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Flyin' Frogs capped off successful 2006 campaign
TCU produced one national individual champion, four All-Americans and four All-America relay teams this season
June 19, 2006
FT. WORTH, Texas - The Flyin' Frogs soared to great heights during the 2006 track and field campaign. Under head coach Darryl Anderson and his talented coaching staff this season, TCU has produced one national champion, four All-Americans, four All-America relay teams while breaking numerous records along the way. For TCU track and field, the sky remains the limit. Jackson Langat wrapped up his Flyin' Frog career with a national individual crown and All-American distinction, winning the men's 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in February of 2006. The Kericho, Kenya, native became the first TCU track athlete to win the indoor event in school history and was the Frogs' first national indoor champion since 2001. A total of 13 Frogs would garner All-America status, individually and/or as a team, at the end of the track season with Lewis Banda receiving three at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. He placed fourth in the men's 400 meters and anchored both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads. The Zimbabwe native garnered All-America recognition at the NCAA indoor championships in February in the 400 meters and as part of the 4x400 relay unit. Frogs who earned All-America honors in 2006 included: Lewis Banda - men's 400 meters (indoor and outdoor); men's 4x100 relay (outdoor); men's 4x400 relay (indoor and outdoor) TCU was well represented at the Midwest Regional in Austin, Texas, this year with 20 Flyin' Frogs battling to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Virgil Hodge shined for the Frogs as she won both the women's 100 meters and 200 meters, and was one of seven to automatically qualify for the national meet. When it was all said and done, six Frogs and three TCU relay teams were tabbed All-Midwest Region. Days later, TCU would earn a total of 11 at-large bids to the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In all, 18 Flyin' Frogs including both the men's and women's 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads made their trek west for a shot at a national title. For 2006, 24 Frogs (11 men, 13 women) made a podium appearance in one or more events. TCU collected 287 medals on the season with the men tallying 79 (36 indoors, 43 outdoors), while the women earned 104 (40 indoors, 64 outdoors). There were a combined 29 records (meet, school and MWC) broken this year with the Frogs holding eight all-time MWC records in the 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1000 meters, 3000 meters, new javelin, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay in the men's division. In addition, six are school records - 400 meters (indoors and outdoors), 1000 meters, 3000 meters, new javelin and triple jump. The TCU women found similar success both on the track and field as they sit atop of the league with a pair of all-time conference records (4x100 relay and 4x400 relay). The Frogs also set new school marks in five events - indoor 400 meters, indoor 400-meter hurdles, indoor 4x400 relay, outdoor 200 meters and outdoor 4x400 relay. In TCU's first year of competition in the Mountain West Conference, the Flyin' Frogs dominated most of the running events. In the final day of both the league's indoor and outdoor championships, TCU climbed into third place in both the men's and women's. TCU crowned a total of 18 individual champions, won five team titles and took home a total of 46 conference medals - 19 indoor (10 gold), 27 outdoor (15 gold). The Frogs debuted on the national radars in 2006 as the men were ranked by Trackwire.com as one of the top 25 programs in the country for all of the indoor season, and every week except for two during the outdoors. TCU earned its highest overall ranking (tied for ninth) in the seventh week of the outdoor campaign (May 17). TCU women also made a top-25 showing in 2006, as the Frogs were tied for 22nd with three other schools to round out Trackwire's Top 25 for Women in the last week (May 31) prior to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
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