West Central Reporter

Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Trey Brokaw, has unveiled the 2023-24 indoor track and field schedule for the Leathernecks. The team will commence their season this Friday at the newly constructed Gately facility in Chicago. Following this, they will participate in the Jimmy Grant Invitational on December 9, hosted by the University of Iowa. The remainder of their indoor competitions is scheduled post-winter break in mid-January 2024.

Brokaw expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming season, stating, "We have a talented track & field team and our staff couldn't be more excited to see what our student-athletes are capable of this season." He highlighted the team's goal to secure an OVC title for Macomb: "It's been 22 years since WIU won a conference title in outdoor track & field and the Leathernecks have never won a conference title indoors. We want to be the group that changes that narrative and I believe we have the talent on the roster to make that happen."

The Leathernecks will compete three times in Iowa City against a strong University of Iowa team that has claimed four Big Ten team titles over five years. In February, they plan to travel further afield with meets scheduled in South Bend, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Topeka, Kansas; and Seattle, Washington.

Brokaw noted, "Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational and Washington's Husky Challenge are two of the best competitions in the country for middle distance and distance runners." He also mentioned other venues like Louisville and Washburn University as having top-tier facilities similar to those at Alabama where the indoor conference championships will be held. "These facilities also feature raised runways, which provide optimal conditions for our pole vaulters and horizontal jumpers to achieve personal best performances," he added.

This weekend at Chicago's PNW Classic hosted at Gately, a select group of long sprinters and middle-distance runners from WIU will compete. Among them are Briza Dure, Aliyah Adams, Nakeita Kessling on the women's side; Lucas Burmeister and Richard Brown lead on the men's side.

The schedule includes various events starting from 3:50 PM with Women's 400m featuring Passion Crews among others. The Men's 800m with Richard Brown follows at 4:50 PM. The day concludes with relay races ending around 7:20 PM.