20 Feb 2013
Sports Editor
Quentin Hope / Staff Writer
The Mean Green will travel to Jonesboro, Ark. this weekend for the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships.
Shattered school records, personal bests for numerous athletes and rewritten conference records have highlighted the Mean Green’s indoor season.
Everything accomplished in the previous meets will be put to the test, as UNT will face off against the best of the best in the SBC in an attempt to bring home the hardware.
“It’s an important weekend,” assistant coach Derek Mackel said. “We’re trying to bring home rings and some trophies.”
Mackel is in his third year of coaching the Mean Green and is taking 10 jumpers to Jonesboro, compared to zero from last year.
“Last year we didn’t have any going at all,” Mackel said. “We have four guys that we’re excited about, along with a couple of extra girls that we’re excited about, so we’re looking to get some production out of the jump group this year.”
The jumping crew is led by junior Shahaf Bereni, who set a new record this season in the women’s high jump.
On the track, many sprinters and distance runners set new personal bests. Senior sprinter Clint Collins is no stranger to the SBC indoor conference championships. He said his experience is what gives him and others edge over their competition.
“I know what it’s like to lose and win from an individual perspective,” Collins said. “I think my experience is really going to help pull me to doing really well this weekend and help my teammates who have a lot of experience.”
Collins will be looking to compete for a solidified spot this weekend as he is trying to improve his seeding for NCAA Indoor Championships.
“My expectations as a team is for everyone to go out and give it their all to win,” senior distance runner Josephine Adams said. “I think we have a team that is good enough to win.”
UNT will be competing from Friday until as late as Monday, when the winners of the SBC Indoor Championships are announced.
