EMPORIA, KS- The West Texas A&M Track and Field Buffaloes had an outstanding performance at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships, in Emporia, Kansas, finishing as the National Runner-up with a record-breaking team score of 64 points. Despite their second-place finish, it was a historic achievement for the Buffs, marking the most team points in WT History for both indoor and outdoor competitions. 
 
This was the fourth year in a row where the Buffs have placed second at the outdoor national meet. There were four national champions and two national runner-up's in six events scored by the Buffs this time around.  
 
They finished just behind Pittsburg State who brought in 78 team points for first. Following the Buffs was Harding with 50 points, Missouri Southern with 42 points and Grand Valley with 41.5 points. The scoring for events is as follows 1^st (10), 2^nd (8), 3^rd (6), 4^th (5), 5^th (4), 6^th (3), 7^th (2), 8^th (1). 
 
FINAL DAY RECAP
Isaac Botsio, a sophomore from Takoradi, Ghana, showcased exceptional talent by clinching two national championships in a single day. He secured victory in both the individual 100m race, where he clocked an impressive 9.98 seconds, and as the anchor leg of the Buffs' 4x100 relay team, which defended their outdoor title with a time of 39.42 seconds, setting a new facility record in the process. His 100m time of 9.98 seconds was the fastest national competition time in WT history with the next closest being Benjamin Azamati in 2021 at 10.02 seconds. 
 
The National Champion Buffs 4x100 relay team is comprised of freshman Jace Lynch, Sophomore Jerry Jakpa, Senior Jeremiah Lauzon and Botsio. They defended their outdoor title where last year the Buffs set the all-time fastest NCAA Division II record at 38.70 seconds. Jakpa and Botsio were the returning veterans of that team from last year to now. 
 
Aziz Mohammed became a first-time national champion in the 1500m where he ran in 3 minutes, 54 seconds. The tactical race took off in the final lap when Mohamed sprinted ahead of Roberto Fajardo of Lee University by .12^th of a second. Mohammed competed in both the indoor and outdoor national championships this year but this is his first time making the podium and becoming a national champion. 
 
William Amponsah adds national runner-up in the men's 5,000m where he ran in 14 minutes, 40 seconds in scorching weather that was in the mid-90s with 60% humidity. His second-place finish is in addition to his already national champion finish from Thursday in the 10,000m.  
 

ATHLETE	EVENT(S)	TIME/MARK	PLACE	CLASS	NOTEABLES
Isaac Botsio	100m 4x100	9.98 39.42	1st 1st	So	-First National 100m outdoor title  -Back-to-back 4x100 national champion  -Fastest WT 100m in national meet  -4th fastest 100m time in WT history -5x national champion
William Amponsah	5,000m 10,000m	14:40.7 29:00.4	2nd 1st	Jr	-First 10,000m national champion for WT  -Best finish in WT history for 5,000m at national meet  -2x national champion
Aziz Mohammed	1500m	3:54.41	1st	So	-First 1500m national champion for WT  -First national champion title
Jerry Jakpa	100m 4x100	10.25 39.42	11th 1st	So	-Back-to-back 4x100 national champion  -Personal best time in 100m -2x national champion
Jeremiah Lauzon	200m 4x100	21.48 39.42	19th 1st	Sr	-2x national champion  -was a part of the 2021 4x100 national champion relay team
Jace Lynch	4x100	39.42	1st	Fr	-First time national champion
Hamdi Ali	High Jump	2.22m	2nd	Jr	-Best finish in WT history at a national meet  -Personal best jump -School record holder for outdoor
Joseph Oreva	Long Jump	7.93m	2nd	Sr	-Second best finish in WT history at a national meet  -Personal best jump
Gerard Bryant	Decathlon	6,363	12th	Sr	-Back-to-back appearances in the national outdoor meet -First time WT has had two decathletes competing at national meet
Romet Vahter	Decathlon	6,211	13th	Fr	-First time WT has had two decathletes competing at national meet
Prince Mcabelo	800m	1:51.38	9th	Jr	-First time competing at the national outdoor meet
Manuel Cuesta	Triple Jump	17th	14.49m	Fr	-First time competing at the national outdoor meet
Luke Holcombe	Shot put	14th	17.09m	Jr	-Second appearance at the national outdoor meet  -Personal best finish at the national meet
Harry Louradour	10,000m	10th	30:08.56	Jr	-Second appearance at the national outdoor meet  -Second best finish at the national meet in 10,000m