SPORTING MAVS

Strong Start, Stellar Finish

Track and field teams dominated the 2022-23 indoor season

 

 

After an incredible kickoff to the 2022-23 indoor track and field season at the Arkansas Invitational, UTA athletes carried that momentum throughout the season to deliver an excellent showing at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships.

On day one, Jade Bontke claimed the pentathlon title and had strong showings in the long jump, 800 meter, and high jump. Joel Bengtsson ran the 60-meter hurdle with a time of 7.72 seconds, smashing the meet record and tying the all-time WAC record. The women’s distance medley relay team claimed a gold medal, and the men claimed bronze.

On day two, Bengtsson ran the 60-meter hurdle final, finishing at 7.68 seconds—a personal best that broke the WAC record and ranked him eighth in the nation. Other notables were second-place finishers Alfredo Corona (mile) and Jackson Cichon (800 meter) and third-place finishers Mikeya Washington (60-meter dash), Calen Jones (high jump), and Malaiya Jedkins (triple jump).

After two competitive days, the men finished in fifth place, while the women finished in seventh.

Bengtsson finished his season at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 60-meter hurdle. While his time of 7.70 was just shy of advancing him to the final, it was also the second-fastest time of his career and a great cap to an amazing season.