WICHITA, Kan.- The Track-It-Buster Invitational this Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium will be the last home meet of the season for the Shockers. Eighteen Wichita State seniors will compete for the final time in front of their home crowd.
Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington, Oral Roberts, and Missouri-Kansas City will all travel to Wichita to battle the Shockers in a scored meet.
“These teams are all pretty well rounded teams that are all towards the top of their conference,” Assistant Track & Field Director, John Wise said. “Stephen F. Austin is the most well rounded. They won the Southland Indoor Championship for both men and women. We expect it to be a great competition between us and them.”
Among the group of seniors competing at Cessna Stadium for the final time this weeknd distance runner, Tomas Cotter. Cotter currently ranks seventh in the nation in the 3,000m Steeplechase. He also won the Missouri Valley Conference's Track Athlete of the Week Award.
“I've never won it before so it was a surprise,” Cotter said. “I'm delighted. “
Cotter also ranks first in the valley in both the steeplechase and the 1,500m run. He will compete in his final 1,500m race at home on Saturday night.
“I want to run a decent one,” Cotter said. “ I'm hoping to PR in the 1,500m, and improve my mark in the Valley and distance myself a little bit.”
Like Cotter, fellow distance senior, Laura Burke hopes to “go out with a bang.” Burke will compete in her final Friday night in front of her family.
“It's been a really fun four years,” Burke said. “I'm running the 5k, one of my favorite events that will be fun. It's sad because it's my last home 5k.”
The captain of the women's distance group, Burke, hopes to lead the Shocker Women to their second consecutive MVC Outdoor Championship in two weeks.
“I take that role pretty seriously,” Burke said. “ I like to set a good example. I try to monitor them really well, and be there for them when they have struggles.”
Burke and the rest of the senior women have won five MVC Team Championships in their time at Wichita State. The Derby Kan. native believes this success will only continue.
“I feel like we're getting better and better every year,” Burke said. “I came in as a freshman and the team was just amazing already. Now, we have multiple women athletes that are ranked nationally, so it just keeps getting better.”
The Shocker men and women both look to win their second consecutive Track-It-Buster meet. Eighteen seniors will also look to make their final home meet a memorable one.
Senior, Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton will compete in a 10,000m run this weekend at Stanford. Tuliamuk- Bolton finished in second place at the NCAA Outdoor Championships the last time she ran a 10,000m race.
Watch the videos above and below to hear all of the Shocker seniors reflect on their time with Wichita State Track & Field.
The Track-It-Buster Invitational will begin on Friday night, April 26, at 8 p.m. with four distance races. Field events will begin Saturday, April 27, at 11:30 a.m. with the men's hammer throw. Running events will resume at 6 p.m. Saturday night. Watch the Track-It-Buster Invitational live on the Shocker Track U Steam Account.
For tickets to the Track-It-Buster Invitational, contact the Shocker Ticket Office online here, by phone at 316-978-FANS (3267, or visit them in person at the southwest corner of Charles Koch Arena.
Visit the Track-It-Buster Invitational Meet Central Page for meet records, media information, and updated statistics.
-Wichita State-
