Lone Star Conference Indoor Track and Field athletes have recorded two NCAA Division II Automatic qualifying marks (2 men) and 12 provisional efforts (seven men, five women). See the LSC performance list here:
https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/2814.html.
The 2020 LSC Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas on February 21-22.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Arnaud Taki, West Texas A&M, SR, MBA, Lyon, France
Taki had an impressive debut for the Buffs at the Crimson & Gold Invitational on Saturday winning the 600-yard and mile. He opened the competition with a commanding victory in the mile running 4:14.85 to win by close to four seconds and break the meet record. He later returned to the track to break the program record in the 600-yard run running 1:12.83 to defeat Emporia State’s Hayden Goodpaster.
MEN’S FIELD
Dhanushka Sandaruwan, West Texas A&M, SR, Sports and exercise science, Sri Lanka, University of Sir Jayewardenaparo
Sandruwan opened his collegiate career with a victory in the long jump at the Crimson & Gold Invitational on Saturday in Pittsburg, Kan. He needed only two attempts to win the competition with the sixth-best mark in program history, 24-0.75 (7.33m). That is also the third-best mark in the NCAA DII so far this season.
WOMEN’S TRACK
Leah Belfield, West Texas A&M, FR, Sports and exercise science, Te Awamutu, New Zealand, Te Awamutu
Belfield now ranks ninth in the nation in the 60-meter dash following her collegiate debut at the Crimson & Gold Invitational on Saturday in Pittsburg, Kan. The true freshman finished second in the event running 7.60 to pick up the provisional qualifier. She was also part of the 4x400-meter relay that finished second to Oklahoma Baptist running 3:52.59.
WOMEN’S FIELD
Miriam Zanovello, West Texas A&M, FR, Health sciences, Chivasso, Italy, University el Piemonte Orientale
Zanovello finished third in the triple jump at the Crimson & Gold Invitational on Saturday in her first collegiate competition for WT. The Chivasso, Italy native jumped over 11.70 meters three times including her best mark of 38-11.75 (11.88m) on her second attempt to record in a Top 5 finish in her debut and pick up a provisional qualifier.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Men’s Track
D-9 Arnaud Taki, West Texas A&M
Men’s Field
D-9 Dhanushka Sandaruwan, West Texas A&M
Women’s Track
D-9 Leah Belfield, West Texas A&M
Women’s Field
D-9 Miriam Zanovello, West Texas A&M
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Joseph Owens, Oklahoma Christian, proved to be a double threat for the Eagles in the Crimson and Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kan. He finished 19th among 97 runners in the 60 meters, matching his personal-best indoor time of 6.94 seconds. Also a long jumper, Owens placed 13th among 41 competitors in that event with a mark of 21 feet, 11.75 inches (6.70 meters), his best mark ever in an indoor meet.
Jonathan Olsson, Oklahoma Christian, recorded collegiate-best marks in both throwing events in the Crimson and Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kan. He placed 11th among 26 throwers in the shot put with a mark of 44 feet, 9 inches (13.64 meters) and was 19th among 29 competitors in the weight throw at 43 feet, 2.25 inches (13.16 meters).
Rylee Cristan, DBU, won the 3,000 meters at the Crimson & Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kansas, posting a career-best time of 10:32.75. Cristan bested a field of 12 runners in the finals to claim her first career victory.
Lawanda Harvey, Oklahoma Christian, in her first competitive meet since winning the Great American Conference's indoor 60-meter title in February, Harvey posted two strong sprint finishes in the Crimson and Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kan. She finished eighth in a field of 64 runners in the 200 meters with a time of 25.44 seconds, not long after placing 22nd among 63 runners in the 60 meters in 7.97 seconds.