Jan. 24, 2008

The featured events may be the men's pole vault, shot put and the mile run but Cowboy football players in other events could play a big part in the outcome of Friday's McNeese State indoor track and field meet.

Field events begin at 1 p.m. and running events at 3 p.m. with Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, Houston Baptist, Grambling and Texas State joining in with the Cowboys and the Cowgirls in this meet at the Ralph O. Ward Arena on campus.

Jimmie Heath's attempt at the 18 foot pole vault will be a highlight of the meet as will the battle between Cowboy coach (Erik Whitsitt) and student (John Jamail) in the shot put and the mile with Stephen Scullion entered.

Heath opened his season with a victory last week at LSU and has gone 18 feet outdoors. His career best is a little over 17 feet indoors but he believes that he can get that 18 foot mark and challenge the school record of 18-4 1/2 that was set by Brad Gebauer last year.

The arena record is 17-3 and it was set by high school standout Jacob Davis in 1995.

Whitsitt will be competing unattached in the shot. He won last week's event at LSU at 56-2 1/2 but had a couple of efforts over 60 feet which he fouled. Jamail has thrown 55-6 1/2 this year.

Scullion has a best of 4:20 in the mile and he will take on Lamar standout Ewan Simpson who has run a 4:13.

Football players joining the McNeese track team this week will be Darrick Brown, Bernardo Henry, Jonathan Walker, Vaalyn Jackson and Carlese Franklin. Marcus Brown, also a football player, competed in last week's meet.

The Browns, Henry, Walker and Franklin are all set to run the 55 meter dash and Henry will also run the 200 meters.

Marcus and Darrick Brown will also perform in the long jump and the latter will also high jump. Both Browns are potential 25 foot long jumpers.

Jackson will take part in the shot put and the weight throw.

On the women's side for the Cowgirls, freshman Amy Guinn will be entered in the mile run for which she has a best of 5:15.

On Saturday, high schools will take over the arena with more than 400 athletes expected to participate.