UNLV pair heads to NCAAs

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 8:59 a.m.

Last year, under new coach Barbara Ferrell-Edmonson, two UNLV track runners eked into the NCAA West Regional championships.

This year, the Rebels inched a little farther.

Juniors Christine Spence and Halima Decree placed fifth or better in four events at last month's regional meet, and are in Austin, Texas, this week for the NCAA track and field championships.

"I'm very excited about being here. It's one of the main reasons you've worked at Division I -- to reach the top," Ferrell-Edmonson said. "We're not quite there yet, but to get two girls into four events is an accomplishment that shows a lot of growth."

Decree finished fifth in the west regionals in the 100-meter dash, completing it in 11.52 seconds, ranking her 21st in this week's championship. She placed fourth in the 200-meter dash, completing it in 23.72 seconds, good for a 28th seed in the national event.

Spence will compete in two jumping events. In the 400-meter hurdles, Spence placed third with a 57.64. Spence placed third in the regional high jump, crossing the 1.85-meter mark to place her ninth at the nationals.

Ferrell-Edmonson said Spence and Decree were looking to make it into the championships, and she challenged them to do just that.

"Just looking at talent we had, Halima and Christine were just sensational athletes who came to office and said 'We can do this,' and I said, 'Yes we can, if you guys come out and put work in,' " she said. "One of the things I preach is whatever you (put) in it is what you get out of it. We could have had about maybe six girls in but we had such good talent in other conference areas that we were right on the bubble. It just shows the other girls it's reachable now. We're just going to go for it."

This is Spence's second trip to the NCAA championships, after placing ninth in the 4x400 relay in 2002. Decree is making her first trip to the championships.

The trip is also a return for Ferrell-Edmonson, who took several athletes and teams to the NCAAs in her eight-year tenure as USC's head coach. She said the balance that USC has in depth and numbers is her goal for UNLV's track program.

"We'll start out walking, and we can start jogging and running. We've got a team that's kind of turning itself around, and I'm a real stickler on grades. Foremost is that they're student-athletes. We're going to graduate, and be the best athlete we can be," she said. "Once we get that balance and get academics, then we're going to be in the ring with everyone else. We're not that far behind it; we've got the recruiting. ... Once we get our ducks in order, we'll be a team people are going to have to come back and respect."

And with the balance, Ferrell-Edmonson said, UNLV can continue to inch forward next year in NCAA events.

"I'd like to say they've inched into the top of that podium," she said. "I don't like to foresee things; just when they happen, they happen. But when they keep inching, that's a positive sign."

Qualifying for all four events was scheduled for this afternoon, with final rounds slated for Friday and Saturday. CBS will air the finals on Saturday.