Track & Field Set To Open Outdoor Season At Tulsa Duels

3/20/2014 12:49:00 PM | Track and Field

By: UMKC Athletics

(Kansas City, Mo.) – The Kansas City track & field team will open up its 2014 season when it makes its annual trip to Oklahoma for the Tulsa Duels. The 'Roos will compete on Mar. 21-22 at Hurricane Stadium.

Venue
Hurricane Stadium features a 75' X 120' soccer field and an eight-lane 400-meter synthetic surface running track. The stadium includes locker rooms, a training room, concession stand and storage area, a press box and seating for 2,000 spectators.
    The stadium provides the University's soccer and track teams with a permanent track and natural grass field on campus, and allows the track teams to incorporate the hammer throw, discus, javelin and shot put into its field events.
    The $4.5 million facility has generated excitement for the teams as well as enhance student-athlete recruitment opportunities. The facility further demonstrates The University of Tulsa's commitment to providing its Division I NCAA teams top notch athletic facilities.
    On the track and field side, the stadium served as the host facility for the 2005 Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships and the 2009 Conference USA Track and Field Championships.

2013 Tulsa Duels
Briana Carter, D.C. Okonta and Cosmas Ayabei all claimed individual titles at the Tulsa Duels, while the women finished second with 30 points and the men finished fifth with 14 points on Saturday afternoon in Tulsa, Okla., at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.
Carter claimed her title in the Triple Jump with a mark of 11.71 meters, while Okonta won the Triple Jump as well, with a mark of 15.24 meters, one one hundreds off his personal best. Ayabei, meanwhile, won the 3,000 meter run in a time of 8:56.04.

Top Marks Return
The 'Roos return a trio of individuals who hold UMKC records, including Max Carroll (Javelin), Courtney Frerichs (3K SC) and Shanelle Williams (100m Hurdles). Brady Adams (200m), Blake Hocking (SP), Taylor Wardell (1,500m), Michelle Momo (200m), Kelsey Benoit (SP) and Angel Gannon (800m), meanwhile, all sit second.

Frerichs Looks To Repeat
Last season, junior Courtney Frerichs advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 3,000 meter Steeple Chase where she finished sixth and earned all-american honors. The Nixa, Mo., native, claimed the Summit League titles in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and the 5,000 meter run, returns for her second go round in the outdoor season this year.

Last Season
In 2013, UMKC posted four champions at the Summit League Champions with D.C. Okonta (TJ), Courtney Frerichs (5K, 3K SC) and Rich McCoy (LJ), while Kimoya Harriott, McCoy, Michelle Momo, Frerichs, Okonta and Stephany Johnson all advanced to the NCAA West Regionals
Frerichs, meanwhile, was named Summit League Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, after finishing 6th in the NCAA with a school record in the 3,000 meter steeple chase.

Joining The Hall
A pair of former 'Roos track & field athletes were inducted into the UMKC Hall of Fame in Doug Fredrick and DeDe Steele. Fredrick was a five-time Mid-Continent Conference champion in three different events, including three times as 400-meter hurdles. Fredrick still ranks second in the pentathlon with 3,549 points.
Steele was an NCAA National Qualifier in the weight throw indoors in both 1998 and 1999, as well as a national qualifier in the hammer throw outdoors in 1998… In the weight throw, she won the Mid-Con Conference title in both 1998 and 1999, while winning the crown in the hammer in 1999… Her long hammer throw of 175-11 still ranks second in school history, while her weight throw of 58-4.50 is third and shot put of 40-11.50 is fifth at UMKC.

Head Coach McField
Shameika McField was named the head coach for the UMKC track and field/cross country programs on March 4, 2008 and is now in her sixth season at the helm.

Up Next...
The 'Roos will head east to West Lafayette, Ind., when they take part in the Mike Poehlein invitational hosted by Purdue on Mar. 28-29.