Sprinter looks forward to larger track

By Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer

The Purdue indoor track at Lambert is 200 meters around. At Kent State, the track is 300 meters.

The difference in length is only 100 meters, though length is of no importance to senior sprinter Markus Williams.

"The radius of the curves are wider which produces much faster times so I know Markus is really looking forward to getting a really good, quality, fast 200 time," said assistant coach Lissa Olson.

Time is key and that bodes well for Williams as the men's indoor track team travels to Kent State for a meet that begins at noon Saturday against Kent State, Penn State, Maryland and West Virginia.

Williams' competition in the 200 includes Bobby Cruse of Kent State, who has already automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship with a time of 21.07 seconds. Cruse is also a NCAA qualifier in the 60-meter dash. Cruse and Purdue sophomore Prentice Stovall will both be competing in the 60.

"Prentice Stovall should try to get on the NCAA list for the 60," said Williams.

As for the team, Williams said, "We're ready. I'm confident we're real ready. Everybody is running well and there aren't that many injuries."

One costly injury, however, was suffered by sophomore high jumper Shaun Guice last week at the Purdue Open. Guice had a pull in his leg and was unable to make a jump at 6-11, five inches shy of his goal for the meet, an automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament. However, Guice will be at Kent State this weekend.

"On a scale of one to 10, I feel about a nine," said Guice.

Olson said Guice has looked better each day in practice. Also, Guice has gotten daily treatment and practiced only his approaches this past week. Thursday was the first practice he jumped.

The meet at Kent State gives the team a chance to see a Big Ten team — Penn State.

"We are excited to see another Big Ten (team) and see how we stack up," Olson said. "The thing that is going to be neat about this meet is there are top people across the board in every event."

Olson said several football players will compete with the team this week after not competing with the team Saturday. The runners from the Big Ten champions include Chris Clopton, a cornerback, in the 60; Tim Upshur, another defensive back, in the high jump; and Jacques Reeves, also a cornerback, in sprints. Reeves was ranked in the top 10 coming out of high school.

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