KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan track and field team takes the long trek to Houston, Texas and Rice University for the 34th annual Victor Lopez Classic to open the 2016 outdoor season on Friday.
This is the first time since the 2013 season that the Broncos have returned to the Victor Lopez Classic, taking fourth that season. WMU will have a light day on Friday, competing in just three events. Allison Wilson, Haley Ritsema, Claire Gilbert, Amy Littlefield and Jordan Anderson will compete in the 1,500-meter run. Savannah Dugan, Riley Wilhelm, Brittany Casey, Samantha Howard and Alex Ferguson compete in the hammer throw. Western Michigan will also run Hanne Christensen and Daya Wagh in the 5,000-meter run to close out the day.
Saturday sees the bulk of the action with the finals of the field events the shot put, discus, long jump, javelin, pole vault, triple jump and high jump. WMU competes on the track in the 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, 400-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay.
Good weather is expected for both Friday and Saturday, helping the Broncos get in some good competition before hosting Eastern Michigan in the Bronco Classic on April 1. The team has had practice time outdoors at the Kanley Track & Field Complex thanks to mild march weather in Kalamazoo.
Western Michigan heads to Houston after wrapping up the indoor season that ended with a fifth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships. The Broncos earned three event titles with Ayiana Gaines repeating in the 400-meter dash, Sarita Dotson taking the 200-meter dash, and those two combined with Naiomi Dulaney and Jordan Anderson winning in the 4x400-meter relay.
