ON YOUR MARK
Day one of the NCAA Track and Field Indoor National Championship saw six Buffs and Lady Buffs qualify for tomorrow's final heats of the 2023 indoor season. The Lady Buffs have compiled 16 team points to hold down third place before going into Saturday's final events. The Buffs will have more opportunities on Saturday to be able to gain points for their team score.
 
WT was able to finish the day strong with three All-American honors earned by the Lady Buffs, Taylor Nelloms and Florance Uwajeneza.
 
Nelloms came away with second place in the high jump by leaping an astounding 1.75m. While simultaneously competing in the high jump, Nelloms was also in the long jump and made the podium with a jump of 5.90m. Florance Uwajeneza will bring back the third-place trophy for the Lady Buffs in the 5,000m run. Uwajeneza had a personal best record time of 16:06.06. She is now ranked fifth all time in the NCAA Division II 5,000m record books.
 
Isaac Botsio will be competing in three events tomorrow after he qualified in the 60m with a time of 6.70 and the 200m with a time of 21.13. Jeremiah Lauzon will also be in the 200m after breaking through his heat with a time of 21.40.
 
Eleonora Curtabbi had a breezy second place qualifying time in the mile running 4:47.42. She will be starting in lane seven at tomorrow's mile finals.
 
Senior Brien Pittman and teammate Corrssia Perry also broke away in their respective heats in the 200m race. Pittman had won a protest after a fan had a blaring horn going during his heat which caused runners to stop mid race and expecting a restart. Perry was able to run through the pack with a qualifying time of 54.41. Both Perry and Pittman will also be competing in the 4X400 for the Buffs and Lady Buffs.

 
WATCH LIVE
*Competition will start Saturday, March 11^that 1:00 p.m. EST for WTAMU
Live stream results will be available through NCAA.com
Mens Indoor Track & Field
Womens Indoor Track & Field
Tickets are available for purchase at the Virginia Beach Sports Complex located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
 
SCORING
Saturday will conclude the NCAA finals for the Indoor season so all events will be the final mark of competition. The Buffs and Lady Buffs that qualified on Friday will be competing at the highest level offered in Indoor Division II Track and Field.
 
WT ENTRIES
West Texas A&M qualified six student-athletes from their respective events held on Friday, March 10^thin addition to the 17 Buffs and Lady Buffs who already have a final spot for Saturday's events.
 
LADY BUFFS
Event
Schedule
(Placement) Athlete Competing

 
Triple Jump (Final)
Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
(2)Taylor Nelloms
(6)Miriam Zanovello
 
Mile
Friday,4:20p.m.
(7)Eleonora Curtabbi
 
400m
Saturday, 4:50p.m.
(4)Corrssia Perry
 
 
3000m (Final)
Saturday, 5:50 p.m.
(7)Florance Uwajeneza
(11)Eleonora Curtabbi
 
4X400 (Final)
Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
(5)Corrssia Perry,Alana Wilson,Leah Belfield,Jordan Brown

 
 
BUFFS
Event
Schedule
(Placement) Athlete Competing
 

60m
Saturday, 4:10 p.m.
(3)Isaac Botsio
 
Shot Put (Final)
Saturday,4:45p.m.
(5)Luke Holcombe
 
400m
Saturday, 5:00 p.m.
(4)Brien Pittman
 
High Jump (Final)
Saturday, 5:05 p.m.
(1)Seniru Amarasinghe
(15)Hamdi Ali
 
800m (Final)
Saturday, 5:20 p.m.
(7)Butare Rugenerwa
 
200m
Saturday, 5:40p.m.
(3)Jeremiah Lauzon
(4)Isaac Botsio
 
4X400 (Final)
Saturday, 6:45 p.m.
(6)Isaac Botsio,Ohdel James,Malick Diop,Brien Pittman
 
 
A LOOK BACK AT THE INDOOR SEASON
West Texas A&M has had a tremendous indoor season with broken records and steady increases in time, distance, throws and jumps. The standout performances for the Buffs comes withIsaac Botsiohaving been named National Track and Field athlete of the week after his performance at the Lone Star Conference Championship where he ran a 6.61 (60m) and a 6.88 (200m). Other notable performances from the Buffs areButare Rugenerwawith a 1:49.58 (800m) finish,Harry Louradourwith a 14:07.05 (5000m) finish,Hamdi Alijumping 2.21m at his highest so far,Joseph Orevajumping 7.74m in distance,Luke Holcombethrowing 17.37m in the shotput, andRay Dixonwith a 19.02m weight throw.
 
The Lady Buffs sawEleonora Curtabbibreak the national record in the 3000m run with a time of 1:08.10. Other outstanding performances includingFlorance Uwajenezawith a 9:14.36 (3,000m) claiming third in the nation with her effort, she also took her second fastest time in the 5000m with 16:22.09 mark.Taylor Nellomsis just shy of being the top jumper in WT history with a mark of 1.76m (high jump). And lastly, the 4x400 crew are right on track to compete strong this weekend withCorrssia Perry,Leah Belfield,Alana WilsonandJordan Brownfinishing first at the Lone Star Conference Championship with a 3:44.24 mark.
 
 
UP NEXT
This weekend will conclude the indoor season for 2023. West Texas will host the first meet of the outdoor season on March 17^th-18^that the WT Spring Break Open in Canyon, Texas.