I'm an admitted relay junkie and this morning while having my coffee, I went back and watched videos of the 4X100 from the Penn relays, the Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Championship this past weekend. And I noticed something. Two of the ladies don't really get the credit from fans that they deserve - Dominique Duncan and Elizabeth Adeoti.
We have had a jewel at #2 with Porscha Lucas for 4 years and Jeneba Tarmoh has been a most outstanding addition to the team at #1 this year. She is as quick out of the blocks as anybody. Gabby Mayo has been an outstanding anchor ever since she came on the scene as a freshman. But....... or maybe rather in addition .........
Elizabeth Adeoti has been both a regular and a sub on the 4X100 for 4 years and has done an outstanding job filling in for Gabby - this year - most notably at both the Big 12, the regionals in Austin, and NCAA prelims in Eugene. She's clearly not the fastest out of the blocks but her top end is very good and in every race I was able to view from this year and prior, she is very good on both ends of baton exchanges and has extended the lead after receiving the pass.
Dominique too is not the quickest out of the blocks, but with a running start in the relay, she is pretty awesome at #3. If you look at the race in Eugene, the Aggies and Oregon were pretty much even at the second exchange. Dominique took the lead and gave Jessica Beard a 3-4 step lead for her anchor leg, and Jessica too extended it to the finish.
We tend to focus on the stars, Duncan never seems to say anything during interviews, and Adeoti, while a delightful young lady, is never in the spotlight. They too deserve a great deal of credit for the success of our most successful 4X100 team.
[This message has been edited by JR69 (edited 6/16/2010 7:20p).]
We have had a jewel at #2 with Porscha Lucas for 4 years and Jeneba Tarmoh has been a most outstanding addition to the team at #1 this year. She is as quick out of the blocks as anybody. Gabby Mayo has been an outstanding anchor ever since she came on the scene as a freshman. But....... or maybe rather in addition .........
Elizabeth Adeoti has been both a regular and a sub on the 4X100 for 4 years and has done an outstanding job filling in for Gabby - this year - most notably at both the Big 12, the regionals in Austin, and NCAA prelims in Eugene. She's clearly not the fastest out of the blocks but her top end is very good and in every race I was able to view from this year and prior, she is very good on both ends of baton exchanges and has extended the lead after receiving the pass.
Dominique too is not the quickest out of the blocks, but with a running start in the relay, she is pretty awesome at #3. If you look at the race in Eugene, the Aggies and Oregon were pretty much even at the second exchange. Dominique took the lead and gave Jessica Beard a 3-4 step lead for her anchor leg, and Jessica too extended it to the finish.
We tend to focus on the stars, Duncan never seems to say anything during interviews, and Adeoti, while a delightful young lady, is never in the spotlight. They too deserve a great deal of credit for the success of our most successful 4X100 team.
[This message has been edited by JR69 (edited 6/16/2010 7:20p).]