April 15, 2005

Houston, Texas - The University of Houston men and women's track and field teams will travel to Berkeley, Calif., and compete in the Golden Bear Invitational on Saturday, April 16. The Cougars will be competing in a non-scored meet that features full teams from the University of California, University of Oregon, Boise State University and Sacramento State University. Field events begin at 8:30 a.m., on Saturday, while the running events begin at noon.

Cougars Boast Some of Nation's Top Sprinters, Hurdlers and Relay Teams
Houston enters the meet with three of the top men and women's sprinters in the nation. Sophomore Carey LaCour has the nation's fourth-fastest time in the 200 meters with 20.73 seconds. Junior Preston Perry ranks 12th in the men's 100-meter dash with a time of 10.33 seconds, while sophomore LaDedra Guy is 36th in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 11.68 seconds at the Texas Relays last weekend.

Houston's Alicia Cave also ranks eighth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.34 seconds, while her teammate Tiffany Abney boasts the 12th-fastest time with 58.67. Cave also has the nation's 17th fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles with 13.40 seconds.

Andrew Carruthers is 34th in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.13 seconds.

All four of Houston's relay teams are nationally ranked this week. The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Stanford Routt, Perry, Termaine Smith and LaCour put up the nation's fifth-fastest time with 39.27 seconds at the Texas Relays. Routt, last year's NCAA runner-up in the 200 meters will not compete this weekend. Houston also has a ranking of 19th with Perry, Carruthers, Smith and LaCour combining for a time of 40.12 seconds earlier this season.

In the men's 4x400-meter relay, Houston's tandem of Kolee Latson, Michael Francis, Smith and LaCour are ranked 20th nationally with a time of 3:09.05. \

In the women's 4x100-meter relay, Jasmine Jackson, Guy, Keisha Howard and Cheryl Garner have teamed up to rank 21st nationally with a time of 45.06 seconds. They have posted the same time at the Texas Southern Relays and the Tom Tellez Invitational.

Howard joins Jennifer Hunt, Guy and Abney on the women's 4x400-meter relay team that is ranked ninth nationally with a time of 3:35.22.

Great Matchups In Field Events
One of the highlights in Saturday's meet will be the men's high jump where two of the nation's top 21 jumpers will battle against each other. Houston's Tristian Whitley is ranked 13th nationally after clearing 2.15 meters twice this season. California's David Glasgow had cleared 2.13 meters last weekend.

Another highlight will be the women's discus, in which three of the nation's best throwers will compete. Houston's Allie Booker, who is ranked 37th nationally with a throw of 48.69 meters, looks to challenge Oregon's Bree Fuqua who ranks 25th with a mark of 50.39 meters and California's Missy Faubus who has the 20th-best throw with 50.87 meters.

In the men's discus, Jonathan Reeves qualified for the Midwest Regional with a throw of 50.54 meters. He ranks 81st nationally, and looks to challenge both Tony Miranda and Rhuben Williams of California, who are two of the top 20 throwers in the nation.

Houston's Caresir Hamilton is one of the nation's top 36 triple jumpers after she posted a leap of 12.42 meters at the Tom Tellez Invitational.

Jasmine Jackson also is ranked among the top 53 long jumpers in the nation after she recorded a leap of 5.96 meters at the Tom Tellez Invitational.