Track & Field Begins Season Saturday

Saturday, January 12

Manhattan, KS

University of North Texas

Kansas State Invite

1/11/2019 2:39:00 PM | Track & Field/XC

live results Start Lists

DENTON – The 2019 North Texas track and field indoor season is set to begin Jan. 12 at the Kansas State Invite where the Mean Green will compete against the host Wildcats, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and UMKC inside Ahearn Fieldhouse.

The teams will compete in a double dual-scored meet against where each squad will compete individually against each team for points with field events beginning at 9:30 a.m. and running events set to start at 2 p.m.

"We consider this meet as our preseason opener," Director of Track and Field Carl Sheffield said. "We get to evaluate the results of our fall training and prepare for the championship portion of our season in February."

The Mean Green men and women will each feature young squads, as only a pair of seniors will compete Saturday in the opening meet. "We are continually building the depth of our young squad. This year's team has gained experience from competing as freshmen and sophomores last year," Sheffield said.

Eleven UNT freshmen make up the 24-person squad set to participate at the invite for the men, along with six sophomores and five juniors. Returners from last season looking to improve on their marks Saturday include: Alex Cleveland (mile), Abdon Campbell (60m, 4x400), James Cole (60m, 4x400), Jacob Franks (pole vault), Dayton Johnson (60m, 200m), Tim Jones (800m, mile), Jacob Kevetter (60H, 60m), Matthew Morgan (3,000m), Darien Porter (60m, 300m), Karl Sralla (weight throw, shot put), and Jacob VanPatten (pole vault).

Competing indoor for the first time as Mean Green will be: Caleb Bouchard (3,000m), Andrew Cobos (600y, mile), Antonio Delacruz (60m, 300m), Alec Esposito (mile), Brock Hottel (pole vault), Isaac Huseman (weight throw, shot put), Jaelon Jackson (60m, 200m), Davonye Jones (60m, 300m), Yannick Kalidas (triple jump, 300m), Kendal Maples (weight throw, shot put), Ziphion Reevey (200m, 4x400), Chris Samaniego (weight throw, shot put), and Joseph Squire (60H, 60m, 4x400).

Twenty-one Mean Green women will make the trip to Manhattan, a group that includes four freshmen, 11 sophomores, and four juniors. Competing indoor returners are: Cassidy Adams (1,000m, mile), Kristyn Archuleta (weight throw), Taylor Blackshire (60m), Valencia Bullock (triple jump, long jump), Lyric Choice (60H, 60m), Breanna Eckels (long jump, 60m), Darrian Johnson (1000m, 4x400), Lauryn McCollum (200m, 4x400), Artesha Richardson (200m, 4x400), Jaleisa Shaffer (weight throw, shot put), Ashlynn Smart (weight throw), Haley Walker (weight throw, shot put), Jennifer White (3,000m), and Bria Williams (60m, 4x400).

Beginning their indoor career for UNT includes: Cecily Edwards (60m), Alia Holmes (60m, 200m), Denver Mims (200m, long jump), Mary Piercy (pole vault), Sydney Salinas (pole vault), Aubrey Schmidt (mile), and Tatum Shelton (3,000m).

"We added Alia Holmes (a transfer from Ole Miss) who should bolster our women's sprint squad. We improved our field events adding Brock Hottel who will be entered in the pole vault. With a bevy of freshmen throwers we will look for experience and improvements over the indoor season," Sheffield said.