The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Indoor Championships
Knight wins NCAA 200m in second fastest American time on opening day of NCAA Indoor Championships
03.14.2008 | Track & Field / Cross Country w, Track & Field / Cross Country
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Texas freshman Bianca Knight captured the 200m title in the second fastest time ever by an American runner. Fellow sprinter and Texas junior Alexandria Anderson clocked the second-speediest 200m time in UT history and earned the 10th All-American honor of her career with a third-place finish in the 200m on Friday at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship.
The duo gave Texas 16 points as the Longhorns are tied for second with Mississippi and Virginia Tech, and sit two points behind day-one leader Michigan (18 points).
Initiallly, Knight, a native of Ridgeland, Miss., posted the fastest 200m time in the world this year, and reset the UT school record with her 22.48-second performance in the preliminary round. She returned two hours later to improve her preliminary-best in the event finals as she torched the track in 22.40. The mark is the second fastest time by an American runner behind three-time Olympic gold medalist Gwen Torrence (22.43), and bettered the NCAA collegiate, national championship and Randal Tyson track records of 22.43 set by Veronica Campbell on March 12, 2004. She also replaced Olympian Sanya Richards' time of 22.49 at the top of the 200m category in the UT record books.
Knight becomes the third Longhorn to win the NCAA indoor 200m championship joining Olympians Carlette Guidry (1990, and 1991) and Nanceen Perry (1997).
Anderson (Chicago, Ill.) added even more speed in the sprinting events. She finished third in the 200m in a lifetime-best time of 22.81 seconds. The mark is the second fastest ever run by a Texas sprinter. Prior to the event finals, Anderson blazed the track in 22.87 in the preliminary round initially moving into third-place on the UT performers' list.
In the 60-meter preliminary, Anderson and Knight cruised through opening race, advancing in 7.19 and 7.16, respectively. Knight's mark is second on the UT performers' list to Guidry's 7.12 seconds from the 1991 indoor season. Anderson's time is third overall. Knight and Anderson share four of the fastest performances in UT history.
Three Longhorns will compete on Saturday, the final day of the two-day NCAA competition. Anderson and Knight return to the track for the 60-meter dash final which starts at 7:25 p.m., and will join senior All-American Temeka Kincy (Indianapolis, Ind.) and junior All-Big 12 performer Katara Rosby (Baton Rouge, La.) in the 4x400-meter relay at 8:20 p.m. Sophomore Jordyn Brown (Mesquite, Texas) will enter the shot put circle at 4:30 p.m. All times are Central.
POSTMEET QUOTES
BEV KEARNEY
On the strong performances by the sprinters: We knew what we were capable of doing and we stayed focused on our goals. Our goal was to finish one-two and no less than top three. Unfortunately, Alex drew the third lane which with her stride pattern, that really reeks havoc. As for Bianca, to break Sanya's school record, and then to go on and break Veronica Campbell's NCAA and collegiate record as a freshman, is a phenomenal task.
On finishing high in the team standings with a small number of athletes: We can't control what any other team does; all we can do is maximize what we are capable of doing. We are focused on maximizing every ounce of ability and every opportunity that we have.
2008 NCAA 200m CHAMPION BIANCA KNIGHT
On executing the race plan: There was a plan for me and my teammate Alexandria Anderson to finish one-two. We put our faith in each other, and if I didn't get it done, she was to get it done. I wanted to spice things up, and I don't know if a freshman has ever won nationals, but if not, I wanted to be the first."
On bouncing back from her performance at the Big 12 Championship: I was very disappointed at Big 12s because I did not run my race. I said that here that every eon was going to pay for the way I ran at Big 12s. I came here with the mentality that I'm going to do it today, and in the races tomorrow.
NCAA RESULTS (day one)
200-meter dash FINAL
1. Bianca Knight (Texas), 22.40
3. Alexandria Anderson (Texas), 22.81
200-meter dash preliminary
p1. Bianca Knight (Texas), 22.48
p4. Alexandria Anderson (Texas), 22.93
60-meter dash preliminary
p1. Bianca Knight (Texas), 7.16
p2. Alexandria Anderson (Texas), 7.19 (7.182)
p3. Kelly-Ann Baptiste (LSU), 7.19 (7.181)
