Lubbock, Tex. --- It wasn't the best conditions in which to open the outdoor season, but the Wayland Baptist track and field teams automatically qualified three individuals and two relay teams for the 2010 NAIA Championships to be held at the end of May. Sprinters Kimberly Smith, Keliesha Ross and Myrun Roundtree all qualified in the 100-meters and both the men's and women's 4x100-meter relay teams met the automatic standard.

The temperature was great on Friday afternoon topping out at 80 degrees, but the wind was blowing a steady 23-26 mph out of the southwest with gusts in excess of 40 mph at Texas Tech's Terry and Linda Fuller Track and Field Complex.  That made it difficult for all the other competitors that didn't have a chance to avoid running into the wind, and the times turned in most of the other races were slower than they might have otherwise been, according to Pioneer coach Brian Whitlock.

Smith established yet another school record with her second place finish in the 100-meters.  The junior ran an 11.35, taking .01 second off the time she ran last year in Lubbock.  Teammate Keliesha Ross ran a 12.04 to finish sixth.  In the men's race, Roundtree came in third with a time of 10.52.

The women's 4x100 team, composed of Leandria Lee, Smith, Bianca Grant and Ross, won the race in a time of 46.85, while the men finished second to Tech.  Lee Prevost, Caleb McLean, Jerry-Lee Davis and Roundtree ran the 400-meter race in 40.63.

Senior Kirby Dunn won both the 800- and 1500-meter races.  Dunn ran the 800 in 1:55.66, while freshman Hildon Boen was second with a time of 1:56.69.  In the 1500, Dunn crossed the finish line in a time of 3:58.64, just ahead of freshman teammate Kennedy Kithuka who ran a 3:58.96.  Sophomore Victor Lemay was third in the race after running a 4:11.25.

On the women's side, freshmen Milca Villegas and Jennifer Secrest finished second and third in the 800-meters with times of 2:27.51 and 2:28.59 respectively.

The tracksters hope for better weather next week when they split forces.  One group will travel to Abilene on Thursday to compete in the McMurry Relays, to be run Thursday, April 1.  Another group will travel to Austin for the Texas Relays which are scheduled to be held April 2 and 3.