May 11, 2010

ARLINGTON, Texas - Cordero Gray hasn't forgotten last year. The junior All-American sprinter remembers quite clearly the narrow defeat at last years Southland Conference Championships.

This year he's hoping for a different result.

"We only fell by a half a point last year," Gray said. "I'm going to do all I can to scrape and get as many points as possible."

The Southland Conference Outdoor Championships will take place this weekend, starting on Friday. As an extra bonus, the meets will take place at UT Arlington at Maverick stadium.

"Sure, being at home will give us an extra boost," coach John Sauerhage said. "But that might be worth maybe 20 extra points. We still need everyone to run well."

Gray undoubtedly will be the featured runner for the Mavericks in the 100-meter sprint like always. But the Mavericks will need contributions from across the board to perhaps sneak into first.

"We're going to need everyone's best," Gray said. "Everyone is going to have to have a good day."

Sauerhage agrees. He said this is the best team he's had in his time here in UTA but it competes hard.

"If we don't win it wont be because of a lack of effort," he said. "We're going to give it all we have and see what happens."

With Gray and fellow All-American Jasmine Walls accounted for and dependable Sauerhage mentioned that someone other than those two need to potentially have a career day for UTA to win the championship.

"Lionel Mungwari I think is ready to break out," Sauerhage said. "He's posted star times at the 100 meters and long jumps last weekend."

Mungwari is a freshman out of Forth Worth. The other runner Sauerhage mentioned was senior Ozzie Hood. It will be Hood's last Southland Conference Championship.

Sauerhage wants to keep expectations low. But he also doesn't want to discount the scrappiness of this year's team.

"It would surprise me if we won it," Sauerhage said. "But these guys put in a lot of work. They'll compete."