PRAIRIE | ALLIE RENYA

Web Editor’s Note: For more Track photos, click here.

For most West Texas A&M students, December 11 through January 11 is time to leave the University and spend time relaxing. That isn’t the case for WT Athletics. Here is what you may have missed over the holidays.

Track

The WT Men and Women’s Track and Field teams opened their 2009-10 indoor season on December 12 in Manhattan, Kansas at the Kansas State All-Comers Meet.

For the men, freshman Xavier Bennett, sophomore Josh Braddock, junior Andrew Sanders and freshman Taylor Johnson ran to grab second place under Kansas State for WT’s 4×400m Relay Team with a time of 3:25.00.
Many individual honors were also given to the men’s team. Placing first among the Division II runners, freshman Justin Reeves put up a time of 8.42 to finish 60m hurdles. In the mile run, junior Rolando Vasquez placed third with a time of 4:28.73. Senior Jarret Kachel grabbed sixth in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:33.62, placing second among other Division II competitors.

For the Lady Buffs, the 4×400m Relay Team of freshman Sarah Snider, freshman Morgan Shelton, sophomore Sadie Newsome, and freshman Tara Tarrant finished fifth overall and was first in Division II relay times, with 4:03.07.

In individual events, sophomore Allie Reyna and freshman Aries Bazaldua finished second and third in the mile run with times of 5:24.43 and of 5:30.10. In the 60 m hurdles, freshman Bailee Skeen finished third with 9.14, while freshman Rachel King finished in fourth with a time of 9.18. Junior Jadiah Riley threw 42-05.25 in the shot to place third overall.
The WT Men and Women’s Track and Field teams are currently competing in the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock.

Basketball

The WT Men and Women’s Basketball Program took part in 17 games combined while most of the student section, or “Thunder Alley,” was away on break.

The Lady Buffs triumphed over all ten competitors they faced over the holidays which brought their overall record to 16-1. After a win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on January 13 and a loss to Abilene Christian on January 16, the current Lady Buff record stands at 17-2 (LSC 1-1).

The Buffaloes lost three of the seven games played over the break, bringing them to a 9-6 mark. Their winning record improved with wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville and Abilene Christian to 11-6. The men are undefeated in the conference, 2-0.

Sophomore forward Jamie Simmons tops the leader board for the Lady Buffs with 281 points, a scoring average of 14.8, 155 rebounds and 15 blocked shots for the season. Junior guard Joni Unruh leads the team in steals with 44 and assists with 65. Unruh also contributes 111 rebounds, 249 points and a 13.1 scoring average.

Leading the Buffaloes is senior guard Nick Burns with 224 points, a 13.2 scoring average, 56 assists and 28 steals. Senior guard LaDarius Hall follows Burns in scoring with 220 points and a scoring average of 12.9 for the season. Under the basket, senior forward Bijan Dotson leads the Buffs in rebounds with 90 totaled for the season.

The Lady Buffs and Buffaloes each have 10 Lone Star Conference games remaining in the season. The next double-header at the First United Bank Center in Canyon is scheduled for Saturday, January 23 at 4 and 6 p.m. against Tarleton State.