WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita State women's track & field team seeks a third-straight Missouri Valley Conference indoor team title, while the Shocker men look to improve on last season's third-place finish, as Wichita State travels to compete in the 2012 State Farm MVC Indoor Championships this weekend.

Northern Iowa hosts the two-day conference track & field meet Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The meet opens at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with the women's pentathlon 60-meter hurdles and at 9:30 a.m. Sunday with the men's heptathlon 60-meter hurdles.

In this year's pre-championship poll, the Shocker women were voted to repeat as champions in a vote by the league's coaches. Wichita State received 60 points and five first-place votes. Missouri State was picked to finish second and Illinois State third.

The Wichita State men's team was picked to finish third in the poll, earning 22 points. Defending champion Indiana State was picked to repeat with 34 points and four first-place votes. Southern Illinois was selected second with 32 points and two first-place votes.

The Shocker women won the 2011 MVC indoor team title with a conference record 186 points after winning the 2010 team title as well. The Wichita State men finished third overall last season in a tight team race with just 16.5 points separating the top four teams and most recently won an indoor team title in 2010. The Shockers combined for 11 men's and women's individual titles and 13 student-athletes finished all-conference in 19 events.

This season, junior Aliphine Tuliamuk holds the nation's third-fastest time in the women's 5,000 meters, setting the school and conference records in the event with a time of 15:36.53. Tuliamuk, the 2011 MVC Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete, ranks 11th nationally in the 3K (9:11.49). Tuliamuk won MVC titles in both events last season and is scheduled to compete in the mile, 3K and 5K this weekend.

Senior Audacia Moore, the 2011 MVC Most Valuable Female Athlete, won individual titles last season in the indoor women's 60 meters and 200 meters and was named all-MVC in four events. She holds the Valley's top marks of the season in the 60 (7.45), 200 (24.12 after venue conversion) and is fifth in triple jump (38-11 ½). She ranks among the top 50 nationally in the 60 meters, as well as second in the Midwest Region. Moore is slated to compete in the 60, 200, long jump and triple jump this weekend.

Cassie Craig won the women's pole vault title in 2011 and holds the Valley's third-best vault of the season (12-11 ¾). She is scheduled to compete in the pole vault and 60-meter hurdles this weekend.

Senior Danielle Walker holds the Valley's top time in the women's 800 meters this season (2:08.77) and ranks fourth in the Midwest in the event. She'll compete in the 800 and distance medley relay at the conference meet.

Jennifer Taylor received all-MVC honors in the women's 800 meters last season and has the Valley's third-fastest time in the event this season (2:12.42).

Tanya Friesen posted the fourth-highest points total in the women's pentathlon this winter (3,574 points). She'll compete in the pentathlon, as well as the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, and long jump this weekend.

Sarah Gilbert, J'Lynn Ledesma and Shamoya Pruitt finished the 2011 indoor conference meet with all-MVC honors and will compete again for the Shockers this weekend.

On the men's team, Austin Bahner won the long jump title last season. He holds the Valley's fifth-best mark this season (23-2 ½) in the event. He also ranks second in the conference in the heptathlon (5,326 points) and 35th nationally in the event. He'll compete in the 60 meters, long jump, triple jump and heptathlon this weekend.

Todd McKown won two 2011 indoor titles in the men's 60-meter hurdles and 200 meters on the way to being named the MVC Most Outstanding Male Track Athlete last season. McKown is scheduled to run in the 60-meter hurdles and 200 meters.

Aaron Young finished all-MVC in the men's heptathlon last season and ranks 39th in the nation in the event this season (5,303 points). He'll compete in the heptathlon and pole vault for the Shockers in Cedar Falls.

Lawson Montgomery finished all-conference in the men's 60-meter hurdles last season. His 2012 season-best time of 7.88 ranks 34th nationally and second in the conference this winter. He holds the Valley's fourth-best time in the 200 meters this season (21.81) as well. He'll compete in the 60-meter hurdles and 200 at the UNI-Dome.

Dylan Hartnett will run in the men's 200 and 400 meters this weekend. He holds the conference's top time in the 400 this season (47.91) and third-fastest time in the 200 (21.80). He finished all-MVC in the 200 in 2011.

Brandon Childs' mark of 6-10 ¼ in the high jump earlier this season ranks second in the Valley this season. He finished all-conference in the indoor high jump and long jump in 2011 and he'll compete again in both events, as well as the 60 meters and triple jump, Saturday and Sunday.

Jake Wike ranks among the Valley's top five in the mile and 800 meters. His 1,000-meter time of 2:24.63 ranks 22nd in the nation this season. Wike will run both the 800 and mile this weekend.

For more information about this weekend's meet, to view live results or watch free live video of Sunday's events, visit the UNI Championship Central website or the MVC Championship Central website.

- Wichita State -