WKU prepares for Arkansas State
February 3, 2012
WKU track and field has a long history of breaking records and winning championships, especially the Lady Toppers.
Not only have they earned 17 consecutive Sun Belt Conference track titles, but they also hold the title for having the longest league championship streak in the nation.
Runners, throwers, sprinters and coaches said they all have one goal in mind — winning another championship.
WKU will get a chance to gauge itself against league competition this weekend when it faces Sun Belt Conference rival Arkansas State at the Orange and Blue Open in Champaign, Ill.
Head Coach Erik Jenkins said this meet is just another opportunity presented to his team.
“I don’t really see them as a foe,” Jenkins said. “They’ll be mindful of the team championships just like we will. We look at it as an opportunity to not only compete against them but against others in the conference.”
Last weekend the Toppers and Lady Toppers competed at the Rod McCravy Memorial at the Nutter Field House in Lexington.
The men’s 4×400 meter relay team ended the meet by earning first place with a time of 3:12.29.
The meet was highlighted by sophomore David Mokone’s breaking the school record in the 800 meters.
The South Africa native broke a 23-year-old WKU mark in that event Saturday when he posted a time of 1:49.62, breaking former Topper All-American Victor Ngubeni’s indoor school mark.
It was the second straight week a WKU track and field athlete earned league performer of the week honors after Monteka Flowers was named Field Athlete of the Week on Jan. 25.
While Arkansas State may be viewed as one of the toughest competitors in the Sun Belt thrower, Adesola Adeduro said she disagreed.
“As of right now, I really don’t see Arkansas because of the simple fact that Western on the women’s side has been winning conferences repeatedly, and we’ve always been the top guns,” Adeduro said. “As far as Arkansas State, those aren’t the threats; if anything, it’s Florida Atlantic and Florida International.
“FIU is ahead of me and (Flowers), so we are just working to respond to their marks in the weight throw and in the shot put, by being back on top with her taking first and me taking third.”
Adeduro has another personal goal for this event for others.
She once threw 45 feet in shot at conference championships during her sophomore year but fouled.
She would like to see that same number again.
“I’ve seen it,” she said, “but it’s never been counted on paper.”
