GCU looks to bust rust in season debut

Friday, January 14

Flagstaff, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Friday Night Axe 'em

Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

1/13/2022 9:00:00 PM | Track and Field

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Lopes begin indoor season in Flagstaff at 16-team meet

After an abbreviated indoor campaign in 2021, the Grand Canyon track and field program opens its 2022 indoor season on Friday in Flagstaff.

The Lopes will compete alongside athletes representing 16 schools or clubs in the Friday Night Axe 'Em Open at Northern Arizona. Field events get underway at 2 p.m. with running events following at 4 p.m.

"We all are very excited for this season to begin, especially after not having an indoor season last year due to COVID," said Lopes head coach Tom Flood, who is starting his 12th season leading the program. "We've had outstanding practices this fall in all event areas and will once again be a well-balanced team."

Last year's consolidated season featured just two meets. The last time a full indoor season was held in 2020, the GCU men's team was claiming its fifth consecutive WAC title.

"As always with our first indoor meet, we will try and shake off a little holiday rust," Flood said. "We look to begin our run to defend our men's team WAC indoor title in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this year, as well as making a lot of noise with our women's team."

The WAC Indoor Championships are set for Feb. 8-9 in Albuquerque. Before that, GCU has six meets on the schedule, including three in Flagstaff, two in Albuquerque and one in Pullman, Washington.

GCU returns a talented core of student-athletes who have keyed the program's past success.

In field events, the GCU men will be headlined by Ethan Harris and Gabriel Binion (jumps), Aidan Diggs (multi), Evan Dudley (pole vault) and Jorden Okyere (throws). Harris was an NCAA Championships participant on the outdoor side last spring, finishing 17th in the nation in high jump. Binion qualified for the NCAA West Regionals last year after finishing sixth at the WAC Outdoor Championships in the long jump and triple jump as a freshman. Diggs proved himself with a decathlon title at the WAC Outdoor Championships last year. Dudley won a pole vault conference championship as a freshman last year and Okyere looks to continue a decorated Lopes career in throws.

Sprinters Adam Knuff, David Kolar and Jan Kral join distance runners Jacob Lewis, Landon Rast and Joseph Skoog to highlight the returning men's runners. Knuff and Kolar each logged top-three finishes at the WAC Indoor Championships in 2020. Lewis and Rast each won past WAC championships, while Skoog was the 2020 WAC Freshman of the Year in cross country.

On the women's side, a talented group of returning field athletes includes pole vaulter Alyson Schwartz and throwers Samaria McDonald, Onome Ogbeni and Alyssa Walls. Schwartz is a five-time WAC champion in the pole vault with three outdoor titles and two indoor. McDonald is coming off a run in last year's WAC Outdoor Championships, where she won a title in hammer throw and set a personal best in discus.

Returning sprinters Anaya Bailey, Alexa Hokanson and Kennedy Quarles are set to lead the women's runners. Hokanson is coming off of an 800-meter WAC title at last year's outdoor championship.

"As always, we will rely on our veterans' leadership," Flood said. "But we have very young teams this year, especially with our women's team. We are excited to watch all of our talented newcomers compete."

Flood is expecting big things out of his group of newcomers. On the men's side, the newcomers feature Max Carmona (sprints), Mariano Hernandez (sprints), Israel Oloyede (throws) and Jorg Vanlierde (multi). Women's newcomers are highlighted by Jodie Judd (distance), Kelly Moodry (mid distance), Atena Rayson (sprints), Beatriz Razon (multi), Jazmine Scott (sprints/jumps) and Amanda Thrue (sprints/jumps).

As with many other sports, GCU is getting its first taste at an expanded WAC with the additions of Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin.

"Our conference has gotten a whole lot tougher, with the addition of four fine Texas track and field institutions," Flood said. "But if both of our teams stay healthy and hungry, we will have an excellent chance for both teams to be standing on the top of the podium again this year."