LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama track and field teams are set to compete in the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championship set for February 19-20 at the Birmingham CrossPlex, with competition getting underway at 10 a.m.
Fresh off an impressive weekend at the Samford Bulldog Open, the Tigers collected five top-five finishes and shattered four school records. For the men's, Mathis Breton was the headliner, taking first place in the 5000m with a personal-record time of 14:57.65. Gary Mata added to the record-breaking weekend by turning in a time of 4:17.32 in the one mile- a new school record- while Jalen Green turned heads in the sprints, posting an 8.50 time in the 60m hurdles for another school record and a third-place finish.
During the Championships, Dedric Hicks will be a prime contender for the Shot Put event. Hicks currently has the best mark in the GSc in the event with a 16.88m throw at the Samford Open back on January 17. That mark is also an NCAA provisional. Jamar Bankhead is currently fifth in the Shot Put with a mark of 14.67m.
The women's team matched that energy last weekend, as Grace Gosline dominated the 5000m, finishing first with a time of 19:30.46 - the second fastest mark in school history. Bailey Keef rounded out the highlights with a school record long jump of 14'11.5", making it her new personal best as well.
Along with that, J'Da Williams comes into the Championships as the favorite in the 60m sprint. The true freshman broke the School Record and turned in the 19th best time in the NCAA at the UAB Invite with a blazing time of 7.52 seconds two weekends ago.
With record-breaking performances, the Tigers have shown they can compete at every level of the track and are ready to make some noise when they take the floor at the GSC Indoor Championship on February 19-20 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
