The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Just as he did in 2014, Shavez Hart began 2015 with a stellar effort indoors for the Texas A and M Aggies, leading to a top honour in the Southeastern Conference.

The senior sprinter was named SEC “Track and Field Athlete of the Week” for his world leading performance at the Aggies’ Invitational this weekend. Hart, 22, raced to a time of 20.76s in the 200m to take first place and SEC Men’s “Runner of the Week.”

He finished ahead of Baylor’s Trayvon Bromell who ran 20.80s and was denied the sprint double after he won the 60m in 6.61s. Bromwell is the defending NCAA 100m champion.

Fellow Aggie Bralon Taplin also finished at 20.80s, No. 10 on the school’s all-time list, to win the second section and place second overall.

Hart was just a 10th of a second off his indoor best time of 20.66, set in March 2014 in College Station, Texas.

With this weekend’s performance, he posted the top time in the world so far in the 2015 season. A renowned 100-200 metre sprinter, Hart displayed his versatility on the second leg of A and M’s 4x400m team. Hart ran a split of 46.8s and the Aggies finished in 3:07.98s.

As a junior, and in his inaugural season with the Aggies, Hart opened his 2014 outdoor season - named “Men’s Runner of the Week” in the SEC.

Hart claimed the sprint double at the University of Texas San Antonio Texas Challenge Invitational, when he won the 100 metres in 10.24s and the 200m win in 20.50s.

The times in both events (not wind-aided), boosted him as the leader in the collegiate Division I rankings.

Hart was also a member of the Texas A and M 4x100m team which posted an NCAA- leading time of 38.98s, the third-fastest time in the world for 2014.

The Abaco native is the second fastest Bahamian sprinter of all time with his 10.16s posted in July (2013) at the CAC Championships in Morelia, Mexico.

He transferred to Texas A and M following a career at South Plains College where he won the sprint double at the 2012 National Junior College Championships.

Hart is projected to be one of the top performers on a stacked Texas A and M squad.

The US Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association ranked the Aggies at No.8 in the preseason national rankings. They have since moved up four spots to No.4 as they prepare for week one rankings to be released on January 26.

Hart entered 2015 ranked third in the 200m, tied at No.14 in the 60m, and is a member of the aforementioned top ranked 4x400m team.

Track and Field News’ first set of dual meet rankings were released this week and the men came in ranked at No.2, behind Arkansas. They look to improve on those numbers this week when the Aggies host the Texas A and M Quadrangular, a meet that features Arizona State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

The Saturday event begins at noon inside Gilliam Indoor and is expected to be completed in less than three hours.