Extensive coverage of SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships unfolds
With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games just months away, several athletes competing in Fayetteville this weekend could find their way to Rio. Rawson’s best selections are:
- Alabama long jumper Quanesha Burks
- Texas A&M runner Donavan Brazier
- Georgia Triple Jumper Keturah Orji
- Georgia decathlete Garrett Scanting
The 2016 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship is set to stream live on SEC Network + with over seven hours of live coverage from Fayetteville, Ark., on today (4:55 p.m. ET) and Saturday, Feb. 27 (3:50 p.m.). ESPN will televise a recap of the event on Sunday, Feb. 28 (7 p.m.) and SEC Network will air the same recap on Monday, Feb. 29 (8:30 p.m.). Larry Rawson and Ashley Rose will be the analysts for the two-day, conference-ending event with Dwight Stones calling play-by-play.
Rawson, a two-time Emmy Award recipient for track and field coverage, has been preparing for this weekend through his continuous interest in the sport.
“I stay up on SEC — and the entire college scene — carefully throughout the year,” Rawson said. “For the SEC Championships, and mostly any event I work as an analyst, I arrive onsite three days before the competition begins. It allows me to spend time with coaches and interview a host of top athletes, asking questions and gathering the most interesting information for the telecast.”
ESPN3 will stream the ACC, Horizon and MVC Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend. The ACC will compete on Friday (5 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.), while the Horizon begins at 3:25 p.m. on Saturday and 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, and MVC will begin at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Rose, though in familiar territory having been a track and field athlete at Georgia, will find herself in a very different role this weekend.
“I am super excited to make my ESPN debut,” Rose said. “I have been around track since I was in sixth grade and have loved every aspect of the sport. I have run, jumped, coached and now will be commentating for the first time.”
Rose admits she expects to feel the competitive drive this weekend.
“I did report on track at Georgia, and every single time I went out to practice or a meet I found myself wanting to change into my uniform and lace up my spikes,” she said.
Though new to the role, Rose will be learning from some of the best. In addition the aforementioned accolades of Rawson, Stones has won two bronze medals in the high jump, winning in both the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.
Alexandra L. Duckenfield and Derek Volner contributed to this post.
