FROM STAFF REPORTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Two weeks ago, the Texas Tech track and field team had a promising postseason in the works. Since then, to go along with the highs, the Red Raiders have had their share of you-must-be-kidding moments.

Friday just added to the woes.

Gil Roberts pulled up with a right quadriceps injury and did not finish his semifinal race, dashing his hopes of winning a national championship in the 400 meters at the NCAA outdoor track and field meet.

“He’s real disappointed. It’s tough on him,’’ Tech coach Wes Kittley said. “He wanted to be the national champion. I don’t think there was any doubt he was the best guy in the field.’’

Roberts finished second at indoor nationals three months ago and was ranked second in outdoor going into this week’s meet. His setback just added to a list of moments of disbelief: Omo Osaghae, ranked second in the 110-meter hurdles, didn’t make the national meet because he was disqualified for a false start at the Midwest Regional.

Then, on day one at the NCAA outdoor, three Tech throwers with top-10 rankings didn’t get out of preliminaries.

“I’ve coached for 28 years, and I can honestly say I’ve not had a national meet like this ever, or seen it like that,’’ Kittley said. “It seemed like things started going wrong, and they’ve just continued to.’’

Going into the final day of the meet, Tech doesn’t have a point. It’s up to senior discus thrower D’Andra Carter and the men’s 1,600-meter relay to change that. Carter throws in the finals at noon, and the relay goes at 1:45 p.m.

Today’s action will be televised from noon to 2 p.m. by CBS (channel 13; Suddenlink Cable channel 7).

Carter finished third last year in discus and qualified third in the prelims on Thursday.

“I think she’s going to be really tough to beat,’’ Kittley said. “There’s some good ones, but I don’t think there’s anybody better than she is. She just needs to go out and have a good day.’’

Roberts, a sophomore from Oklahoma City Millwood, wasn’t immediately ruled out of the 1,600 relay. He was hoping his quadriceps only cramped, but a trainer believes it’s a strain, Kittley said, in which case he won’t run today. He’ll job and be re-evaluated early Saturday.

“He didn’t get 25 meters into the race,’’ Kittley said. “He was coming out of the blocks pushing and driving out. He said he never felt it warming up. He took off, felt something and just kept trying to go, and it kept jumping in there, so he had to stop.’’

With Roberts running anchor leg, Tech’s 1,600-meter relay ran 3 minutes, 2.75 seconds two weeks ago in the NCAA Midwest Regional to rank third in the nation. Without him, in Thursday night’s preliminary round, the group of Brandon Washington, Rodney Mims, Tim Foster and Lamont Adams posted the sixth-best qualifying time and finished second in their heat.

The top nine teams are in the finals, and the top eight finishers earn all-America designation.

“It’ll be the same group. We’ll just have to go with it and do the best we can,’’ Kittley said. “I think they’re capable of being all-American. To say we’re going to win it could be far-fetched, but I do think we can get in the middle or be one of the top eight teams, at least.’’

Roberts is the usual anchor leg for the relay, but he was held out on Thursday night to keep his legs fresh.

Earlier Friday, Tech junior Darrell Roddick missed qualifying for today’s finals of the triple jump. Roddick placed 13th, and the top 12 advance. His best effort was 51 feet, 11 3/4 inches.

Sophomore Gilbert Limo, running in the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase, placed 13th in a time of 9:00.28.