Jan. 23, 2008

ARLINGTON, Texas - - Eddie Beckwith crossed the finished line first Friday in Lubbock, then turned and looked at the clock.

Then, he looked again.

"I was just trying to run fast," Beckwith said. "I couldn't believe it at first. I know that I've been working very hard - running every day in the offseason - but to have that kind of time was a surprise. I'm still not worried about the times because my goal is just to run as fast as I can every time out. But next time, it won't be a surprise. And maybe it will be even faster."

Beckwith clocked a 47.53 in the 400 meters at the Texas Tech Invitational, the first meet of the indoor season.

His efforts not only put Beckwith in the record books with the third-fastest time in school history, it also earned him this week's Southland Conference Male Athlete of the Week recognition.

Beckwith is a 6-foot-3 junior from Orlando, Fla., who the Mavericks will count on this season in the indoor and outdoors seasons. UTA won last season's Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

By comparison, Beckwith ran a 50.61 at last season's indoor conference meet, good enough for eighth place.

"It's a nice way to start the year," Beckwith said.