Track heads to Seattle once again

WSU will compete in MPSF Indoor Championships this weekend

Redshirt+sophomore+Alexis+Redfield+competes+in+the+3000+meter+race+at+the+WSU+Indoor+on+Jan.+19+in+the+Indoor+Practice+Facility.+

ABIGAIL LINNENKOHL | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Redshirt sophomore Alexis Redfield competes in the 3000 meter race at the WSU Indoor on Jan. 19 in the Indoor Practice Facility.

KATIE ARCHER, Evergreen reporter

WSU track and field will travel to Seattle for the fifth time this season to compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday.

Wayne Phipps, director of cross country and track and field, said the team has a lot of amazing performances so far this season and is excited for the MPSF Indoor Championships.

“I think it’s just a matter of doing what we’ve done all year,” Phipps said. “We’ve gotten better and better every week, and I kind of expect the same to happen this weekend.”

The Dempsey Indoor in Seattle will open its doors at noon Friday when the meet opens with the women’s weight throw. The day wraps up at 7:55 p.m. with the men’s distance medley.

The second day of competition kicks off Saturday with the women’s high jump at 10 a.m. and concludes at 3:20 p.m. with the men’s 4×400 meter relay.

The Cougars will face a handful of schools from the Pacific Northwest and Pac-12 including UW, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, UCLA and Stanford.

Phipps said this meet is like a preview for the outdoor season, and a chance to compete against more Pac-12 schools will motivate the team.

The men’s team is ranked No. 7 in the West Region out of 15 teams while the women are ranked No. 10.

The Cougars hope to set marks this weekend that will allow them to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships March 8-9 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Phipps said he isn’t worried about his squad becoming complacent this weekend.

“You can tell still, on this group, regardless of how amazing some of the performances have been, they still want more,” Phipps said. “Their goals are still continually growing.”

Phipps said the meet is a balance between a last chance meet and a championship event. It will also allow them to prepare for the Pac-12 Championships at the end of the outdoor season.

Outside of the competition, Phipps said he does not think there is any barrier or challenge the team is not prepared for.