N.C. State will host the Raleigh Relays, one of the biggest annual meets on the east coast, on Friday and Saturday. Over 60 teams and 2000 athletes will be in attendance.
“It ranges from the potential NCAA champions to those who are not,” Pack head coach of track and field, Rollie Geiger said. “It’s a wide range of ability and a wide range of institutions.”
Schools that range from Ohio State to Slippery Rock University will travel down to the Triangle for two action-packed days.
“You get to see competition that you’re not used to, some new faces, sprinter A’Tolani Akinkuotu said. “A lot of teams you wouldn’t get to compete against until Nationals.”
Akinkuotu will ride a recent wave of success into this weekend’s competition. After breaking his own school record in the 60m dash prelims a month ago, Akinkuotu won the 100m dash prelims at the 49er Classic last weekend in Charlotte. Akinkuotu notched a time of 10.43, an NCAA Regional qualifying mark.
“He’s an outstanding sprinter,” Geiger said. “I think A’Tolani will lead us in the sprint.”
At the 49er Classic, Lamont Savage came in fourth in the long jump and Jason Jones took fifth in the hammer throw.
“Things have been going good for the men’s team recently,” Akinkuotu said.
On the women’s side, distance runner Brittany Tinsley will be searching for a mark of her own in the 5000m run.
“I know a lot of the distance people are going to run marks that will get us into the regional meet,” Tinsley said. “I’m pretty excited to get out on the track and see what I can do.”
All-ACC runner Angelina Blackmon, who redshirted the indoor season, will be back in action in the 1500m event. Mattie Bethea, fresh off a high jump win at the 49er Classic, will seek further accolades.
Geiger expects Lauren Montgomery and Gabrielle Daniel to lead the way in the sprints and Lawanda Henry and Britney McCain to do the same in the hammer throw.
“Everything for us is about the conference championship, so this is another stepping stone,” Geiger said. “At this point in the season, everyone is looking to get regional marks.”
However, this is not merely a throw-away event. As the host of the tournament, State will be looking to make its mark while earning high scores.
“It’s not really the main focus of the season, but it is a good meet to open things up, to get onto the outdoor track and get a race under your belt,” Tinsley said.
Akinkuotu said State’s sprinters will face stiff competition from local foes as well.
“Pretty much any team from the ACC that’s going to be here is going to have some good sprinters, so everyone is going to come out here and try and perform as long as the weather cooperates.”
Tinsley said she was anxious about the weather making the Relays miserable for all involved, but that the show would go on, rain or shine.
“If it starts thundering and lightning they’ll delay it, but even if it’s pouring rain we’ll be out there running,” Tinsley said.
