The Texas A&M men and women's track team joined Big 12 teams Missouri and Texas on Friday and Saturday when they went head-to-head with Southeastern Conference teams Louisiana State, Florida and Mississippi.
The Big 12 women beat the SEC 359-226 and the Big 12 men beat the SEC 332-279.
More than 2,500 fans showed up to the Gilliam Indoor Track and Field Stadium to support the teams Saturday, with a combined total of 4,037 during the two-day meet.
"We are pleased with the overall effort of our group," said Head Coach Pat Henry. "I don't think anybody in the Big 12 likes the SEC and the SEC doesn't like the Big 12. That brings a fun environment into it. Our athletes are excited about competing right now."
Texas A&M junior Porcha Lucas set the pace in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.38 seconds. She is now the world leader in the event in 2009. A&M sophomore Gabby Mayo came in second with a time of 23.60.
"I think that just being here in this great program also helps motivate me to work harder and my teammates motivate me to work harder," Lucas said. "Having that all together helps me have a good meet."
In the 60-meter dash, Lucas came in second with a time of 7.35 seconds and Mayo third, with a time of 7.38. Texas senior Alexandria Anderson took the top spot with a time of 7.33 seconds.
"There are always adjustments I can make," Lucas said." I never have a perfect race. I mean, I have good ones, but they aren't perfect to me. There are definitely things I'm going to work on this week in practice so I can be ready for New York."
Lucas said she was aiming for a 22.6 in the 200-meter dash indoors and a 7.1 for the 60-meter dash.
"Anything better than what I started off with this season would be good for me," Lucas said.
Texas A&M sophomore Gerald Phiri broke his previous 60-meter dash school record of 6.64 with a 6.59 but LSU senior Trindon Holliday bested Phiri with a time of 6.56.
"I just need to be more patient with my push at the start of the race," Phiri said. "I think I rushed a little bit. I know I can beat [Holliday]. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing in practice. It will come. It only takes one race. One good race hopefully can be nationals. Last year he ran a tenth faster than me indoors which is a big difference so to come out here and be within reach of him so early in the season. That's a good thing."
Phiri also broke the 200-meter team mark of 21.17 held by Texas A&M senior Chris Dykes with a 21.01 and also set a personal indoor best time. Dykes finished second to Phiri with a time of 21.13.
"Last year I ran a 21.4 indoors and to come out here my second race and run a 21.0 and I know I did some things wrong, I mean, that's great for me," Phiri said.
The scoring by conference had a point breakdown of 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for the top eight places in each event.
"I think you have to throw some different elements into all competitions," Henry said. "This one we tried to do that. It is all to try and prepare your team and how your team thinks about themselves and how they are all contributing to each other." On Friday, the pentathlon and heptathlon took place with a total of 13 athletes competing. Events for the women's pentathlon include the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800-meter run. Men's events for the heptathlon include the 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60-meter hurdles, pole vault and 1,000-meter run.
In the women's pentathlon, senior Kaela Rorvig of Missouri won with a total score of 3,757 while achieving 10 team points for the Big 12. Sophomore Sarah Pierson from Texas A&M finished right behind her in second with 3,464 and eight team points and sophomore Daphne Fitzpatrick of A&M scored 2,494 and four team points.
Missouri junior Nick Adcock won the men's heptathlon with a total score of 5,508 and 10 team points with Texas A&M junior Trinity Otto coming in fourth with a score of 5,373 and five team points.
The Aggies will travel to New York on Feb. 6 for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational where the men will look to improve on their No. 5 ranking and the women will look to defend their No. 1 ranking.
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