RESULTS
 
NORMAN, OK – The No. 7 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs track and field team lead on day one of the Lone Star Conference Championship with 84 points. The Lady Buffs registered points across six events and qualified 14 athletes to final events tomorrow at the Mosier Indoor Track and Field Facility at Oklahoma University. 
 
BROKEN RECORD
Florance Uwajeneza broke her own LSC Championship record in the 5,000-meter race running 16:24.18 and earning the Lady Buffs 10 team points. She put up the sixth fastest time tonight in WT history, where she also has the other top-five times in the event. The graduate from St. Paul, Minn. initially broke her LSC record set previously on February 20, 2021, where she then ran 16:42.18. Currently, Uwajeneza sits 3^rd in the nation with her time in the 5,000-meter set earlier this season at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (16:07.37). 
 
Following Uwajeneza were four other teammates who placed in the top-6 of the race. Elise Leveel took second (16:47.70), Betty Bajika in third (17:08.96), Olivia McLain in fifth (17:25.39) and Lexi Maul in sixth (17:26.78). The Lady Buffs distance squad brought in 31 team points in this one event. 
 
WINNING MEDALS
Sophomore Meadow Gallentine led the women's weight throw taking first with her throw of 17.96m (58'11.25). She set herself up for her second best throw in her career and third best in WT history. Hope Gray and Arrianna Allen came in with their personal best throws and a combined nine team points. Gray finished fourth (16.13m) while Allen took fifth (15.97m) and both narrowly missing the podium. 
 
The Lady Buffs distance medley relay team finished second in 11 minutes, 51.6 seconds behind Dallas Baptist. Representing in maroon and white were Sarah Koomson (1200m), Jordan Brown (400m), Kalkidan Vincendeaux (800m) and Eleonora Curtabbi (Mile). 
 
Senior Joey Zimmerman brought in six points in the pole vault in her last indoor competition wearing the maroon and white. Zimmerman cleared 11 feet, 7.75 inches (3.55m) to finish with the bronze. Also bringing in six points and taking home the bronze is Amarillo native Kailee Benton in the long jump at 5.70m. Laiten Greeson and Miriam Zanovello missed the podium but brought in a combine five team points. 
 
FINALISTS
Corrssia Perry took first in the 400-meter to automatically qualifiy for finals tomorrow. Perry also qualified for the 200-meter finals. Teammate and freshman Blessing Akintoye also ran for both events and qualified for both. 
 
Raquel Chavez took first in the 800-meter prelims running 2:16.37 and automatically qualifying for finals tomorrow. Leah Belfield, the reigning 60-meter LSC Champion record keeper, took first in the event with four other Lady Buffs making the finals. Joining Belfield will be Joy Udo-Gabriel (Fr), Deborah Acheampong (Fr), Amari Weatherford (Fr) and DeOndra Green (Jr). Weatherford and Belfield will also compete in the 200-meter finals. 
 
Heptathletes Laiten Greeson and Elliot Harrison stand in fourth and fifth with one last event taking place tomorrow. Greeson and Harrison have an opportunity to gain more points in the pole vault. 
 
TEAM STANDINGS
West Texas A&M – 84 points
Angelo State – 66 points
UT-Tyler – 29 points
TAMU- Kingsville – 17 points
Dallas Baptist – 15 points
Midwestern State – 9 points
Oklahoma Christian – 6 points
Eastern New Mexico – 4 points 
Lubbock Christian – 3 points
Cameron – 1 point 
 
COMING UP 
The Lady Buffs will start competing tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. central with the triple jump followerd by high jump and heptathlon pole vault. There will be eight finals events in the LSC Championships where at least one Lady Buff will be representing in each event. Fans can follow along on twitter @wtamutrackxc or live results HERE.