QUIET AT THE START: UC Davis indoor track kicks off this week with the first of four scheduled meets, opening the weekend at the UW Invitational at the University of Washington.
NEXT UP…
WHEN: Friday-Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2020
WHERE: Dempsey Indoor in Seattle, Wash.
WHAT: UW Invitational
HEAT SHEETS: https://gohuskies.com/documents/2020/1/29/final_heat_sheets_to_post.pdf
MEET SCHEDULE: https://gohuskies.com/documents/2020/1/29/2020_UW_Invitational_Schedule_FINAL.pdf
LIVE RESULTS: https://live.pntfo.com/meets/4313
LIVE VIDEO: RunnerSpace+ - https://uwinvite.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=8&do=videos&video_id=292977
FOLLOW THE AGGIES: Fans of the UC Davis men's and women's track program can follow the team behind the scenes on its social media accounts. Like or follow on Twitter and Facebook @ucdavisxctf, and on Instagram at @ucdavistf. For an inside look at the distance squads, follow @ucdavisxc on Instagram.
ABOUT THE FIELD: UC Davis women's indoor will be up against stiff competition, as the UW Invite features world-class athletes in top collegiate programs from the West Region and professional running clubs. From the NCAA, host UW is joined by BYU, UCLA, and UNLV, who are all in the nation's top-50 rankings after week one. Powerhouse names from the club scene include Shelby Houilihan, Karissa Schweizer, Kate Grace, Colleen Quigley, Vanessa Fraser, Courtney Frerichs, and Gwen Jorgensen from the Bowerman TC, Sabrina Southerland of Nike's Oregon Track Club Elite, and members of Adidas, Nike, Oiselle, and other west coast clubs. Also running in the 800m will be UC Davis alum Rocki Lambdin for The Mission Athletics Club.
TWO-STOP SHOP: This year's indoor track schedule features four meets in two states, with three on the docket hosted by the University of Washington. The Aggies open the year at the UW Invite, continuing on to the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in New Mexico, and then returning to Seattle for the Husky Classic and the MPSF Championships with the goal of qualifying on to the NCAA Indoor Championships — back in Albuquerque.
RECORD WATCH: Several current Aggies are already in the top-five all-time indoor lists at UC Davis, and are looking to improve their standings: Kierra Davis (60m, 200m, 60mH), Kirsten Carter (200m), Mikaela Adolphus (200m, 400m), Anaya Ward (800m), Sarah Anderson (5000m), Xjaedah Williams (60mH), Sydney Holmes (pent).
THE "KI" TO SUCCESS: Senior Kierra Davis has her name in the UC Davis indoor record book three times, sitting tied for third in the 60m (7.58), third in the 200m (24.43), and third in the 60m hurdles (8.80), and is looking to cap off a stellar career as an Aggie.
HELLO, MY NAME IS: Newly-minted head coach Ngoni Makusha introduces himself as the Aggies' leader heading into the 2020 season after an assistant coaching stint at Drake. The 2008 Olympian and The Bowerman award-winner is joined by new assistant coach Atanas Atanasov, who spent five years at UW as a volunteer assistant overseeing Jeremy Taiwo's legendary multis career. After a year as a volunteer assistant with the UC Davis cross country team, 2013 UC Davis alum Drew Petersen joins the Aggie staff as the director of operations/assistant coach for distances.
FRESHMEN PHENOMS: In a showing of talented youth, UC Davis entered four freshmen into this weekend's UW Invite, set to compete amongst Olympians. Alexys Ford is entered in the 400m dash, Chloe Arriaga qualified for the 1 Mile, 3000m, and 5000m, joined by Sierra Atkins in the 1 Mile, and Emma Hicken locking down the 3000m, and 5000m distances.
HEAVY LIFTING: Sophomore Marlene Gutierrez is slated to be the only thrower in competition for the Aggies this weekend. Gutierrez led all UC Davis throwers in the shot put last indoor season, with a debut throw of 12.37m/40-07.00, and will look to open in the weight throw after a successful outdoor hammer throw season.
UC DAVIS ACCEPTED ENTRIES
60m Dash Prelims: Kathleen Bufka
200m Dash: Kirsten Carter, Kierra Davis, Chelsea Daye, Flora Oliveira, Xjaedah Williams
400m Dash: Mikaela Adolphus, Alexys Ford, Flora Oliveira
800m Run: Anaya Ward
1 Mile Run: Chloe Arriaga, Sierra Atkins, Anaya Ward
3000m Run: Sarah Anderson, Chloe Arriaga, Eva Goodisson, Emma Hicken, Mandy Wainfan
5000m Run: Sarah Anderson, Chloe Arriaga, Eva Goodisson, Emma Hicken
60m Hurdles Prelims: Xjaedah Williams
4x400m Relay
Distance Medley
Long Jump: Kathleen Bufka, Sydney Holmes
Triple Jump: Sydney Holmes, Samantha Louie
Shot Put: Marlene Gutierrez
Weight Throw: Marlene Gutierrez
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 athletics programs.
Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year.
All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs.
To learn more about projects the Marya Welch Initiative is currently funding, like the Marya Welch Initiative on Facebook. Join this groundbreaking program by clicking here, contacting Assistant AD for Leadership Giving and Alumni Engagement Liz Martin at (530) 752-7326 or emartin@ucdavis.edu.
AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
