LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV track & field program returns to action this weekend at the Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The three-day meet kicks off Thursday with the men's heptathlon and women's pentathlon; however, the Rebels will only participate in Friday and Saturday's portion of the meet, which is being held at the Academy's Cadet Field House.
The Mountain West will be represented by five squads this weekend with UNLV and Air Force joined by Colorado State, UNR and Wyoming. Additionally, BYU, California, Colorado, Colorado Christian, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, UCCS and Weber State are scheduled to attend, as well.
"It's been so long since these student-athletes have been able to compete, and we are excited to get back to it safely," said head coach
Yvonne Wade. "We have had to adjust the way we do things, but the goal was always to stay ready for when the opportunity came."
This weekend's meet will be the first for the Scarlet & Gray since it claimed the 2020 Mountain West Indoor Championship title in Albuquerque, N.M., this past February. The remainder of the indoor campaign as well as the entirety of the 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Making the trek to the Centennial State will be a small contingent of Rebels led by a trio of MW Indoor All-Conference Team performers from the Golden State:
Avi'Tal Wilson-Perteete (Oakland),
Jazlynn Shearer (San Jose) and
Jonon Young (Carson).
Both Wilson-Perteete and Young were victorious at the 2020 MW Indoors, as the former won the 800m for the second straight season, while the latter claimed both the long jump and triple jump titles. Shearer managed to take second in the long jump and earned valuable points in the triple jump (fourth place) and 60m hurdles (eighth).
Wilson-Perteete is entered to run both the 400m and the mile, while Shearer and Young will participate in the long jump and triple jump. Shearer will also run in the 60m hurdles with newcomers
Rosalie Breems (Netherlands) and
Taylor Shorter (Norco, California).
Tianna Randle (Houston), who was fifth in the 60m at the 2020 MW Indoors, and transfers Nami Wilson (Maple Valley, Washington) and
Azaria Hill (Canyon Country, California) from Kentucky and Long Beach State, respectively, will run in the 60m and 200m.
LOOKING BACK: The Rebels claimed the 2020 MW Indoor Championship behind a staggering 161-point performance backed by six event wins and 24 top-eight finishes. By virtue of winning the 2020 team title, Wade was named the MW's Women's Coach of the Year for the third time in her career, and
Cassondra Hall claimed the MW's Female Outstanding Performer of the Meet after she won both the 60m and 200m, and helped the 4x400m relay to a runner-up finish.
