WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State track and field team returns to action when it travels to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Air Force Invitational.
 
The Air Force Invitational is set to begin Jan. 24-26, at the Cadet Field House. The multi-events kick off the competition Thursday at 1:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. CT), with the men's 60m dash. The women's heptathlon follows with the 60m hurdles at 1:15 p.m. (2:15 p.m. CT).
 
Thursday's events begin with day two of the men's heptathlon, starting with the 60m hurdles at 9:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. CT). Open field and running events start at 1:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. CT), with the men's weight throw and women's 5000m.
 
Day three of the meet starts with the men's shot put at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. CT), and concludes with the men's 4x400m at 4:15 p.m. (5:15 p.m. CT).
 
The Air Force Invitational is a non-scored event and admission is free.
 
Wichita State is traveling near full strength, while the distance team stays back and travels to Pittsburg, Kan., to compete in the Pitt State Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 26.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
The Shockers are ranked in the season's first poll of the track and field news dual meet rankings, the men's squad entered at No. 14 and the women No. 15.
 
Three Shockers sit No. 1 in their respective event on The American performance list, Cory Martens (weight throw | 19.76m/64-10), Rebekah Topham (3000m | 9:36.36) and Kendra Henry (pentathlon | 3,594).
 
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Redshirt senior Cory Martens was named American Athletic Male Field Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan. 16-22. Martens, a Newton, Kan., native led the Shocker throwers with four top-3 finishes, including three first place finishes. He won the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular weight throw (19.76m/64-10), moving him to No. 6 on the Shocker all-time top-10 list.
 
SCHOOL RECORDS
Shockers Daysha Bullocks and Kelsey Slawson set school records in the respective events on Jan. 18. Bullocks ran 1:24.44 in the 600yd to top the charts, while Slawson bettered her school record in the shot put with a mark of 15.61m/51-2.75.
 
NEXT UP
Wichita State will host the Wichita State Invitational on Friday, Feb. 1, at the Heskett Center. Admission to the event is $5 and kids under 3 are free. Wichita State students will receive free admission with their Shocker ID.