JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 26, 2007) - The ETSU men's track and field squad added yet another talented sprinter to its team on Friday as coach Michelle Byrne announced Derek Carey (Nassau, Bahamas) transferred to ETSU.
"We are very thrilled we got Derek to transfer here, because he gives us an immediate shot in the arm and brings us much depth in the sprint events," said Byrne. "He is a very fierce competitor and he is very happy to be here on campus."
Carey spent the 2005-06 season at Middle Tennessee State where he competed in both the indoor and outdoor season for the Blue Raiders. During the indoor season, Carey ran in all seven meets and competed in the 55, 60- and 200-meter events. Carey's best finish was third in the 55-meters with a time of 6.50 at the Middle Tennessee Valentine Invitational, and he posted a season-best mark of 6.43 in the 55-meters at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships. Competing in only six outdoor meets, Carey shined in the 100, 200 and 4x400-meter events. Carey saved his best for last by posting season-bests at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships in the 100- and 200-meter events. In the 100-meters, the flashy sprinter finished with a time of 10.66, and ended the 200-meters with a mark of 21.84.
Before heading to MTSU, Carey went to Kansas City Community College for three years and went to high school at Queens College where he was coached by Tyrone Burrows. Carey was a two-time national champion as a member of the 4x400-meter relay squad, and was the 2002 runner-up in the 100- and 200-meters. In 2003, Carey was apart of the Junior Pan Am gold medal relay team, and was also a 2001 Carifla gold medalist in the 4x100-meter relay.
Carey will make his official Bucs debut this weekend at the Niswonger Invitational. For more information on the ETSU track and field team, please visit. www.ETSUBucs.com.