The new track and field rankings have been released, and it’s a mixed result for Arizona track and field. This weekend, the No. 19 Arizona women’s and No. 90 ranked men’s teams will head to Edwards Stadium at California for the Brutus Hamilton Invitational.
The event is one of the last big-name meets before the Pacific 10 Championship. For the women, it will be another chance to continue their dominance while the men will use it as a chance to improve.
And for the first time this season, the men’s team will be aided by the addition of its 4×100-meter team headed by junior Travis Cobb.
Cobb is doubling up for the Wildcats after competing for the football team in the 2009 season. There, he compiled 762 kick return yards and one touchdown last year.
Now he’s on the track and excited to compete in the 100m and the 4x100m.
“”I like to compete all season. I wanted to run track, so I talked to coach Stoops, and he said it was cool,”” he said.
Cobb had to wait until spring ball was over before he could get out on the track.
“”It helps more on my stamina and my long speed,”” he said of the incentives to play a second sport. “”For kick returns, I need more long speed. I used to run track in high school, and that got me a lot faster, to the point where I am now. I’m doing it now to get as fast as possible.””
Cobb isn’t the only one who’s excited to compete this weekend. The women’s 4x400m relay team is excited to continue commanding its race and moving up the national rankings.
“”For the last couple times we’ve ran, we’ve only come in second to professional teams,”” said junior Deanna Sullivan, the third leg of the 4x400m team. “”Our 4x400m team has more confidence this year; we’ve got a couple really good races under our belt.””
Sullivan has helped bring her relay team from unranked to 30th in the nation.
“”We’re ready to get out there and get fierce because we’ve established our reputation on the track,”” she said.
Head coach Fred Harvey said Arizona is exactly where it needs to be at this point in the season.
“”Their confidence is up, they’re competing well,”” Harvey said. “”This meet is good for us because this is where Pac-10 (Championships) will be hosted at, and we’ll have quality competition this weekend.””
