WSU Athletics informed the men’s and women’s track and field teams Monday that their scope of competition will be narrowed. Sprinting and hurdle events will be reduced in the future, along with field events such as throwing and jumping being cut altogether.

“The program will be shifting to a distance-focused approach,” WSU Athletics explained in a statement issued Monday. “This change gives the WSU Track and Field program the best opportunity to remain competitive at the conference and national levels in distance events in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field.”

Student-athletes affected by the cuts will still receive their scholarships if they decide to stay at WSU. Should they decide to pursue their career at a different university, transition support and services will be provided.

The new focus on distance events means that athletes like Mason Lawyer will be limited in their opportunities. In the late stages of May when qualifying for the NCAA Division-I Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Lawyer set a school record for the 200-meter sprint, running it in 20.34 seconds. On the same day, Lawyer along with Bryson Stubblefield, Parker Duskin and Keenan Kuntz set the school record for the 4×100-meter relay, running it in 39.09 seconds.

These performances punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship hosted by the University of Oregon on June 11-14. Lawyer finished 15th in the 100-meter, 17th in the 200-meter and 20th in the 4x100m Relay alongside Stubblefield, Duskin and Kuntz.

This constriction to distance events also comes off the heels of Evans Kurui receiving All-American recognition. The WSU sophomore competed in his first ever outdoor championship, running the 10,000-meter distance event. He placed fifth with a time of 29:10.91, making him the highest ranking Coug in the championships.

WSU athletes whose events are cut entirely include:

Women

• Alexandra Gustavel – Freshman – Jumps
• Nana Gyedu – Senior – Throws
• LindiDon Kessinger – Freshman – Throws
• Laura Lindquist – Junior – Throws
• Luceris Suarez Pacheco – Junior – Throws
• Bri Sackman – Freshman – Throws
• Nevaeh Wilson – Sophomore – Throws
• Baylee Wroble – Freshman – Throws
• Eva Lowder – Sophomore – Pole Vault
• Chloe Metz – Freshman – Pole Vault
• Tatum Moku – Sophomore – Pole Vault
• Madisyn Negro – Sophomore – Pole Vault
• Sarah Kovich – Senior – Heptathlon

Men

• Eli Lawrence – Junior – Jumps
• A.J. McGloflin – Junior – Jumps
• Antoni Smith – Sophomore – Jumps
• Mason Andulajevic – Sophomore – Throws
• Caden Hottman – Junior – Throws
• Maxwell Moore – Graduate Student – Throws
• Henry Sheldrup – Sophomore – Throws
• Blake Sturgis – Junior – Throws
• Kai Twaddle-Dunham – Freshman – Throws
• Tristian Webb – Sophomore – Throws
• Cody White – Sophomore – Throws
• Gavin Dimick – Sophomore – Pole Vault
• Seth Nelson – Sophomore – Pole Vault

 Athletes who will have their events limited moving forward include:

Women

• Micaela De Mello – Redshirt Senior – Hurdles
• Zakiya Hill – Freshman – Sprints
• Ashley Hollenbeck Willems – Senior – Sprints
• Brooke Lyons – Sophomore – Sprints
• Lahela Ray – Freshman – Sprints
• Zoe Ray – Freshman – Sprints

 Men

• Eysias Banks – Senior – Hurdles
• Grant Buckmiller – Sophomore – Sprints
• Milan Cieslak – Freshman – Sprints
• Royal Haley – Freshman – Sprints
• Keenan Kuntz – Redshirt Freshman – Sprints
• Mason Lawyer – Junior – Sprints
• John Parades – Junior – Sprints/Hurdles
• Parker Duskin – Junior – Sprints/Hurdles

No other cuts to athletics have been announced so far. However, as the 2025-2026 school year approaches, there may be more realignments as funding is finalized.