WAC Rivals Set to Keep Old Friendship on Track

They are hooked together by chance. Two guys, two countries, ranked one-two nationally among college runners in the 100-meter dash.

One conference.

They see each other a couple of times a year, never away from the track. This weekend, at the Western Athletic Conference track and field championships at San Diego State, Brigham Young’s Frank Fredericks and Texas El Paso’s Olapade Adeniken get a chance to renew acquaintances.

They will face each other today in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Fredericks, a senior, is from Namibia. He is ranked first nationally with a best time in the 100 this year of 10.17. Adeniken, a junior, is from Nigeria. He is second nationally at 10.49.

There were two preliminary heats in the 100 Friday. Fredericks won one in a wind-aided 10.47. Adeniken won the other in a wind-aided 10.30.

There were three preliminary heats in the 200. Adeniken won one in a wind-aided 21.63. Fredericks won another in a wind-aided 21.18.

“He’s the best guy I’ve competed against in the States,” Adeniken said. “The conference, the national championships . . . he’s always brought out the best in me.”

They chat sometimes after they run. Rarely before, and never away from the track.

“We talk a lot,” Adeniken said. “Usually non-track stuff. We dog each other--’I’m going to beat you, You’re not going to beat me.’ ”

Fredericks runs the 100, 200, 400-meter relay. He also long jumps. Adeniken runs the 100, 200, 400-meter relay and the 1,600-meter relay.

They tied in last year’s 100 in the WAC championships. The year before, Adeniken won.

Adeniken won the 200 in last year’s WAC championships; the year before, Fredericks won.

Last weekend Miami, this weekend the WAC track and field championships.

The Patrick Rowe Athletic Tour continues.

He was in Miami last weekend for a pre-season Playboy All-American football banquet. It came as an interruption of his track season. Rowe, fellow SDSU wide receiver Keith Williams and defensive back Gary Taylor joined the SDSU track team April 25--the day after spring football ended.

“I think football and track is a great combination,” said Rowe, who also ran track as a freshman. “I’m out here trying to help the team and trying to help my speed. And it makes it very convenient with the WAC (championships) here.”

Rowe finished third in his heat in the 100 Friday (10.76) and third in his heat in the 200 (21.89).

Williams was second in his heat in the 100 (10.72) and second in his heat in the 200 (21.96).

They will each run in those events again today, as well as the 4 x 100 relay with Floyd Barco and Jerome Gross.

WAC Notes

After the first day of finals, the Brigham Young men are in first place with 97 points. Texas El Paso is next at 57. SDSU is last with 13. The BYU women lead with 108; SDSU is next at 38. . . . SDSU’s Darla Vaughn finished first in her heat of the 100 (wind-aided 11.80) and in her heat of the 200 (wind-aided 24.35). She said she was glad to be running in San Diego. “It’s real nice,” she said. “This is only the second meet here this season. I think the community and students are pumped up about it.”