Texas' Randall Wins Big 12 Discus Title

Friday, May 11th 2007, 6:05 pm

By: News On 6

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Texas discus thrower Derek Randall had the three best throws of the day including one of 58.94 meters to win the first event of the Big 12 Conference Track and Field Championships on Friday.

"I told the guys I wanted to start it out right," Randall said. "Now I'm done for the weekend ... Hopefully, I'll get another ring to go with last year's."

Texas won the conference title last year.

Randall said he thought his first throw of the day was his best effort, even though it sailed out of bounds. His second throw was 54.03 meters, easily qualifying him for the finals.

"If I didn't get that second throw out there, I would have probably blown the competition," Randall said.

His third throw of 57.07 meters would have been good enough to win the event had Randall not thrown in the finals.

Randall's mother, Donna Randall, drove 17 hours with her husband Dan from their Beeville, Texas home to watch their son compete.

"He was home a week ago and asked what I wanted for Mother's Day," she said. "I said, 'You know what I want.' He went, 'Alright. I've just got to get a card and have a good throw.' "

Other events in the competition were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.