(WARRENSBURG, MO.) – Central Missouri’s track team will be in action for the first time in the 2014-15 season Friday, Jan. 23 at the UCM Invitational at the Multipurpose Building.
The Mules and Jennies will square off against five other MIAA opponents: Emporia State, Lindenwood, Missouri Southern, 2014 MIAA Indoor Champions Pittsburg State and Southwest Baptist. Also competing will be non-conference opponent, Missouri S&T.
A handful of UCM athletes have competed before the New Year including junior Cole Phillips and senior Tyler Chancellor who automatically qualified for the Division II Indoor National Championships in the pole vault and heptathlon, respectively.
Both the Mules and Jennies return athletes who have competed on the national level. The Jennies boast 2014 outdoor hammer throw champion Heavin Warner. Warner also finished fourth at the indoor championships in the weight throw in 2014. In addition to Warner, All-American’s Nikki Douglas, Madison Smith, Zoe Sharplin, and Brooke Swearingin return to the 2014-15 team.
On the men’s side, 2014 NCAA qualifiers Hassan Ilyas, Kellin Loch, Daniel McCarty, Cole Phillips, Blake Seitz and Chris Swearingin all return for UCM. Seitz was named an All-American last year, after finishing seventh in the indoor heptathlon.
The meet will kick off at 2 p.m. with the field events. The first track events are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.