Texas Track

Texas Track is looking bright for years to come. The Class that the women's side brought in is top notch. They will need to develop at least two of the Freshman 400/400H runners as Kendall Baisden went pro and it's Courtney Okolo's last year. The Freshman class can be very special along with Haley Crouser who will be training with Kara Patterson. Jumps and XC are still going to be a rebuilding process for next few years as losing Chyna Ries and Rachel Reddy were pretty huge.

On men's side, Aldrich Bailey Jr will be a do all that will make relays competitive. Now we have a legit NCAA scoring potential in both 4x1 and 4x4. Johannes Hock might be focused on Olympics and may not compete his last eligibility year. The men's side is rebuilding but has some great pieces with great recruits coming

Still weeks away from Signing Day but Texas has received commitments
Adrian Piperi - Top Returning Shot Put and elite Discus (broke Ryan Crouser's 16U shot Record)
Isaiah Lucas - One of Top recruiting Hurdler
Medric Roberson - Elite Hurdler
Brandon Bowen - State top High Jumper

Elena Bruckner - 2nd in Nation in Shot Put and Top National Mark in Discus
Abby Guidry - Elite XC State recruit with times similar to Sandie Raines out of HS

Some notable recruits
David Strome - State Elite Distance
Destiny Collins - Elite Distance
Aaliyah Miller - Elite 800m
Sophia Rivers - Elite Throws

 

Both teams have just about mastered the Big XII. A lot of infill work needs to be done to up the point at the NCAA's. An indoor facility would help with performance and recruiting.

 

They're doing just fine without an indoor track. While it could help, they aren't hurting from it. Last few years Women's were projected to contend for title but it was always injuries that plagued them (Okolo, Spencer etc..). They will be fine and be contend if healthy. Men's do lose a lot of valuable scorers especially after Crouser's last indoor season. They are recruiting scorers on the men's side.

 

I disagree, How many indoor National Championships have they won? But more importantly how many recruits have they lost to people like aggy who have better track facilities including an indoor practice facility? Answer - several. Consistent training is the key to superior performances. Dodging wet and cool to cold temperatures December through April does not lend to consistent training (and working out in a gym or even in the bubble does not make up for anything).

 

Viperhorn, i actually would love to hear which recruits we lost out on the last 2 years to the Aggies because lack of indoor facility.

 

That's nonsense, they don't need a indoor faciilty. An indoor facility in a warm weather climate that your only going to use for 3 or 4 months at the most is a waste of money. Also we haven't lost any damn recruits because a&m has an indoor facility, we have lost talented recruits in the past because they were a better program especially on the men's side. But Coach Bailey is doing a great job of recruiting against all the best women's programs in the country right now. Also our men's program is not a sprint based program which makes it very difficult to win championships in college track and field unless your Oregon and can dominate the distance events.

Would it be nice to have an indoor facility yes, do they "need" an indoor facility, no. And if you know anything about college track and field the outdoor season is what they consider to be the real championship because in the indoor not all of the track and field events are contested and obviously there's a smaller track that gives some an advantage or disadvantage. We have one of the best outdoor facilities in the country and the Texas Relays is one of the best track and field events in the U.S. which makes it a great recruiting tool as well.

 

Agreed. I can't speak for others but the recruiting process for my daughter (which included A&M, Texas, others) was heavily influenced by her prior experience at Texas Relays (yes it positively influenced her perception of UT), the world-class feel of the outdoor venue at UT... amongst many other things. Not having an indoor track had minimal influence. Other recruits may have felt differently.

 

Runnersg, welcome to the Longhorn Fam!

 

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words about my daughter in your original post. Always a compliment to be compared to Sandie Raines!!
Hook 'em

 

Every recruit that chose aggy over Texas. If you cannot get and stay warm your performance declines. Sorry if facts get in the way of your narrative.

I have been there and know what a two hour sprint work out in 50 devree weather feels like.

 

Viperhorn, specific recruits would be nice to reference....These statements are not very constructive nor helpful. I have some connections to some of the team and to me they are not very accurate either.

 

Well da I am probably closer to the national track scene than you, but you seem to have made up your mind so no use discussing further. When one of the country's richest schools cannot "afford" a simple indoor track facility it is rather embarrassing for the school.

 

Spencer Dodds committed to Texas yesterday. Big XC recruit

 

If you go to the TexAgs.com, the posters there have been complaining about not having an outdoor track stadium, but they have a pretty new indoor facility. Here, fans complain about the opposite. While I have always wanted an Indoor facility, I guess we can't have everything.

As for transfers, losing Chyna to Tennessee doesn't seem to be that big of a loss as she was not impressive as a freshman; (unless she was injured) I guess her high school long jump marks were attributed to the thin air in Colorado as she never came close to them in college. Can't say I know who Reddy is; don't recall her scoring points consistently.

Love that Tonja Buford-Bailey hit Canada hard for some sprinters. Hoping for an injury-free 2016 for all our athletes.

 

I think ultimately chyna didnt improve as much under Streete's training as we hoped. Her distance was actually really impressive in HS. We got lucky to get her because Texas wasn't her first choice and signed somewhere else... She beat orji the freshman phenom in LJ as a Prep jumper, so she definitely has a lot of potential. I think if she finds the right fit, she will be an all American.

Reddy is an up and coming runner. Winning youth world and had been leading Alabama all season long as a redshirt freshman.... She would have been a solid 1/2 with sandie Raines. The team really could use her and along with a healthy ruhala and Buford.

 

Yep, I guess that's why so many of the best sprinters in the country choose all those cold weather schools on the east coast and midwest because they all have indoor facilities.

 

The women's track team got a big commitment today from Alexis Duncan. She's one of the best hurdlers in the country. She chose UT over some big time programs including LSU and a&m. I guess she was really impressed by that indoor facility. Great job by Coach Bailey and the entire staff they're building a great well rounded program on the womens side.

 

Great news on Duncan. Any other current verbal commitments for the women?

 

Not that I know of.

 

Destiny Collins is going to announce a fews days after signing day. We are in the mix for her and would be tremendous to our program. Her good friend Aaliyah miller committed to Baylor. Hopefully they don't mind being rivals. Destiny Collins along with Guidry would make us contenders at regionals.

Sophia Rivera is another to keep an eye for as Rivera and bruckner would give us solid throwing distances in multiple events.

 

I recall two outstanding junior performers at the State meet last season; one was hurdler Alexis Duncan, and the other was sprinter Sierra Pruitt of 3A Edna. Curious where Pruitt will sign.

 

Andrew Powell (mid distance) and Matt Ritchey (throws) commit.... Another name to watch is Patrick George (multis) who has UT on his final list

 

Serenity Douglas (sprints) commits

 

LOL. Serenity now.

 

Sophia Rivera signed with Wisconsin.

 

But, Texas gets Destiny Collins:

 

Hurdler Ashley Miller of Florida apparently also coming to Texas:

http://parser.dyestat.com/search.jsp?colID=7165#top

 

She's already at Texas. She graduated early as a junior in high school this past summer.

 

http://www.texassports.com/news/2015/11/19/XC_TF_1119154616.aspx

 

So will Okolo and the Gordon run tomorrow.
What about the girl, that's a hurdler from Canada.