By Jeffrey Swindoll
Sports Writer
The 2015 Big 12 Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships begins today and conclude on Saturday in Ames, Iowa, at Iowa State University’s Lied Recreation Center. The Bears return 21 All-Big 12 Performers, including four who have previously won Big 12 indoor titles.
The men’s team ranks No. 18 nationally while the women rank No. 8 in the country overall. Baylor has 11 men and 18 women among the top 10 Big 12 competitors in their respective events.
“We have to get after it and compete at a really high level,” head coach Todd Harbour said. “We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to have a good meet. On the women’s side we are within striking distance. Texas is No. 4, Kansas State is No. 6 and we are No. 8 nationally. On the men’s side, the events that we are usually strong in, we are strong in again.”
WOMEN
Junior Olicia Williams boasts the best 800-meter time at 2:03.21. Senior Mariah Kelly holds the top time in the mile (4:38.00). Senior Rachel Johnson hold the best time in the 3,000-meter run (9:07.09) and the 5,000-meter run (15:40.45) in the conference. Junior Brianna Richardson is the top triple-jumper (42-11.5). Baylor will send seven players to the NCAA indoor championships.
MEN
Sophomore sprinter Trayvon Bromell, defending national-champion in the 100-meter dash, owns the league’s best time in the 200-meter (20.69) and ranks second in the Big 12’s 60-meter sprint (6.54). Bromell is the lone male from Baylor who will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Junior Felix Obi currently ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 for triple jump, but looks to claim his third straight Big 12 title in the same event.
