Track & Field 4/6/2023 2:45:00 PM Chris Brannick

KT Woodman Classic Up Next For Bronchos

WICHITA, Kan. – Central Oklahoma returns to action this weekend and will compete in the two-day KT Woodman Classic at Wichita State Friday and Saturday.

Central Oklahoma has three distance runners opening the weekend on Friday evening before the rest of the crew competes on Saturday.

Gracie Sanders, Noel Buckhaults and Kylee Smith will all compete in the 5,000-meter race Friday just before 9 p.m. at Wichita State's Cessna Stadium.

Sanders, a freshman from Moore, ran in the 5,000 at the OBU Invite last month and finished in 13th place (18:32.56). Buckhaults is running the 5,000 for the first time this season. The last time the junior did was in this event last year when she ran for Hutchinson (Kan.). Smith, also a freshman, is also racing in the 5,000 for the first time.

On Saturday, Dekayla Gaines joins the mix and will run in both the 100- and 200-meter dash. The sophomore from Edmond has run in both events in both of UCO's first two Outdoor meets this season. Gaines posted 26.2 and 26.1 in each of her 200-meter races and 12.6 and 12.4 in her two 100-meter races last month.

UCO's pole vault crew of senior Luz Lugo-Ponce, and freshmen Tayln Been, Jolie Oliver and Mattison Thetford will all compete on Saturday. Been has the best mark of the season for the Bronchos (3.20 meters) at the OBU Invite last month. All four vaulters cleared season highs at that meet – Thetford, 3.05m; Ponce, 2.85m; and Oliver, 2.65m.

UCO throwers Tatum Robertson and Dahsauni Lyday will also be in competition on Saturday. Robertson will take on the field in the hammer throw while Lyday competes in the shot put and the discus.

Robertson earned a Top 10 two weeks ago with a 42.29-meter throw in the hammer. Lyday has the top marks for UCO in both of her events with a 13.45-meter mark in the shot put and 40.62m in the discus.

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to compete each weekend this month. The Bronchos will head to Wichita this weekend before taking on OU's Sooner Invitational in Norman next weekend. UCO also goes to Langston and Southwestern (Kan.) later this month.

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Players Mentioned

Luz Lugo-Ponce: Pole Vault; 5' 2"; Senior

Dahsauni Lyday: Throws; 5' 4"; Junior

Tatum Robertson: Throws; 5' 10"; Junior

Noel Buckhaults: Distance; Junior

Dekayla Gaines: Sprints; Sophomore

Jolie Oliver: Pole Vault; Freshman

Gracie Sanders: Distance; Freshman

Kylee Smith: Distance; Freshman

Mattison Thetford: Pole Vault; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Luz Lugo-Ponce
: 5' 2"; Senior
: Pole Vault

Dahsauni Lyday
: 5' 4"; Junior
: Throws

Tatum Robertson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: Throws

Noel Buckhaults
: Junior
: Distance

Dekayla Gaines
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Jolie Oliver
: Freshman
: Pole Vault

Gracie Sanders
: Freshman
: Distance

Kylee Smith
: Freshman
: Distance

Mattison Thetford
: Freshman
: Pole Vault