LUBBOCK, Texas – Arizona Track & Field completed the Big 12 Indoor Championships on Saturday.

The weekend was highlighted by conference titles for senior Tapenisa Havea, junior Tyler Michelini, and freshman Bryson Nielsen. Havea won the women's shot put with a throw of 55-0.75 (16.78m), Michelini won the men's shot put with a throw of 62-10.5 (19.16m), and Nielsen won the men's 1000m with a time of 2:22.07. 

It was an impressive competition for the Wildcats, with the team having three conference champions, 15-point scorers, a school record, and numerous personal bests across the two days of competition, hosted by Texas Tech. Overall, the men's team finished eighth, and the women's team finished eleventh in the team scores.

"Overall, an outstanding effort all weekend long, men and women, there wasn't one effort that wasn't all out. I couldn't be happier with where we are right now as a team," said first-year Track and Field head coach Andrew Dubs. 

BIG 12 SCORERS
MEN
Tyler Michelini - First, Shot Put, 10 Points
Bryson Nielsen - First, 1000m, 10 Points
Mason Lawyer - Second, 60m, 8 Points | Third, 200m, 6 Points
Sam Hala'Ufia - Fourth, Shot Put, 5 Points
Lawi Ngetich - Fourth, Mile, 5 Points
Antone Smith - Fifth, Triple Jump, 4 Points
Michael Ogbeiwi - Sixth, Shot Put, 3 Points
Evans Tanui - Seventh, 5000m, 2 Points

WOMEN
Tapenisa Havea - First, Shot Put, 10 Points
Haedyn Bambolo - Third, Shot Put, 6 Points | Eighth, Weight Throw, 1 Point
Emma Gates - Fifth, High Jump, 4 Points
Paris Mikinski - Sixth, High Jump, 3 Points
Taylen Wise - Sixth, 60m Hurdles, 3 Points

SCHOOL RECORD PERFORMANCES
Mason Lawyer - Men's 60m, 6.49

FIELD HIGHLIGHTS
Tyler Michelini won the men's shot put, receiving the gold medal in the competition with a season-best throw of 62-10.5 (19.16m). This throw came on his third attempt and earned the team 10 points. Sam Hala'Ufia scored in the shot put as well, finishing fourth in the event with a throw of 60-0.25 (18.29m). This throw came on his last attempt and earned the team five points. Michael Ogbeiwi also scored in this event with a personal best throw of 59-2 (18.03m). This personal best throw came on his first attempt and was good enough to put him in sixth place and earn three points for the team. 

Tapenisa Havea won the women's shot put, receiving the gold medal in the competition with a throw of 55-0.75 (16.78m). This throw came on her last attempt and earned the team 10 points. Haedyn Bambolo also scored in this event, placing third with a throw of 52-10.25 (16.11m). This throw came on her third attempt and earned the team six points. Bambolo also competed in the women's weight throw and finished eighth with a personal best throw of 59-8.25 (18.19m), earning the team one point.

The Wildcats finished fifth and sixth overall in the women's high jump, with Emma Gates and Paris Mikinski scoring points. Gates cleared a height of 6-0.5 (1.84m) and placed fifth, earning the team four points. Mikinski cleared a height of 5-11.25 (1.81m) and placed sixth, earning the team three points.

Antone Smith scored points for the team in the men's triple jump, placing sixth with a jump of 52-3.25 (15.93m). This jump came on his first attempt and earned the team three points. 

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Freshman Bryson Nielsen won the men's 1000m, receiving the gold medal in the competition with a time of 2:22.07. He earned 10 points for the team and his first conference championship.

Mason Lawyer broke the school record in the first round of the men's 60m with a personal best time of 6.49. In the finals of the event, he finished second with a time of 6.57, earning eight points for the team. Lawyer also competed in the men's 200m and finished third with a personal best time of 20.58, earning six points for the team. Overall, Lawyer earned a team-high 14 points between the two events. 

Lawi Ngetich finished fourth in the final of the men's mile with a time of 4:06.17, earning the team five points.

In the first round of the women's 60m hurdles, Taylen Wise finished fourth with a personal best time of 8.21, qualifying her for the finals. In the finals of the event, Wise finished sixth with a time of 8.35, earning the team three points.

Evans Tanui finished seventh in the men's 5000m with a time of 13:55.44, earning the team two points.

TEAM SCORES
MEN
1. Texas Tech - 125
2. Kansas State - 124
3. Iowa State - 64
4. Oklahoma State - 59
5. BYU - 57
5. Houston - 57
5. Kansas - 57
8. Arizona - 52
9. Arizona State - 37
10. Cincinnati - 35
11. Baylor - 25
12. Colorado - 24
13. TCU - 22
 
WOMEN
1. Texas Tech - 114.5
2. BYU - 110
3. Oklahoma State - 97
4. Kansas State - 78.5
5. Iowa State - 73
5. TCU - 41
7. Baylor - 33
7. Kansas - 33
9. Utah - 30
10. Cincinnati - 28
11. Arizona - 27
12. Houston - 22
13. Colorado - 18
13. West Virginia - 18
15. UCF - 14
16. Arizona State - 4

UP NEXT
Individual Wildcats ranked in the top 16 nationally will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, AR., on March 13-14.
 
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