STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Tarleton track and field teams are back in action this weekend for the final meet of the indoor season, the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at The Podium in Spokane, Wash.
Last season the Texan track and field program capped the WAC Indoor Championship with two medals and 11 sets of All-Conference accolades. The men's team placed seventh out of 10 teams and the women placed eighth out of 11.
This season the WAC coaches picked the Texan men to finish eighth out of 10 and the women to finish ninth out of 12. Grand Canyon was chosen to win the men's side while NM State was chosen to finish atop the women's.
2023 WAC Men's ITF Pre-Championship Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
Grand Canyon |
| 2. |
Utah Valley |
| 3. |
Southern Utah |
| 4. |
Stephen F. Austin |
| 5. |
Abilene Christian |
| 6. |
UT Arlington |
| 7. |
Sam Houston |
| 8. |
Tarleton |
| 9. |
Seattle U |
| 10. |
UTRGV |
2023 WAC Women's ITF Pre-Championship Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
NM State |
| 2. |
Grand Canyon |
| 3. |
Stephen F. Austin |
| 4. |
Sam Houston |
|
Utah Valley |
| 6. |
Southern Utah |
| 7. |
Abilene Christian |
| 8. |
UT Arlington |
| 9. |
Tarleton |
| 10. |
UTRGV |
| 11. |
Seattle U |
| 12. |
Utah Tech |
Men's Conference Leaderboard Entering the Championships
Tarleton looks to improve on last year's showing after an impressive run through the regular season indoor slate.
Justin Raines has the top 60-meter dash time in the WAC this season, running 6.68 at the Jarvis Scott Open. His 60-meter hurdle time of 8.07 from the Texas Tech open is good for fourth-best in the conference. Raines will look to defend his 2022 WAC Indoor 60m championship as well as make a mark in the 60m hurdles.
In the triple jump, Tarleton's
Gabriele Tosti has the best mark with a jump of 15.48m he jumped at the Texas Tech Open. He'll look to defend that in Seattle and earn a conference championship.
Behind Tosti in the triple jump is
Jaden Hall who has a mark of 14.94m from the Jarvis Scott Open which is fourth-best in the conference this season.
Brandon McKissick has the ninth best 400m time in the conference this season, running 48.52 at the Texas Tech Open. McKissick will run the 400 and the 4x400m relay.
The Texan men's 4x400m relay time of 3:12.71 at the Texas Tech Open is the second best in the WAC this season behind Grand Canyon. The relay is made up of
Canyun Staton, McKissick,
Alan Palmer and
Reid Vincent.
Vincent has the third best long jump mark in the WAC, jumping 7.29m at the Crimson and Gold Invitational in December. Vincent will compete in the 60m dash, long jump and 4x400m relay this weekend.
The Texan student-athlete on the men's side that will see himself competing in the most events is
David Mvundura. Mvundura will compete in the 60m dash, 200m dash, 4x400m relay and 4000mDMR.
Women's Conference Leaderboard Entering the Championships
Hanna Dudley holds the sixth best 60m dash time in the WAC, running 7.55 at the Jarvis Scott Open. Dudley will compete in the 60m dash as well as the 200m dash and 4x400m relay.
The Texan women's 4x400m relay had a fifth-best conference finish at the Jarvis Scott Open, running 3:50.16. The team was made up of
Jordan Anglin, Dudley,
Alessa King and
Macie Evans.
Jordan Rae enters the conference meet holding the fifth best women's high jump mark this season, jumping a then school record 1.72m at the Crimson and Gold Invitational. Rae will compete in the high jump, long jump and pentathalon.
Gentrye Munden and
Dora van Doremalen, a Louisville transfer, are right behind her with marks of 1.70m at the Corky Classic and Jarvis Scott Open respectfully.
Freshman
Sage Barmettler has the sixth best pole vault mark, clearing 3.73m at the Texas Tech Open, a school record.
The meet will be streamed on ESPN+ on Friday and Saturday and it can also be followed via live results. Updates can be found at the @TarletonXCTrack Twitter and Instagram.
