University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
Indoor Season To Begin For Mean Green
1/15/2020 9:00:00 AM | Track & Field/XC
DENTON – North Texas track and field will open the indoor season Friday at the Ted Nelson Invitational hosted by Texas A&M.
The Mean Green will look to build off of a successful 2019 campaign where the team broke seven school records to tie for the most set in one season. Every record-setter returns in 2020 in Brock Hottel (pole vault), Joseph Squire (60-meter hurdles), Alia Holmes (200-meter dash), Jaleisa Shaffer (shot put), Haley Walker (weight throw), Florian Lussy (5,000-meter run), and the relay team of Lauryn McCollum, Artesha Richardson, Lyric Choice and Aneesa Scott (4x400).
"We return a strong throwing contingent this year. Jaleisa Shaffer was just one spot short of the podium in the shot put," director of track and field Carl Sheffield said. "All three of our highest performers in the pole vault return to competition this year. Brock Hottel, Jacob Franks and Cody Bullard should be jumping well by the indoor conference meet. Hurdlers Joseph Squire and Lyric Choice both have a chance to make it to the podium for Conference USA this year."
Following the meet at A&M, the squad travels to Texas Tech Jan. 24 and then heads to the Houston Invitational Jan. 31. North Texas competes at the J.D. Martin Invitational Feb. 8 before the Conference USA Championships Feb. 22-23 in Birmingham, Ala. The indoor season concludes with the NCAA Indoor Championships March 8-9 also held in Birmingham.
"We hope to gain early season confidence from the competitions in January," Sheffield said. "The level of competition should provide a nice buildup to our conference championship in February."
The Mean Green will look to build off of a successful 2019 campaign where the team broke seven school records to tie for the most set in one season. Every record-setter returns in 2020 in Brock Hottel (pole vault), Joseph Squire (60-meter hurdles), Alia Holmes (200-meter dash), Jaleisa Shaffer (shot put), Haley Walker (weight throw), Florian Lussy (5,000-meter run), and the relay team of Lauryn McCollum, Artesha Richardson, Lyric Choice and Aneesa Scott (4x400).
"We return a strong throwing contingent this year. Jaleisa Shaffer was just one spot short of the podium in the shot put," director of track and field Carl Sheffield said. "All three of our highest performers in the pole vault return to competition this year. Brock Hottel, Jacob Franks and Cody Bullard should be jumping well by the indoor conference meet. Hurdlers Joseph Squire and Lyric Choice both have a chance to make it to the podium for Conference USA this year."
Following the meet at A&M, the squad travels to Texas Tech Jan. 24 and then heads to the Houston Invitational Jan. 31. North Texas competes at the J.D. Martin Invitational Feb. 8 before the Conference USA Championships Feb. 22-23 in Birmingham, Ala. The indoor season concludes with the NCAA Indoor Championships March 8-9 also held in Birmingham.
"We hope to gain early season confidence from the competitions in January," Sheffield said. "The level of competition should provide a nice buildup to our conference championship in February."
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field/XC
Hurdles
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Pole Vault
/ Track & Field/XC
Sprints
/ Track & Field/XC
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field/XC
Distance
/ Track & Field/XC
Sprints
/ Track & Field/XC
Sprints
/ Track & Field/XC
Sprints
/ Track & Field/XC
Throws
/ Track & Field/XC
Hurdles
/ Track & Field/XC
Throws
/ Track & Field/XCThursday, May 02
Monday, April 10
Friday, July 08
Friday, July 08