By KYLE ROBERTS

Contributing Sports Writer

Tech's track head coach Gary Stanley said his favorite track meet is the Texas Relays, featuring elite track schools such as Texas, LSU, Tennessee, Miami and South Carolina.

Stanley had good reasons to feel that way, as his track squad brought home three school records, a first-place individual finish and multiple NCAA qualifying marks from the 78th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Texas.

"It was a monster meet," Stanley said. "With three school records and four nationally ranked performances, all across the board it was a couple of incredible days."

The women's 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams finished strong both Friday and Saturday.

The No. 2 nationally ranked 400 team of senior Doria Appleberry, junior Donesha Spivey and sophomores Nina Gilbert and Latonia Wilson finished with times of 44.37 on Friday and 44.25 on Saturday for a sixth-place finish without senior teammate Shandra Freeman, who Gilbert replaced.

The 1,600 team of Appleberry, Gilbert, Wilson and sophomore Krystal Cole clocked in 3:35.15 on Friday and a school record 3:34.96 on Saturday for a seventh place finish.

Stanley said he is very pleased with the relay teams' finishes.

"The 400 team could have easily just given up since Shandra Freeman was unable to run while nursing an injury," Stanley said.

"It's definitely a tribute to Gilbert for coming in to take the place of the fastest sprinter and still run a school record. I'm very proud of the girls."

Junior Brenda Grace-Hunt led the way Saturday by throwing the top ranked javelin mark in the country at 186 feet and eight inches for a school record and Tech's only first place individual finish.

"I was very pleased with the throw," Stanley said. "It was a great mark early on, and hopefully, it'll hold at the top for a long time. Javelin throwers are very injury prone.

"So she will be competing less often and getting ready for the championships."

Men's 100-meter sophomore Johnathan Holland improved his time from 10.47 at the LSU Relays to 10.26 for a fourth place finish.

"Johnathan understood how important this meet was, and coach Jack Bicknell (of football) was very gracious to let him compete and miss football practice," Stanley said. "We are very appreciative of his support."

Senior Ayanna Alexander had her best triple jump of the season at 41-11.24 for a sixth place finish.

Other notables were junior Nolan Jackson and senior Bridgette Ladoucer, who placed sixth in their respective events.

Jackson ran a 13.93 in the men's 110-meter hurdles, while Ladoucer finished 13.86 in the women's 100 hurdles.

Senior Stefan Malmqvist also had a fourth place finish in the men's 1,500 with a time of 3:49.01.

Overall, Stanley said he enjoyed the Texas Relays again, and he was very proud of his entire team.

"I thought the kids handled everything very well," Stanley said. "They didn't just want to go compete on the big stage; they wanted to place high.

"There were plenty of distractions the kids could have fallen victim to, but they did not let them get in the way of doing well."