do that. They believe that, that's the most important thing. They believe in themselves."
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
