MACOMB -- Western Illinois University's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Trey Brokaw, announced the 2022-2023 indoor and outdoor track and field schedules.
The indoor season kicks off early this year with two December competitions. The first meet is the John Coughlan Invite on Dec. 3 in Normal, Ill. followed by the Jimmy Grant Invite on Dec. 7 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Fighting Leathernecks make their way to seven regular season indoor meets before the Summit League Championships on Feb. 24-25 in Vermillion, S.D.; followed by the NCAA National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. on March 10-11.
"With dozens of new freshmen in the program, I thought it was important to add some December competitions to the schedule. The more opportunities they get to compete, the better," coach Brokaw said. "I'm most excited for the back half of our indoor schedule which includes trips to Illinois, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. That should give our student-athletes a chance to see some of the best competition in the NCAA."
The Leathernecks won't be shy of competition as they head to some of the most competitive meets in the country this indoor season. In 2022 both the Meyo Invite (Feb. 4-5) in South Bend, Ind. and the Music City Challenge (Feb. 10-11) in Nashville, Tenn. had athletes achieving national qualifying marks across several events.
The outdoor season begins shortly after indoors with the first competition of the year slotted for March 31-April 1 at the Joey Hayes Invite in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The outdoor season has competitions scheduled out until the NCAA Championships on June 7-10 in Eugene, Ore., highlighted by the 113th Annual Drake Relays on April 27-29 in Des Moines, Iowa.
"Drake Relays is the most exciting competition on our outdoor schedule. It's not often that we get to compete in front of 20,000 fans," coach Brokaw said. "Ackeen Colley won the Drake Relays 800 meter race last spring. Those are big shoes to fill but I believe we have some other good candidates on the team who could win an event this year as well."
Championship season kicks with the Summit League Conference May 11-13 in Fargo, N.D. Followed by the NCAA West Regional Meet May 24-27 in Sacramento, Calif. The NCAA DI Championships in Eugene closes out the competition for 2023.
"Everything we do is working towards the Conference Championships, NCAA Regional Championships, and NCAA National Championships. We want to perform our best when it matters most," said Coach Brokaw. "With all the talented newcomers and returners who have developed considerably, I'm excited that our program is in a position to compete much better as a team this year."
