United Athletic Conference

Complete Release (PDF)

 

Sam Houston's Rajer Gurode and NM State's Phetisang Makhethe has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 9 through 13.

 

Gurode, a freshman from Bryan, Texas, finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash at the Howie Ryan Invitational, Friday. She clocked a season best time of 7.52 seconds which puts her second in the WAC performance list according to TFRRS.

 

Makhethe, a freshman from Sasolburg, South Africa, updated her season best pole vault performance when she placed fifth with a mark of 18.06m (59' 3") at the Don Kirby Open & Elite, Friday. Her performance puts her first in the WAC performance list according to TFRRS.

 

Other track nominees: Lamar's Yasmin Austridge finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:10.78 that puts her third in the WAC performance list at the Howie Ryan Invitational, Friday … Seattle U's Tricht Jocelyn finished sixth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.73 seconds at the Husky Classic, Friday.

 

Other field nominees: Lamar's Parl Eelma placed second in high jump with a season best mark of 1.60m (5' 3") at the Howie Ryan Invitational, Friday.

 

Lamar's Declan Neary and Sam Houston's Clayton Fritsch has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 9 through 13.

 

Neary, a senior from York, England, led the Cardinals at the Howie Ryan Invitational, Friday. He won the mile with a time of 4:11.14 and finished fifth in the 800 meters with 1:54.73. His performances rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in the WAC performance lists according to TFRRS. 

 

Fritsch, a senior from Sealy, Texas, won the pole vault event at the Howie Ryan Invitational. He updated his season best with a 5.65m (18' 6.5") mark. His performance kept him first in the WAC and placed him fourth in the NCAA performance lists according to TFRRS.

 

Other track nominees: Seattle U's Isaiah Payne finished eleventh in the 60-meter dash (6.98) at the Husky Classic, Friday. His performance puts him 14th in the WAC performance list.

 

Other field nominees: Lamar's Kenson Tate won the long jump with a 7.23m (23' 8.75") mark that puts him fifth in WAC performance list at the Howie Ryan Invitational.

 

The Western Athletic Conference announced its women's and men's indoor track and field Pre-Championship Coaches Polls, as voted by the 12 women's head coaches and 10 men's head coaches in the league. Stephen F. Austin was selected as the favorite in the women's side while Grand Canyon took the top spot on the men's side.

 

Stephen F. Austin came out as favorites on the women's side after landing seven first-place votes and gathering 114 points. Grand Canyon was picked to finish second with three first-place votes and 106 points. Abilene Christian got one first-place vote in third with 103 points. Sam Houston is picked fourth with the final first-place vote and 95 points. Utah Valley is fifth with 77 points, followed closely by NM State in sixth just two points behind. Lamar was picked to finish seventh and Tarleton to finish eighth respectively tallying 59 and 50 points. UT Rio Grande Valley tallied 47 points in ninth while Seattle U is 10th with 25 points. Chicago State and Dixie state round out the field, respectively.  

 

With five consecutive championships, Grand Canyon was picked as favorites to win their sixth on the men's side. The Lopes garnered six first-place votes and a total of 76 points. Stephen F. Austin is close in second with two first-place votes and 72 points. Sam Houston and Utah Valley shared the third spot as they both receive one first-place vote and 59 points. Abilene Christian is one point off a three-way tie in third with 58 points. Lamar was favored to finish sixth with 39 points followed by Tarleton with 27 points. Seattle U tallied 26 points in eighth with UT Rio Grande Valley following closely with 24 points. Chicago State gathered the remaining 10 points.

 

The 2022 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships will take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M. this Friday and Saturday, February 18 and 19.

 

1. Stephen F. Austin (7) 114

2. Grand Canyon (3) 106

3. Abilene Christian (1) 103

4. Sam Houston (1) 95

5. Utah Valley 77

6. NM State 75

7. Lamar 59

8. Tarleton 50

9. UT Rio Grande Valley 47

10. Seattle U 25

11. Chicago State 24

12. Dixie State 17

 

1. Grand Canyon (6) 76

2. Stephen F. Austin (2) 72

T3. Sam Houston (1) 59

T3. Utah Valley (1) 59

5. Abilene Christian 58

6. Lamar 39

7. Tarleton 27

8. Seattle U 26

9. UT Rio Grande Valley 24

10. Chicago State 10