ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington track and field teams return to action beginning Friday morning as they compete in the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at The Podium in Spokane, Wash.

"We are ready and excited to perform," said head coach John Sauerhage. "This group is ready to compete against the best the WAC has to offer over these next two days. We are expecting outstanding results from both the men and women."

The men look to capture their second indoor title in the WAC, winning it all back in 2012, while the women look to capture their first indoor title in the WAC and their first one since winning the Southland Championship in 2001. The men's and women's programs have combined to with 18 indoor titles. 

The Mavericks will look for plenty of big-time performances throughout the two-day event as many athletes are scattered across the WAC Performance List.


Joel Bengtsson, Jade Bontke and Lucas Van Klaveren come into their events as the top in the conference.

Bengtsson has broken his own school record in the 60 meter hurdles this season and comes in as the top runner in the event at 7.72. It is good for 23rd in the country.

Bontke is the favorite in the pentathlon with her score of 4038 placing her at 24th in the country. She also currently sits tied for 2nd in the conference in the high jump with a mark of 1.75m.
 
Van Klaveren has the top mark in the heptathlon, scoring 5712 and landing him at 17th in the country. He also sits in 4th in the pole vault for the WAC, with a mark of 5.00m.

Mikeya Washington has the 3rd best time in the 60 meters with a time of 7.46.
 
In the triple jump, Malaiya Jedkins sits in 2nd with a mark of 12.52m.
 
Calen Jones sits in 2nd in the high jump with a mark of 2.14m.
 
Simona Cabella with a mark of 3.88m in the pole vault is 3rd best in the conference.
 
Freshman Faith Shaw has the 3rd best mark in the long jump with a distance of 5.86m.

The action gets rolling at 9 AM on Friday with the start of the pentathlon and a full days' worth of events, including many prelims. It will go into Saturday at 9 AM with finals on tap for the entire day, crowning a team champion in the process.
 
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