The NCAA News - News and Features

June 2, 1997

Division I

LSU determined to silence doubters

Event: 1997 Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Overview: Before the 1997 indoor track championships, speculation was that LSU's long reign in that event would end. But the Tigers quickly dismissed that thinking, winning their fifth straight title. Now, as the outdoor track and field championships approach, word has it that the Tigers' streak in that event will end at 10, and once again the Tigers are working to prove otherwise. In its bid for a record 11th consecutive title, coach Pat Henry's squad will look to triple-jump standout Suzette Lee and its experienced and talented sprints corps -- led by Astia Walker (200-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles) and LaTarsha Stroman (400-meter dash). Lee is the defending triple-jump champion and enters the championships fresh off a collegiate-record-setting performance in the triple jump at the indoor meet. Walker and Stroman headline a sprints squad that includes Marita Hunt, Sadonna Thornton and freshman Peta-Gaye Dowdie. Hunt, Walker, Thornton and Dowdie also combined to post the nation's top qualifying mark in the 400-meter relay .... If a team does end LSU's reign, it likely will be Texas or Southern Methodist. UCLA should also be in the title hunt .... Runner-up in 1996, Texas boasts an impressive sprints corps led by Toya Brown, Nanceen Perry, Angie Vaughn and Donna Howard. Perry also teams with Sabrina Kelly, Kim McGruder and LaKeisha Backus to form Texas' top 400-meter relay. Nicole Devonish (long jump) leads the Longhorns' field-events team .... The third-place finisher in 1996, Southern Methodist places its title hopes with Windy Dean (javelin and hammer throws), Marika Tuliniemi (shot put) and Kajsa Berggvist (high jump) .... The Bruins, runners-up in 1995, are led by Amy Acuff, who is vying for a championships-record-tying third consecutive high-jump crown, and Suzy Powell (discus and javelin throws).

Field: A maximum of 373 student-athletes will qualify for the championships.

Dates and site: June 4-7 at Indiana.

Television coverage: The championships will be broadcast tape-delayed by CBS at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) June 8.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1620 for dates/site/schedule, 5305 for qualifiers, 5306 for first-day results, 5307 for second-day results, 5308 for third-day results, 5309 for fourth-day results and 5310 for final results only. Championship results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Results will be published in the June 16 issue of The NCAA News.