Bulldogs seek strong outing in conference
Seven years have passed since the last time the Mississippi State men's track and field team finished in the top five at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships.
When this year's event begins today in Fayetteville, Arkansas, MSU has a solid chance to surge back towards the top.
The Bulldogs go into the next three days boasting several men's athletes that should help MSU rack up some points. Interim head coach Chris Woods just doesn't want his Bulldogs doing too much.
“Our biggest thing that we've been preaching the last several weeks is just executing our events,” Woods said. “You get here, you don't have to do anything more or less special than what you've been doing all year. You really just dance with the girl that got you there. So we should do pretty well. That's what we're looking for.”
Woods is relying on a trio of Bulldogs to lead State's charge. First, there's javelinthrowing standout Anderson Peters who leads the nation in his event. Peters was last year's SEC champion in the javelin and is looking to become MSU'S first man to win two straight SEC titles since Garry Frank did so in the shot put in 1987. Peters enters today already on the watch list for The Bowerman Award, which is collegiate track and field's highest honor. The talent that has made Peters one of MSU'S most decorated track and field athletes of all time might just allow Peters to add to his list of accolades in Fayetteville.
“My goals are usually higher than what I get every meet,” Peters said. “I go into every meet visualizing throwing a certain distance. I'll probably throw a little shorter than that, but I'm not really surprised (when I achieve success).”
Two other MSU men enter the SECS as leaders in their events. Marco Arop actually