NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SITE MARIETTA, Ohio - In a field consisting of the NCAA's best Division III 100 meter sprinters, junior Jessica Starks showed her mettle by running a 12.50, which tied her for 15th out of 21 runners in the 100m Trial Friday at the 2009 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Ohio Athletic Conference was also represented in Starks' heat by Wilmington College sophomore Callen Martin, who won Heat One with her time of 12.13. Martin finished third behind junior Amanda LaRocca (12.09) of Illinois Wesleyan and Hope College senior Nora Kuiper (12.11).
"The start wasn't there, and hasn't been for a couple of weeks," Starks said. "I'm happy I made it at least and was able to run in this strong field. I'm happy to have competed today and I'm focusing on tomorrow."
Saturday will be a big day for Starks, a junior from Akron East High School, as she will compete in both the finals of the 4X100 relay and the 200 meter dash.
"The focus is on trusting each other and continuing to ride the momentum we've been building all year," Starks said. "We are already in the finals, so there is no pressure."
Some of that lifted pressure may derive from the meet being in Ohio, as opposed to the other two times Starks has been in the NCAA Championship meet.
"I love being in Ohio for national meet. It's so much better than we we've had to travel for other national meets. It's been great getting so much love and support from the crowd and everybody supporting the in-state teams," Starks said.
The women's 4X100 team that includes juniors Starks and Brittany Carter (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South HS), freshman Kwesi Seabrook (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade Julienne HS), senior Lizzy Stanton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow HS) and (along with freshman alternate Desma Triplett from Canal Winchester, Ohio/Harvest Prep HS) did a light pre-race workout at the track today in preparation for their Relay Final Saturday at 1:10 p.m.
"We did about an hour workout, and watched Jessica compete today," Capital Head Coach Fred Barends said.
Barends and the team felt confident about the relay team heading into their final race together on Saturday. The squad plans on resting by going to a movie Friday night.
"We're in great shape. They've done all the workouts, and all of the individual races, so they're focused," Barends said. "Above all, they're having fun, and they know what to do."