WACO, Texas -- Baylor returns a total of 18 All-Big 12 performers to the 2016 Big 12 Outdoor Championship hosted by Texas Christian University at the Lowdon Track and Field Complex in Fort Worth, Texas.
STORYLINES
Heading into the Big 12 Outdoor Championship, the Bears have 28 event marks among the top eight in the conference. The list includes two league-leading marks.
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Baylor’s women are led by the conference-best mark of pole vaulter Annie Rhodes (14-7.25 [4.45m]). The junior school-record holder was the runner-up in the event last season and finished third her freshman year. The Lady Bears also have four marks that are second-best in the Big 12.
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On the men’s side, BU freshman Wil London?leads the conference with a time of 45.28 in the 400 meters. The Big 12’s Freshman Performer of the Year during the indoor season has continued to shine outdoors. Meanwhile, the Bears have three other marks that rank second in the league.
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Nationally as a team, the Bears are ranked No. 36, while the women are No. 19. Currently, the men would have eight entries (seven individual & one relay) into the NCAA?West Preliminary Rounds, while the women have 16 marks in the region’s top 48 with (14 individual and two relay).
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As a team, Baylor has combined to win a total of 37 individual events during the outdoor season. The BU?women have claimed 25 event titles, while the men have won 12.
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Baylor will be without the services of former All-Big 12 performers Bryce Grace, Richard Gary, Richard Hansen and Jenna Pfeiffer, who have been limited this outdoor season due to injury. Big 12 Indoor Women’s Freshman Performer of the Year, Taylor Bennett, is also slated to miss the meet, after an injury at the Drake Relays.
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Last season, the Baylor men had a program-best five event title winners and finished in fourth for a second-straight season with the same number of points as 2014 - 93. Meanwhile, the women had three event champions to tie a program-high and help the Lady Bears place fifth with 96 points. In total, Baylor had 28 competitors earn 44 All-Big 12 honors during the meet.
QUOTE
"It has just been one of those seasons where we have been a little banged up. With that said our men are going to compete hard and they are going to get after it. We have some guys competing at really high level right now and we could be a really great national team here in a couple of weeks. For our ladies losing Taylor Bennett is a big deal. There is not much difference between second and sixth-place in our conference, so we are going to need some folks to step up this weekend." -- head coach Todd Harbour on the meet
