By KYLE ROBERTS

Contributing Sports Writer

Tech track has hit full sprint in the 2005 campaign after making strong finishes in the Mississippi State Bulldog Invitational and the LSU Relays and even adding quite a few national rankings.

"Our 2005 season has been marvelous so far," Tech head coach Gary Stanley said of his squad. "We ran very well at both Mississippi State and LSU. Now we're getting ready for the Texas Relay, and we really like the national rankings."

According to http://www.trackshark.com, the women's 1600-meter relay team of Doria Appleberry, Latonia Wilson, Krystal Cole and Nina Gilbert are currently ranked second with a time of 3 minutes, 35.34 seconds and right behind LSU in the women's 1600-meter relay.

Appleberry is also ranked 11th in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.58. Ayanna Alexander is sixth in the women's triple jump after setting a mark of 12.84 meters.

Wilson is No. 6 in the women's 200 with a time of 23.45, while Donesha Spivey is ranked 12th and Gilbert is ranked 18th.

Tech men's 100-meter dasher Johnathan Holland is currently ranked 16th after setting a mark of 10.47.

Shandra Freeman and Wilson are ranked 24th and 29th, respectively, in the women's 100 with times of 11.67 and 11.74.

Appleberry and Wilson are also part of the women's 400-meter relay with Freeman and Spivey that clocked in 45.66 and a national ranking of 18th place.

Bejide Williams posted a mark of 6.08 meters to earn a No. 17 ranking in women's long jump with Spivey seven spots behind at No. 24. In the women's javelin, Brenda Grace-Hunt is currently ranked 19th with a mark of 47.17 meters.

Other rankings: Jason Morgan, No. 21, men's discus throw; Chantell Richardson, No. 22, women's triple jump; Nolan Jackson, No. 27, men's 110 hurdles; Straterika Allen, No. 30, women's shot put; Stefan Malmqvist, No. 31, men's 1500.

Stanley said he is pleased with the rankings and more good things are to come this season.

"Being nationally ranked means we have the right people in the right places," Stanley said. "We put the best athletes in the events they need to be in, and the fact that we can bring those athletes in is a testament to how well the team is doing as far as coaching.

"It's a snap shot of what the nation looks like right now."

Most of the marks were set at the Mississippi State Bulldog Invitational Saturday in Starkville, Miss., and at the LSU Relays in Baton Rouge, March 24-26.

Tech took two first place finishes and multiple regional qualifying marks at MSU, while setting three NCAA qualifying marks at LSU.

The track teams return to action this weekend at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin.

"The Texas Relays always have the best athletes competing in the United States," Stanley said. "We're always excited about competing there on the big stage."