Track & Field WAC Outdoor Championships

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) track & field program begins its run at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Outdoor Championships Thursday, and the Vaqueros are excited to show what they’ve got.

UTRGV’s women’s team was predicted to finish fourth in the WAC pre-championship coaches’ poll, showing the respect the group earned after an outstanding run at the indoor championships. They’re looking to build on that and have another strong meet this weekend at Utah Valley’s Hal Wing Track & Field Stadium.

Action begins for the Vaqueros at 11 a.m. Thursday with field events. Thursday’s track events kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday’s action starts at 1 p.m. with field events and track follows at 4:15 p.m. The meet wraps up Saturday with field events starting 10 a.m. and track finals beginning at 2:30 p.m.

“Sometimes you get on these big stages and you forget all the hours and hours of preparation. The fact that they were selected for our travel squad should give them all the confidence in the world and let them know they’re ready. Let’s just keep doing what got us here and they’ll be okay,” head coach Shareese Hicks said.

“Having our women’s team picked fourth is huge for confidence. I’m so proud of this team and everything they’ve accomplished so far,” she continued. “We have a tendency to outperform whatever everyone is expecting, so if they’re expecting us to finish fourth, you know we’re expecting even more from ourselves. We’re very proud but they understand the job is not done and we have a lot of work to do.”

Going into the meet, three student-athletes sit in the No. 1 spot in their respective individual events: junior Zoë Adams in the women’s 400-meter dash, sophomore Symoria Adkins in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, and sophomore Jedidiah Udunna in the men’s long jump. Additionally, the women’s 4×100-meter relay team of Nayla Harris, Adams, Yaria Akers and Adkins hold the top time in the conference.

Over the past two weeks, the Vaqueros have focused on execution during practices while taking a couple of weekends off from meets. They attended some highly competitive meets during the season and they’ll take lessons from those to help them this weekend.

The weather in Orem is different from the past few weeks in the Rio Grande Valley, with temperatures topping out around 60 degrees at the facility, but the Vaqueros won’t be fazed. They’re looking forward to competing and they’re ready to leave it all on the line.

“Being an outdoor sport means everyone is going through the same conditions. They understand that it’s a little bit chilly, but it’s chilly in everybody’s lane, everybody’s ring and everybody’s jump pit,” Hicks said. “They know it’s going to take heart, and our team is full of heart, so I’m excited for them to show just how much heart they have and how great of competitors they all are.”

UTRGV Schedule
Thursday
Women’s hammer throw, 11 a.m.
Women’s javelin, 5 p.m.
Women’s 200-meter dash prelim, 6 p.m.
Men’s 200-meter dash prelim, 6:15 p.m.
Women’s 400-meter hurdles prelim, 6:30 p.m.
Men’s 400-meter hurdles prelim, 6:45 p.m.
Women’s 10,000-meter final, 7 p.m. 

Friday 
Men’s long jump, 1 p.m.
Women’s shot put, 3:30 p.m.
Women’s long jump, 4 p.m.
Men’s shot put, 6 p.m.
Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final, 4:15 p.m.
Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final, 4:30 p.m.
Women’s 100-meter hurdles prelim, 5:30 p.m.
Men’s 110-meter hurdles prelim, 5:45 p.m.
Women’s 800-meter prelim, 6 p.m.
Men’s 800-meter prelim, 6:15 p.m.
Women’s 400-meter prelim, 6:30 p.m.
Men’s 400-meter prelim, 6:45 p.m.
Women’s 100-meter dash prelim, 7 p.m.
Men’s 100-meter dash prelim, 7:15 p.m. 

Saturday 
Women’s discus, 10 a.m.
Men’s triple jump, 12 p.m.
Women’s triple jump, 3 p.m.
Men’s javelin, 4 p.m.
Women’s 4×100-meter relay, 2:30 p.m.
Men’s 4×100-meter relay, 2:40 p.m.
Women’s 100-meter hurdles final, 3:15 p.m.
Men’s 110-meter hurdles final, 3:30 p.m.
Women’s 400-meter dash final, 3:35 p.m.
Men’s 400-meter dash final, 3:50 p.m.
Women’s 100-meter dash final, 4 p.m.
Men’s 100-meter dash final, 4:05 p.m.
Women’s 800-meter final, 4:15 p.m.
Men’s 800-meter final, 4:20 p.m.
Women’s 400-meter hurdles final, 4:35 p.m.
Men’s 400-meter hurdles final, 4:40 p.m.
Women’s 200-meter final, 4:55 p.m.
Men’s 200-meter final, 5 p.m.
Women’s 5,000-meter final, 5:10 p.m.
Men’s 5,000-meter final, 5:30 p.m.
Women’s 4×400-meter relay, 5:50 p.m.
Men’s 4×400-meter relay, 6 p.m.