At this moment the Memphis Lady Tigers track team is like a frozen piece of filet mignon taken out of the freezer for dinner. Once thawed it will be ready to go.
According to women’s track head coach Brenda Cash, the team is looking good and making improvements toward the Conference USA Outdoor Championships although their last performance came in the 50 degree weather this past weekend in Memphis.
“I’m really looking forward to what they can do once the weather heats up,” Cash said. “I hope we continue to get better. We look to do a lot better in conference than we did in indoor (season).”
The Lady Tigers finished in 10th place at the C-USA Indoor Championship. Junior Lisa-Marie Hyman did manage to win the conference triple jump crown.
So far in the outdoor season, Hyman has continued her solid performance. Hyman won the triple jump competition this past Saturday at the Big Cat Classic.
Senior Keenan Gibson has also contributed to the efforts of Memphis in the first two meets of the outdoor season.
Gibson won the 200m at the Baldy Castillo Invitational two weeks ago with a time of 24.03. The Arima, Trinidad native won the 100m dash last Saturday with a time of 12.05.
Cash said two of her athletes are having shocking success in the young outdoor season.
“Our couple of surprises have been Josetta Brooks — she’s been doing real well in the 100m hurdles,” Cash said. “Tabitha Russell, she just started to prepare for the 400m hurdles. She has never done them before. She had a pretty good race this past weekend in the cold.”
The freshman distance runner Russell finished third in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:08.69.
Fellow freshman Brooks finished in the top five in three events. Brooks finished the 100m dash in 12.63 to take third.
The 100m hurdles Brooks earned fourth with a time of 16.10, and in the long jump Brook leaped 5.30m to finish fifth.
Another Memphis athlete with a productive performance was sophomore Chanel Dunn. Dunn won the 200m with a time of 25.16.
Dunn said her finish could have been better if the weather was warmer.
“The time was alright — I just didn’t run a really good time,” Dunn said. “It was really cold outside. I ran as fast as I could.”
Dunn said the cold conditions kept runners from relaxing before the races all day Saturday.
“It’s hard to get your muscles loose when it is cold outside,” Dunn said. “You have to warm up extra.”
According to Dunn, with the temperatures heating up later this season, the Lady Tigers conditioning will emerge in future meets.
“We need to keep on the track we’re already on,” Dunn said. “We’ve been here for a long time training. It’s finally all coming together.”
Memphis will get a chance to test their skills as they travel to Oxford, Miss., this weekend for the Ole Miss Invitational.
Cash said the Lady Tigers last seven meets before the C-USA Outdoor Championships in May could produce several wins if the team continues the hard work in practice.
“I think the girls are getting in shape,” Cash said. “They compete well. I’m looking forward to what could happen in the rest of the season.”
