ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. & FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. & FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Wildcats had a busy weekend as the team had nine different athletes compete in three total meets over the weekend: the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, and the NAU Tune Up in Flagstaff. The meets at Arkansas and NAU finished on Friday, with the USATF Indoor Championships being a two-day competition on Friday and Saturday.

It was the last opportunity of the year to increase season best marks before the NCAA Indoor Championships in a couple of weeks. The team saw success with multiple season bests and first-place finishes. At the NAU Tune Up in specific, the team captured three first-place victories from Emma Gates, Tapenisa Havea, and Youssef Koudssi. Additionally, Jenica Bosko, Zach Landa, and Sir Jonathan Sims also gained valuable championship experience competing at the USATF Indoor Championships.

"The most important thing this weekend was to give our student-athletes the best opportunity to make the postseason indoor championships," said Head Coach Fred Harvey. "We competed at the highest levels in Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Fayetteville, but unfortunately, we are still subject to seeing how the conference meets work out next week to know what Wildcats will make the NCAA cut."

TOP-THREE FINISHES
Emma Gates – First, Women's High Jump, NAU Tune Up
Tapenisa Havea – First, Women's Shot Put, NAU Tune Up
Youssef Koudssi – First, Men's Shot Put, NAU Tune Up
Tyler Michelini – Second, Men's Shot Put, NAU Tune Up
Diana Ramos – Second, Women's High Jump, NAU Tune Up

NAU TUNE UP
The Wildcats dominated the women's high jump at the NAU Tune Up, finishing first and second in the event. Emma Gates got her first win of the year with a season best clearance of 5-10.75 (1.80m). Senior Diana Ramos finished runner-up with a height of 5-8.75 (1.75m).

Tapenisa Havea won the women's shot put, posting a mark of 52-4.75 (15.97m). This came after her second-place finish and personal best mark last week at Texas Tech. It was also her second win of the season, coincidentally with both victories coming in Flagstaff.

The Wildcats finished one and two in the men's shot put, with Youssef Koudssi winning the event and Tyler Michelini placing second. Koudssi had a season best throw of 59-6.75 (18.15m) and Michelini had a mark of 59-2 (18.03m). With Koudssi's victory, three different Wildcats have now won a men's shot put event this season: Koudssi, Michelini, and Zach Landa, who competed in the event at the USATF Indoor Championships.

ARKANSAS QUALIFIER
Trayvion White-Austin was the only Wildcat to compete at the Arkansas Qualifier and was unfortunately disqualified in the men's 200m for 2+ steps over his lane line. 

USATF INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
On Friday, Sir Jonathan Sims placed fourth overall at the USATF Indoor Championships in the men's triple jump, posting a leap of 50-6.25 (15.40m). In the women's long jump, Jenica Bosko leaped 20-4.25 (6.20m) and placed 10th overall.

On Saturday, Zach Landa placed 10th overall in the men's shot put with a throw of 61-1.5 (18.63m). Former Wildcat Jordan Geist placed third overall in the event with a heave of 67-3.25 (20.50m).

Former Wildcat Talie Bonds placed sixth overall in the women's 60m hurdles at the USATF championship event. In the prelims, she clocked a personal best time of 7.95.

UP NEXT
The last competition of the indoor season is the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 8-9 in Boston, Mass. The Wildcats will anxiously await weekend results to see if any of their individual competitors fall within the top 16 in an event to qualify for the championship meet.

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