ARLINGTON, Texas – Six UTA track and field student-athletes will begin competition this week at the NCAA West Regional in Fayetteville, Ark., as they look to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
UTA will be compete in six events with four men's competitors –
Lucas Cano,
Jayden Haynes,
Abisayo Gbakinro and
Alex Kalmar. On the women's side, UTA will be represented by
Alexis Cain and
Arieanna Mcpeak. Four of six UTA student-athletes are freshmen, highlighting the bright future of the program.
The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to NCAA Championships.
All four days of the meet will be streamed on ESPN+ with live results available.
Wednesday's competition features all men's events. Cano will start off competition for the Mavericks at 1:45 p.m. CT in the men's shot put. Haynes will compete in the men's 400 meters at 2:25 p.m., while Kalmar is set to race in the men's 800 meters at 2:50 p.m.
Kalmar enters the regional ranked 37th nationally in the men's 800 meters with a personal-best of 1:46.55, set at the SMU Invite.
Thursday's schedule includes all women's events. Cain will run in the women's 400 meters at 7:25 p.m., while Mcpeak will participate in the women's long jump at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, Gbakinro will compete in the men's triple jump at 6 p.m.
Haynes, Kalmar and Cain will each have the opportunity to advance to NCAA quarterfinals in their respective first round events. The men's 400-meter quarterfinal is scheduled for Friday at 6:50 p.m., followed by the men's 800-meter quarterfinals at 7:05 p.m. The women's 400-meter quarterfinal is set for Saturday at 6:50 p.m.
-- #BuckEm –
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