WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State track and field teams are set to open the 2022 indoor season with a split-squad meet week. The Shockers will send a 26-athlete roster to Lawrence, Kansas to compete in the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular on Friday. The remaining athletes will compete in the home-opener Shocker Prelude on Thursday to kick off the season.
 
"I always feel that the season opener is a special event for all of the athletes," head coach Steve Rainbolt said. "It's particularly special for true freshman and athletes that are competing for the first time in a Wichita State uniform."
 
The Triangular features the three Division I programs in Kansas and is scored in the two-per-institution format, with individual events scored 7-5-4-3-2-1 and relays scored 7-5-4. A team score will be kept for each gender and the team with the highest combined point total will take home the traveling cup.
 
"The Triangular is a really cool event," Rainbolt said. "It's significant to have the three Division I schools in the state of Kansas come together in a team competition. I'm a coach who values regular season team competition as a dress rehearsal for the conference championship. It's a chance for the athletes to begin catching a sense of common mission, a sense of team and a sense of how their contribution affects the ultimate outcome of the track meet."
 
With only 26 athletes from each squad making the trip to Lawrence, the remaining team members will make their 2022 debut at home. The Shocker Prelude brings in competition from Northwestern Oklahoma State, McPherson, Bethel, Friends, Sterling and Butler County CC.
 
"The Shocker Prelude is all about kicking off the season and getting that first competitive experience under their belts," Rainbolt said. "They will establish a baseline to see what needs to happen to progress toward making the conference championship team and ultimately contributing to the team effort at the conference championship."
 
On Thursday, field events start at 11 a.m., with track events beginning at 3 p.m. Admission to the Shocker Prelude is $5. Wichita State students get in free with their Shocker ID. At KU on Friday, field events kick off the afternoon of competition at 3 p.m., with athletes hitting the track at 5 p.m.