June 9, 2009

Arlington, Texas - Andrew Duncan III and Cordero Gray are two of the six Mavericks that will make their way north this week as they travel to the 2009 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Duncan III and Gray will be joined by Lady Maverick Jasmine Walls and the men's sprint relay team. Head Coach John Sauerhage believes his athletes will fare well this week and has high hopes of success.

"All of our athletes have a chance to become All-American's this week if they perform well... they've got to step up this week," Sauerhage said. "They know what to expect and I am confident in their abilities."

All athletes that qualify for the final heat of each event will be deemed an All-American.

"I want to see everyone perform at their best this week... most of them will need to at least match their personal best efforts to make it to the finals," Sauerhage said.

Cordero Gray leads the way for UT-Arlington as he will be running in the men's 100 and 200 meters. Teammates Andrew Duncan III and Jasmine Walls will be competing in the men's high jump and women's 200 meters, respectively.

The men's 4X100 relay team has the 14th fastest time nationally and has a solid chance to advance to the finals this week, but the team will be missing one of its' fastest members.

"Jarid Vaughan injured his abdomen at regionals and won't be able to run with the 4X100 this week," Sauerhage said. "Obviously, if he wasn't hurt he would help out a lot, but we are trying to deal with it the best we can at this point."

"We haven't sent this many athletes to nationals since 2007," Sauerhage said. "This year's bunch is a similar type group because we are sending the men's 4 X100, many other individual athletes and we showed well and the conference meet."

Regardless of what happens this week at the NCAA Championships, Coach Sauerhage has been pleased with his teams this season.

"I am very happy with both teams this year... I think if you look at where both teams finished at the conference meet that shows everyone we have one of the top track programs in the Southland Conference," Sauerhage said.

The UTA men's team finished second and the women finished third at the conference meet.

"If you look at where the men and women finished, we have the best overall program in the conference," Sauerhage said. "We have a lot of talent returning on both sides next year so the future is bright for us."

The NCAA Championships begin Wednesday and will run through Saturday at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For a complete list of all the events and to find out what heats the Mavericks will be competing in go to www.ncaa.com/loc/ncaa-c-otrack-loc.html.