Memphis Tigers women's track coach Brenda Cash becomes a madchemist when it comes to the creating the perfect mixture to run4x100m relay.
Cash's four sprinters have defined their roles in the eventwhile qualifying for the NCAA Regionals, which will be held thelast of May.
Cash said to win the 4x100m relay her team needs to best thefour aspects of the race and get out of the gates fast. That iswhere senior Keenan Gibson comes in.
"You need a good starter that can run the curve - that's Keenanfor us," Cash said.
The next phase of the race is the responsibility of sophomoreSue-Ann Bowen.
"Then you need a strong second leg," Cash said. "Usually you tryto get somebody that can run a little longer than the average 100m.So, we ended up with Sue-Ann -- she's a 200m/400m person with a lotof speed under her."
When it comes to the third stage of the race, freshman LeKeshuaSolomon is the ideal person.
"On the third leg you want another quick person," Cash said."You need another person that can run the curve well, we haveKeshua on the third."
Cash said the anchor is the heart and soul of the team, andsophomore Chanel Dunn is the person the Lady Tigers need to crossthe finish line.
"You need a good finisher -- somebody that has the 'Eye of theTiger'," Cash said. "Somebody that is never going to give upregardless of where the relay team may be. That is why we haveChanel finishing it."
Dunn said she knows her task when she takes the baton from herteammate Solomon.
"If we are not in first my job is to bring us up there or if weare already in first my job is to hold on to it," Dunn said. "Butany leg of the race can make it or break it. If somebody passes meon the last leg -- it's my fault if we lose the race. I have tohold on if we are in first place in a race."
The Nashville native said holding on to the lead down thestretch is not the only important grip she and her teammate have ina relay.
"The 4x100m is all about the hand offs," Dunn said. "Even ifyou're the fastest girl out there if you mess up the hand offyou're going to lose. Everything depends on how you hand the batonoff. If you drop it, you automatically lose."
Dunn said the lightning fast pace of the race and the three handoffs make the race difficult.
"You have to think more -- you just can't run," Dunn said. "Youhave to have a good target for the other person to hit when passingthe baton. If you put your hand back wrong you can mess up thewhole thing.
"The person giving the baton has to get it in the runner's hand.Even if they give you a bad target, you have to get it in theirhand."
Solomon said when it is her turn to pass the baton she has toget Dunn in her sights.
"I'm thinking -- just catch Chanel," Solomon said. "Sometimes Ican't see her coming out of the turn. I just try to catch her, havea good hand off and have enough space between us so I won't runover her."
The Murfreesboro native said she is relieved to make the NCAAwith the relay team which qualified for the NCAA the first week ofthe season at the Baldy Castillo/Arizona State Invitational.
"It feels good to qualify because I've been sick -- so I haven'tqualified in anything else," Solomon said. "We worked together as ateam to achieve this."
Some of Solomon's other teammates will make the trip to the NCAARegionals. Junior Lisa-Marie Hyman has qualified in the triplejump. Gibson also qualified in the 100m dash.
Cash said she hopes other Lady Tigers will become eligible forthe NCAAs.
"I'm hoping a few more qualify for it," Cash said. "I thinkthere are a few more athletes that can still qualify for Regionals.I would like to take somewhere around 10 athletes to Regionals. So,I think the young ladies will come on and get qualified in the nexttwo weeks."
The Vanderbilt Invitational is the next opportunity for otherLady Tigers to qualify. The meets are this Friday and Saturday.
