UW to host MWC track championships

For the first time in 41 years, the University of Wyoming track and field team will host a conference championship, with the Mountain West Conference Championships Wednesday through Saturday at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Somplex.

The last time UW hosted a conference championship was in 1968 and the Cowboys and Cowgirls were in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $4 for children, with an All-Championship pass available for $15 for Friday and Saturday, while the first two days of competition will be the women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon and will be free to the public. Action on Wednesday and Thursday begin at noon, while field events on Friday kick off at 11 a.m. The final day of action will conclude on Saturday with field events and track races starting at noon, awards ceremonies will begin at 4 p.m.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to host this great tournament and compete in front of our home crowd,” said head Wyoming coach Don Yentes. “We have hosted meets here before and they have run extremely well, and this one will be no exception. This university has not hosted any type of championship since the MWC started ten years ago and it will be a great opportunity to show off what a great town and community this is.”

The Cowboys enter the championships with seven regional qualifiers, while the Cowgirls have qualified four individuals. The ‘Pokes have five individuals who are currently in the top three in the conference in their respective events. All four Cowgirls are ranked in the top six in the conference.

Leading the way for the Cowboys are senior Jake Shanklin, in the hammer throw; sophomore Jeremiah James, in the long jump and triple jump and sophomore Eliud Chirchir, in the 800-meter run. Shanklin is leading the conference and is currently ranked ninth in the nation in the hammer throw as he still searches for his first conference championship in the hammer throw. He owns three during the indoor season in the 35-pound weight throw. James is the returning outdoor long jump champion and leads the conference while he enters the championships as the second-best triple jumper. Chirchir owns the third-best time in the MWC in the 800-meter run while being ranked 34th in the nation.

Rounding out the regional qualifiers for the ‘Pokes are Mark Korir, in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase; Philemon Kimutai, in the 1,500-meter run; Sam Lambert, in the hammer throw and Joe Plante, in the discus throw.

As for the Cowgirls, senior Sharon Larrier and sophomore Afiya Walker, both in the 400-meter dash; junior Emily Higgins, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 1,500-meter run, and junior Johnna Jeffries, in the high jump, lead the team. Larrier and Walker make a nice one-two punch in the 400-meter dash as their times are fourth and sixth respectively in the conference. Higgins ranks second in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase and fourth in the 1,500-meter run, while Jeffries ranks second in the conference in the high jump.

“We are not a very deep team, however, our top athletes are as good as anyone in the conference,” said Yentes. “We just need them to come out and do what they do and take care of their business and hope that some follow along in their footsteps.”

The Cowboys and Cowgirls will be competing against not only the best in the conference, but some of the best in the nation. On the men’s side, Lee Emanual from New Mexico, won the national championship in the indoor 1-mile run this past indoor season and is ranked second in the nation in the 1,500-meter run. Kyle Perry, from BYU, is ranked third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and eighth in the 5,000-meter run. Sprinters from TCU own the eighth-best 4X400-meter relay team in the nation.

On the women’s track, Lacey Cramer of BYU is ranked second in the nation in the 800-meter run, while her teammate, Katie Palmer, is ranked fourth. TCU’s 4X400-meter relay team is ranked third in the nation with one of the most dynamic sprinters in the conference, Jessica Young. She is ranked sixth in the nation in the 100-meter dash, 10th in the 200-meter dash, and 11th in the 400-meter dash, leading the conference in all three. On the field, the University of New Mexico has the fourth-best javelin thrower in the nation in Katie Coronado.

“There will be more All-Americans or future All-Americans competing in one place than ever before,” said Yentes. “There are a great group of track athletes competing, every event will be very tough and competitive.”

Along with the festivities of the week, the University of Wyoming track teams will be hosting an alumni meet and greet Friday at 6:30 in the Roach Room. There will also be a barbecue immediately following the last event on Saturday at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex, tickets are available at www.wyomingathletics.com. The alumni package will provide a t-shirt as well as an All-Championships pass.