The 10 Shockers to watch as Wichita State hosts AAC track and field conference meet
For the second time in four years, Wichita State will play host to the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The three-day event begins Friday at Cessna Stadium with the WSU men’s track and field team expected to push powerhouse Houston for the team title this weekend. The WSU women’s team has redshirted many of its top athletes, but a handful of athletes should challenge for medals.
The Shockers entered the 2019 conference meet in Wichita in a similar position, as the men’s title was decided in the final two events of the meet. Projections have pegged WSU as 31-point underdogs entering the meet.
“We feel like we have a really nice men’s team and the guys are excited to compete for a high team finish,” WSU head coach Steve Rainbolt said. “Houston is always an incredible opponent and certainly will be the favorite in this track meet. We will go in with an underdog mentality and a chip on our shoulder, ready to compete with a strong spirit to battle as hard as we can to try to win a team title.”
Here are 10 Shockers to watch who should be competing for conference titles this weekend in Wichita:
1. Michael Bryan, men’s hammer throw (Friday 2:30 p.m.)
The Wamego native has already cemented his status as the best hammer thrower in Wichita State history; now he’s looking for icing on the cake. The senior enters with the 11th-best throw (230 feet, 9 inches) nationally this season and the top mark in the AAC by more than six feet. On top of owning the WSU records in the hammer and weight throw, Bryan is a 2-time All-American with a chance to add to that this summer.
2. Brady Palen, men’s high jump (Sunday 2:30 p.m.)
The freshman from Beloit has blossomed into one of the best high jumpers in the country, as his season-best mark of 7 feet, 1¾ inches ranks No. 13 in the country. He has finished runner-up in the high jump at the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championships and the 2022 AAC Indoor Championships and ranks second in the conference entering the meet.
3. Taran Taylor, men’s javelin (Friday 6:30 p.m.)
The sophomore from Arkansas City is the defending AAC champion in the men’s javelin and enters with the top mark (227 feet, 9 inches) this season, which ranks No. 26 in the nation. Taylor is a 2020 Olympic Trials qualifier and his career-best throw of 243 feet, 8 inches ranks as the second-best in WSU program history.
4. Tanner Brown, men’s decathlon (Friday and Saturday)
The Russell native enters with the top score in the conference (7,178 points) by a wide margin, which is also the 36th-best mark in the country this season. He placed second in the heptathlon at the AAC Indoor Championships and holds the school indoor record in the 60-meter race, while the junior ranks No. 8 all-time in program history in the decathlon.
5. Adam Moore, men’s 800 meters (Sunday 6:05 p.m.)
The England native is wrapping up one of the best middle-distance careers in Shocker history and enters with the fastest 800 time (1:50.80) and fourth-fastest 1,500 time (3:42.92) in the AAC. He is on four all-time leaderboards at WSU, including the title of school record-holder in the indoor mile. The senior finished runner-up in the mile and third in the distance medley relay at the Indoor Championships and is looking to add to his Outdoor collection now.
6. Davis Dubbert, men’s high jump (Sunday 2:30 p.m.)
The Beloit native had a breakout meet at last year’s Outdoor Championships, winning the high jump and finishing second in the javelin. He finished third in the indoor high jump at the conference meet and ranks third entering this competition, as well as third in the javelin. Dubbert, a junior, is one of just eight jumpers in WSU history who have cleared 7 feet in the outdoor high jump.
7. Dowdy Elazarig, men’s triple jump (Sunday 4:30 p.m.)
The sophomore should be in the mix for the conference title, as he is just one of three competitors who have cleared 50 feet in the triple jump. Elazarig ranks second entering the competition with his season-best mark of 50 feet, 6 inches, which he registered at Cessna Stadium. After scoring points in long and triple jump at the Indoor Championships, he also enters the outdoor meet with the fifth-best long jump (23 feet, 7½ inches).
8. Amanda Kakoulias, women’s shot put (Saturday 3:30 p.m.)
After placing fifth in the shot put at the AAC Indoor Championships this year, the Andover native is looking for a better finish in outdoor season. The junior enters with the third-best mark (50 feet, 8¼ inches) in the AAC this season. She not only holds the school record in the indoor shot put, but also ranks second all-time in the outdoor shot put.
9. Matt Everett, men’s discus (Sunday 4:30 p.m.)
The Winfield native will compete for WSU after transferring from Memphis. He’s already made an immediate impact as a freshman, as his season-best mark of 181 feet, 2 inches in the discus ranks second in the AAC and No. 7 all-time in WSU history.
10. Clayton Duchatschek, men’s 3,000 steeplechase (Saturday 7:45 p.m.)
The junior is in the midst of his best running season to date, as he earned all-conference in cross country with a 14th-place finish at the conference meet. He figures to be in the mix for the lead as his season-best time of 8:56.89 ranks third in the AAC and not far off the leader.
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