April 4, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford University track and field team heads to Austin, Texas on Wednesday for the 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, hosted by the University of Texas at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Founded in 1927, the Texas Relays is one of the premiere track meets in the country.

Over 3,800 high school, college and professional athletes will compete at the 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, which will feature some of the world's top athletes, including All-Americans, Olympians and world-record holders. Past competitors include gold medalists, Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene.

Samford is coming off a strong performance at the 2006 Coach `O' Invitational, hosted by Troy University, on Saturday. The Bulldogs garnered a total of 33 top-ten finishes, setting a number of school and meet records.

Samford's men are set to start on Thursday, as Michael Hanson will run the men's 3000-meter steeplechase. The Keller, Texas native currently holds the second fastest time in the Ohio Valley Conference in the event, after winning the event at the FSU Snowbird Invitational on March 4, with a time of 9:47.46.

Following the steeplechase, Chris West will compete in the men's 1500 meters. West, who hails from Lockhart, Texas, ran a 4:03.69 at Florida State's meet, which ranks fifth in the OVC.

Samford will feature two athletes in the men's 10,000 meters on Friday night. Drew Anderwald, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Cameron Bean, a Chattanooga, Tenn. native will both compete in the event.

Michael Smith, a native of Flower Mound, Texas, looks to regionally qualify in the men's 400-meter hurdles on Friday. The 2005 NCAA Regional Qualifier is a mere 0.13 seconds off the qualifying standard for the 2006 NCAA Regional Championships, after running a 52.64 to win the event at Troy.

Samford's Laura Malnati will compete in the high jump on Friday. Malnati holds the highest leap in the conference, with a 5'07.00''. Malnati won the event at Florida State's meet with the mark on March 4.

On Friday night, the men's 4x1500-meter relay team will compete against teams from Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, McNeese State, Mississippi State, Rice, South Alabama, Texas and UT-Arlington.

The 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays kicks off on Wednesday, April 5 at the Mike A. Myers Track in Austin, Texas. Results will be posted at www.texassports.com.