25-26 Director's Cup Thread

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

Boom! Can’t expect all the ladies teams to maintain their current rankings at the end so the extra points here are huge. 

[Califashorn75]

Why can't we get our cross country and track teams to improve?

[HookemTexas]

Is USC a threat this year or it's pretty much Texas vs. Stanford barring some unforeseen situation.  Last year I believe USC ended up 2nd?

[Brad Beatty]

On 3/19/2026 at 10:39 PM, Califashorn75 said:

Why can't we get our cross country and track teams to improve?

I really don't get it.  It seems like we focus on the sprint events regardless.  The Indoor Championships were last week. Texas finished:

Mens: 12 points, 24th place. Outscored by NAU (7th), Villanova (14th), New Mexico (19th)
Womens: 8 points, tied for 28th place. Outscored by New Mexico (10th), South Dakota (15th), Tarleton State (23rd), Princeton (27)

I realize that some of these athletes are at specific schools because of the coach that is in place for their event - but some of these kids were just underrecruited, too.  Not sure why Texas can't just NIL top performing kids from small schools to earn some extra points considering that T&F field events have a way disproportionate value because of the multiple championships.

Below is a list of frosh/sophomore student athletes from smaller schools that it seems like we could recruit to join our teams in non-sprint events. I'm just a fat guy with a spreadsheet, this can't be that complicated lol

Tshephang DANKURU FR Texas State (6th mens high jump)
Ricardo MONTES DE OCA SO High Point (7th mens pole vault)
Anna WILLIS SO South Dakota (3rd womens pole vault)
Prestina OCHONOGOR SO Tarleton State (5th womens long jump)
Jessica OJI FR Penn (7th womens shot)
Kenneth BYRD SO Louisville (2nd mens Hept)
Allie ZEALAND SO Liberty (5th womens 3000M)
Pamela KOSGEI SO New Mexico (3rd womens 5000M)
Edna CHELULEI SO Eastern Kentucky (6th womens 5000M)
Victoria CAMERON SO Tarleton State (3rd womens 60M)
Bradley FRANKLIN SO Samford (2nd mens 60M hurdles)
Matthew ENDRODY SO New Mexico (6th mens 1 mile)

Edited 1 hour ago by Brad Beatty