Following a stellar showing this past weekend in Austin at the Texas Relays, the men’s MSU Track and Field team has skyrocketed to No. 11 in the nation.
The Bulldogs set a school record in the 4×200 meter relay with a second place finish behind No. 2 overall Texas A&M. The 4×400 meter relay team also finished in second and the 4×100 meter relay team finished in fourth.
Associate head coach Steve Dudley warned Bulldog fans about this one. When asked about what events to keep an eye on this season, he was quick to point to the relays.
“In the 4×100 meter relay, we are getting everyone back, plus we are getting Kendall [May] back from an injury last season. In the 4×400, we add Tavaris [Tate] and [Daundre] Barnaby,” Dudley said.
Tavaris Tate, a freshman sensation from Starkville, was recently one of only 12 track athletes nationwide added to the Bowerman Watch list, which is given out yearly to the top NCAA track and field athlete. Tate currently has the fastest 400 meter time in the world, clocking in at a blazing 44.86.
Tavaris makes no qualms about his goals for the team this season.
“I’m shooting for the Mississippi State team to win the NCAA title,” he said. “If we don’t get the NCAA title, I at least win the NCAA title in the 400. Those are my main goals right now.”
The Bulldogs might just have the talent to do it, do not sleep on Tate’s teammates because, well, you may miss them running by on the track.
The men’s team also returns standout sophomore D’Angelo Cherry who garnered All-American honors as a freshman and a pair of All-SEC performers in senior Dwight Mullings and junior Emmanuel Meyers – both of whom have very serious chances at finishing as All-Americans this season.
O’Neal Wilder also came back home to W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl Maddox Track after a year-long hiatus mostly caused by playing football, and he told Brad Locke of The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal he is glad to no longer be “serving two masters.”
The sprint team is the stronger suit of the men’s squad, but the distance team has steadily improved since cross-country was revived in 2003. Assistant head coach Houston Franks is in charge of the distance men and he has worked hard with a young group featuring just two seniors and two juniors who have previously lettered.
The distance men are headed up by senior Daniel Simpkins, who turned in an eighth place finish at the Texas Relays. Simpkins said he believes the Bulldogs have a bright season ahead of them.
“Everyone is pretty positive about this season, as far as the distance team goes, there are some improvements we need to make but the weekend was definitely a sign there is some talent on the team,” Simpkins said. “We can sharpen up and keep racing strong. Sprints and field events showed a lot of potential.”