TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 2009 MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY Table of Contents...... 1 Media Information...... 2 TRACK AND FIELD MEDIA GUIDE MSU Athletic Media Relations...... 3 Southeastern Conference...... 4 THE 2009 SEASON PREVIEW Men’s Preview...... 6 Men’s Roster...... 7 Women’s Preview...... 8 Women’s Roster...... 9 Team Breakdown...... 10 THE 2009 TEAM Head Coach Al Schmidt...... 12-13 Assistant Coaches...... 14-15 Coaching Staff/Support Staff...... 16 Bulldogs...... 17-25 Lady Bulldogs...... 26-32 THE 2008 REVIEW Men’s Review...... 34-35 Women’s Review...... 36-37 Cross Country Review...... 38-39 Cross Country Records and Awards...... 40 Wonen at the SEC Championship...... 41 Men at the SEC Championship...... 42 NCAA Qualifying Standards...... 43 NCAA Mideast Regional...... 44 Summer Meets...... 45 ON THE COVERS

THE HISTORY Men’s School Records...... 47 Women’s School Records...... 48 All-Time Indoor Superlatives...... 49 Men’s All-Time Superlatives...... 50-51 Women’s All-Time Superlatives...... 52-53 Men’s Letterwinners ...... 54-55 Women’s Letterwinners...... 56 SEC Champions...... 57 NCAA Champions...... 58 All-Americans...... 59-60 Olympians...... 61 Senior Darryl Brady, junior Seniors John Bailey, Seniors Allen Cassell, Wendy Copeland, and Marrissa Harris, and Robert Priscilla Gaines, and sophomores Emauel Mayers Scribner, juniors LaQuinta Dorothy Youmans, THE UNIVERSITY sophomore Adam Lenz. and O’Neal Wilder. University Story...... 63 Aaron and Kendall May. Great Players...... 64-65 Great Teachers...... 66-67 Great Teams...... 68-69 Great Alumni...... 70-71 MEDIA GUIDE CREDITS Great Places...... 72-73 The Mississippi State track and field media guide is a publication of the Mississippi State Holliman Center...... 74-75 Athletic Media Relations Office. It has been Templeton Center...... 76-77 specifically prepared to assist the media SEC Academic Honor Roll...... 78-79 Mississippi State University does not discriminate members in their coverage of the Bulldogs Athletic Academics/Traditions...... 80-81 on the basis of race, color, religion, national and Lady Bulldogs. Additional assistance can orgin, sex, age, disablity, or veteran status. Mississippi State University...... 82-83 be provided by contacting Gregg Ellis with the Mary Alexander, Interim Director of the Office W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl Maddox Track 84 MSU Athletic Media Relations Office at 662- of Diversity and Equality Programs (McArthur University President...... 85 325-3595. The guide was written and designed Hall, Room 223, P.O. Box 6199, Mississippi Athletic Administration...... 86 by Janelle Finley with additional support from State, MS 39762 / 662-325-2493) has been Athletic Administration Directory...... 87 John Schaffhauser of Schaffhauser Design in designated as the responsible employee to Bulldog Club ...... 88 Canton, Miss. Editorial, research and writing coordinate efforts to carry out responsibilities assistance provided by Jarvis Brown, Jamal and make investigations of complaints relating Davis, Christina Hillard, Nicole Rosetti, and to discrimination in conforming with Title IX of Brock Turnipseed. Pictures were provided by the Education Amendments of 1972, Section Will Gage, Mansel Guerry, Russ Houston and 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, University Relations. The guide was printed at and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Interstate Printing in Mobile. Ala.

 MEDIA INFORMATION

UNIVERSITY Location...... Starkville, Miss. Founded...... February 28, 1878 Enrollment...... 17,039 NORTH FLORIDA SPRING BREAK OPEN PENN RELAYS Nickname...... Bulldogs & Lady Bulldogs Date...... March 7 Date...... April 23-25 Colors...... Maroon (PMS 202) and White Location...... Jacksonville, Fla. Location...... Philadelphia, Pa. Faciility...... W.O. Spencer Stadium Facility...... Hodges Stadium Facility...... Franklin Field Conference...... Southeastern Media Relations Contact...... James Moore Media Relations Contact...... Jenn Werner President...... Dr. Mark E. Keenum Phone...... (904) 620-4025 Phone...... (215) 573-4125 Athletic Director...... Greg Byrne E-Mail...... [email protected] E-Mail...... [email protected] Associate AD/Women’s Sports...... Ann Carr Website...... www.unfospreys.com Website...... www.pennathletics.com Faculty Ath. Rep...... Dr. Steve Turner RHODES COLLEGE INVITATIONAL MISSISSIPPI OPEN TRACK & FIELD STAFF Date...... March 21 Date...... May 2 Head Coach...... Al Schmidt Associate Head Coach Location...... Memphis, Tenn. Location...... Oxford, Miss. Steve Dudley...... Men’s Sprints Facility...... Rhodes Colleges Track Facility...... Ole Miss Track and Field Complex Assistant Coaches Media Relations Contact...... Matt Dean Media Relations Contact...... Jay D’Abramo Bryan Fetzer.....Women’s Sprints, Multi Events Phone...... (901) 843-3946 Phone...... (662) 915-7522 Houston Franks...... Men’s Distance E-Mail...... [email protected] E-Mail...... [email protected] Joe Gant...... Pole Vault Website...... www.rhodeslynx.com Website...... www.olemisssports.com April Thomas....Throws, Combined Events Volunteer Assistant Coach ALABAMA RELAYS SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS LaChristopher Lewis...... Sprints Date...... March 26-29 Date...... May 14-17 Adminstrative Assistant... Michelle Scrivener Location...... Tuscaloosa, Ala. Location...... Gainesville, Fla. Track & Field Office Phone....(662) 325-2892 Facility...... Sam Bailey Track Facility...... Percy Beard Track Track & Field Office Fax...... (662) 325-9051 Media Relations Contact...... Skip Powers Media Relations Contact...... Sean Cartell TEAM INFORMATION Phone...... (205) 348-6734 Phone...... (352) 375-4683 NCAA Region...... Mideast E-Mail...... [email protected] E-Mail...... [email protected] 2008 Women’s SEC Finish...... 11th Website...... www.rolltide.com Website...... www.gatorzone.com 2008 Men’s SEC Finish...... 8th 2008 Men’s Regional Finish...... 6th TEXAS RELAYS NCAA Mideast Regional 2008 Men’s NCAA Finish...... T26th Date...... April 1-4 Date...... May 29 - 30 Location...... Austin, Texas Location...... Lousiville, Ky. ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Facility...... Sam Bailey Track & Field Stadium Facility...... Cardinal Park Soccer and Track & Field Contact...... Gregg Ellis Media Relations Contact...... Lauren Williams Track Stadium Office Phone...... (662) 325-3595 Phone...... (512) 471-8236 Media Relations Contact.....Christopher Delgado Office Fax...... (662) 325-2563 E-Mail...... [email protected] [email protected] Phone...... (502) 852 -4857 Cell Phone...... (662) 322-0145 Website...... www.texassports.com E-Mail...... [email protected] Official Web Site....www.mstateathletics.com Website...... www.uoflsports.cstv.com Mailing Address: MISSISSIPPI INVITATIONAL P.O. Box 5308 Date...... April 11 NCAA Outdoor Championship Mississippi State, MS 39762 Location...... Oxford, Miss. Date...... June 10 - 13 Facility...... Ole Miss Track and Field Complex Location...... Fayetville, Ark. Overnight Mailing Address: Media Relations Contact...... Jay D’Abramo Facility...... John McDonnell Field Bryan Athletic Adminstration Building Phone...... (662) 915-7522 Media Relations Contact...... Molly O’Mara 288 Lakeview Drive E-Mail...... [email protected] Phone...... (479) 575-3114 Mississippi State, MS 39762 Website...... www.olemisssports.com E-Mail...... [email protected] Southeastern Conference Address: Website...... www.arkansasrazorbacks.com Southeastern Conference AUBURN INVITATIONAL 2201 North Richard Arrington Blvd. Date...... April 17-18 Birmingham, AL 35203 Location...... Auburn, Ala. Facility...... Hutsell-Rosen Track Ayanna Wakefield - SEC Track & Field SID Media Relations Contact...... Brad Gust (205) 458-3000 Phone...... (334) 844-9703 [email protected] E-Mail...... [email protected] www.secsports.com Website...... www.auburntigers.com

 ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

TRACK AND FIELD CONTACT COACH/ATHLETE The Southeastern Conference release will be released every week Gregg Ellis INTERVIEWS all area codes 662 ALL interviews with coaches beginning in mid-January by the SEC AMR Bryan...... 325-2703 should be directed through the MSU office. The SEC contact for track and AMR Coliseum...... 325-0540 Athletic Media Relations office. Please field is Ayanna Wakefield. Wakefield’s contact Gregg Ellis at 662-325-3595 or office number is (205) 458-3000. AMR Bryan Fax...... 325-2563 662-322-0145 or Janelle Finley at 251- Media members may also gain access AMR Coliseum Fax...... 325-3654 648-7015 to arrange an interview time. to MSU and SEC releases via www. Ellis’ Office...... 325-3595 Coaches are primarily available for secsportsmedia.com Ellis’ Cell...... 322-0145 interview by phone or in person from 9- Ellis’ [email protected] 11 a.m., depending on the team’s travel MSU ON THE INTERNET schedule. Visit the official Mississippi State Athletics home page on the Internet Interviews with student-athletes Maddox Track...... 325-0194 are encouraged; however, ALL at www.mstateathletics.com. The site Track Office...... 325-2892 interviews must be arranged through offers up-to-date information on all On the Web...... www.mstateathletics.com Gregg Ellis in the Athletic Media of MSU’s 16 varsity sports, including Relations Office. Interviews will be schedules and results player and arranged according to the schedule of coach biographies as well as the latest each individual athlete and are usually news from each of the MSU athletic Student Assistant Track and Field Contacts conducted before or after scheduled program. practices. This policy facilitates the MAIN CONTACT orderly scheduling and completion of TRACK FACILITY LOCATION the desired interivew. All interviews The W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl must be arranged at least 24 hours in Maddox Track is located just off U.S. advance. Please coordinate all requests Highway 82 on Lakeview Drive, across with Hilliard. MSU Athletic Media from the Bryan Athletic Administration Relations will not supply the media Building on campus. Adjacent to the home or cellular telephone numbers MSU practice football fields, A.J. Pitts for student-athletes. Likewise, training Tennis Centre, the MSU Softball Field room, locker room and apartment/ and the Holliman Athletic Center. The dormitory areas are considered private W.O. Spencer Stadium/Carl Maddox player areas and are off-limits to the Track is also within a half mile of MSU’s Janelle Finley Jamal Davis Nicole Rosetti media. Humphrey Coliseum and Dudy Noble [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] For additional track and field Field. Parking is available adjacent to assistance contact Jamal Davis at the facility and across the street from 404-932-2644 or Nicole Rosetti at 228- the Shira Fieldhouse/Holliman Athletic 860-1981. Center.

BOB HARTLEY MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP Providing Internship Opportunities to Young SIDs

For more than a half century Robert M. “Bob” Hartley dedicated his life’s work to promoting Mississippi State athletics. From his hiring as the school’s first publicity director in August 1946 to his initial “retirement” as assistant athletic director for communications in June 1985, through his later years as an invaluable consultant for the Mississippi State Department of Athletics, the man we called “Hart” gave special meaning to the words “loyalty” and “devotion to duty.” Mr. Bob’s labors of love with MSU have not gone unrecognized. He has taken his place among college athletics’ greats as a member of both the university’s and the state’s sports halls of fame and the College Sports Information Hall of Fame. His willingness to generously give of his talent, his time and his friendship serves as an inspiration to the countless lives he has touched and to those that aspire to follow in his footsteps. In that respect, the Bob Hartley Memorial Fellowship was created by the MSU Department of Athletics to provide internship opportunities for young media relation practitioners. Stephen Foshee is the seventh recipient of the Bob Hartley Memorial Fellowship. A native of Hoover, Ala., Foshee is in his first season working with the MSU athletic media relations office, currently overseeing video/audio streaming with Maroon to the Max and working with the Bulldog Club. Having earned his bachelor’s degree in communication and arts from Union University in 2006, Foshee is now pursuing his master’s in sports administration. Previous recipients of Mississippi State’s Bob Hartley Memorial Fellowship include Scott Kuykendall, Larry Little, Brock Turnipseed, René Oakes Garner, Tony Schmidt and Jay Middleton.

 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS IN CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD

In the ever-changing world of collegiate athletics, the tradition of excellence in the Southeastern Conference has remained constant. The SEC boasts a rich history and has dominated track and field like no other conference.

Arkansas finishedfifth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in its quest for a fourth national championship in six years. Georgia finished 25th and Kentucky finished 28th in the race. Arkansas’ men captured their13th straight SEC crown and their amazing 30th consecutive conference title, dating back to 17 straight Southwest Conference titles prior to joining the SEC in 1991. Arkansas’ John McDonnell was named SEC Male Cross Country Coach of the Year. The award marked McDonnell’s ninth consecutive honor. Thomas Morgan of Kentucky garnered Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors and Arkansas’ Mike Poe garnered SEC Freshman of the Year honors.

Tennessee came in 24th to lead the SEC at the NCAA Championships. The Lady Vols also won their third SEC title. Auburn’s Angela Homan won the SEC Female Athlete of the Year award. Tennessee head coach J.J. Clark earned his third SEC Female Cross Country Coach of the Year honor and Georgia’s Kristin Heffelfinger garnered SEC Freshman of the Year honors.

LSU became the first school to sweep the NCAA Indoors men and women’s championships. This marks the fifth time that LSU has won the championships in schools history, and the first time since 1990. An SEC team has won the NCAA men’s indoor title 12 out of the past 13 seasons. The SEC had three of the top 10 at the NCAA Championships and six of the top 25. Arkansas and Florida were national runner-ups. South Carolina (14th), Auburn (t16th), Ole Miss (t22nd), Georgia (t34th), Alabama (t44th) and Tennessee (t56th) also competed at the National Championships. Florida edged out Arkansas, 128-126, in the SEC Men’s Indoor Championships.

The SEC had six of the top 10 at the NCAA Championships and seven of the top 25. LSU become the first school to sweep the NCAA Indoors women and men’s championships. LSU won its third straight and 10th NCAA Women’s Indoor National title. It was the 14th straight year the SEC has at least one team in the top two of the final results. Nine other SEC schools scored at the national meet including Florida (2nd), Tennessee (4th), Georgia (6th), Arkansas (t10th), South Carolina (t10th), Mississippi State (t21st), Auburn (t38th), Kentucky (t38th), and Vanderbilt (t38th). LSU claimed its 11th SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship, edging out second-place Florida, 52-51.

Arkansas scored 65 points to win its 11th outdoor title and 39th national championship in either indoor track, outdoor track or cross country under coach John McDonnell. Florida (2nd), LSU (3rd), Tennessee (13th), Mississippi State (20th), Auburn (23rd), Georgia (26th), South Carolina (31st), Kentucky (40th) and Ole Miss (60th) also scored at the national meet. Arkansas won its 11th SEC outdoor crown and its 20th outdoor conference title in 23 years with 183 points.

LSU finished second at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships. Six SEC schools finished in the top 10 of the NCAA Championships with Florida coming in fifth, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee tied for seventh and Arkansas 10th. Other SEC point scorers were, Auburn (18th), Alabama (T22nd), Mississippi State (T22nd), Vanderbilt (48th) and Kentucky (56th). The University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks won its third SEC Outdoor Championship in five years.

2009 SEC TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE Location...... Gainesville, Fla. Location...... Birmingham, Ala. Dates...... May 14-17 Commissioner...... Mike Slive Facility...... Percy Beard Track Media Relations Contact...... Sean Cartell Media Relations Contact...... Ayanna Wakefield Phone...... (352)375-4683 Phone...... (205) 458-3000 E-Mail...... [email protected] E-Mail...... [email protected] Website...... www.gatorzone.com Website...... www.secsports.com

FUTURE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP SITES

CROSS COUNTRY INDOOR OUTDOOR

2010 Ole Miss Florida Tennessee 2011 South Carolina Florida Kentucky 2012 Tennessee Arkansas Georgia