May 22, 2006

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Four Straight
In the four seasons that head coach Pat Ponder has been the leader of the Lions track and field team, there have been at least two or more A&M-Commerce tracksters that have gone to compete at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships.

Overall, this will be the 19th time that A&M-Commerce will have someone represent the university at the national meet. There have been a total of 15 national champions from both the men and the women's team. The latest was in 2002 when long jumper George Sheppard won the event with a 7.87m leap (w = 5.5). He was the only Lion to win a national championship since 1990, when Jackie Alford (women's team) won the heptathlon. It was also the last time that a male had won a national championship, since 1986, when Agapius Amo won the 3,000 steeplechase and 10,000 meter run.

Last Time
Last season, A&M-Commerce had five Lions tab All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, which were held at Elmer Gray Stadium on the campus of Abilene Christian. Sprinter, Taylor earned two All-american awards placing fifth in the 100-meter dash with a 10.63 time, as well as in the 4x100 meter relay running the second leg of that race.

The 4x100 meter realy team consisted of Tommie Jemerson, Delrick Taylor, Greg Strickland and Levi Ogana clocked in a season best for 2005 at 40.60 seconds placing eighth. Ogana was injured in the prelim race and was replaced by fellow sprinter Danny Cobbin for the final sprint.

Overall, the Lions have a combined total of 36 athletes who have received All-America honors at an NCAA championship meet.

Returning to the Meet
Six-time All-American Delrick Taylor will be returning for his final performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The senior has taken the stage all four years he has been part of the A&M-Commerce track and field team taking home six All-America honors. Taylor made his way into the championships this year on April 1, 2006 at the Bobby Lane Invitational which was held in Arlington, Texas. The senior clocked in a 10.59 second time, which marked a season best for him at that time to ensure himself a trip to Emporia.

Taylor currently holds the fastest time for the Lions this season in the 100-meter dash with a 10.51 time, which he marked at the UTA Open on May 7th. He finished fifth in the LSC charts with his 10.59 second performance on April 1st.

Making A Debut
Thrower Larry Gilbert will be making his debut at the NCAA meet next week in the discus throw. Gilbert tossed a 167-5 at the Jason Deli's Mean Green Invitational on April 27, 2006 which was held on Fouts Field at the University of North Texas campus. It was a season best throw for Gilbert and his first NCAA qualifying throw in his career.

Also making their first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the Lions is distance runner Niki Williams. Williams qualified for the 3,000 meter steeplechase when she ran an 11:24.47 at the 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on April 5th. The time not only gave her a slot into this year's national stage, but also a season best as well as a school record. Williams went on later in the season and broke the record in the steeplechase two more times after the Texas Relays, beating out her first time. The most important performance during Williams' record breaking streak was on May 7th when she shattered the time at the UTA Open with an 11:06.17 time. Because of high barriers, Williams could have possibly ran under the 11 minute mark, which no Lion has done in school history.

Senior transfer J'wan Mitchell will also make his first appearance at the NCAA DII Outdoor meet. Mitchell transferred from Stephen F. Austin this season to come out and run for the Lions. Mitchell's specialty comes in the 400 meter hurdles, where he strided his way to a third place finish at the 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with a 52.13 finish to qualify for the championship meet.

About Coach Ponder
Head coach Pat Ponder is in his fourth season at the helm for the Lions. Named 2005 Lone Star Conference Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year, Ponder has led a national champion in the javelin and 36 athletes to All-American status. He has also seen 13 school records fall.

Before returning to A&M-Commerce where he served as the assistant track coach and head cross country coach from 1996-2001, Ponder served for one year as the head track and field and cross country coach at Wayland Baptist in 2002.