WT track & field reigns supreme at LSC Indoor Championships

Championship season continues to look very familiar for the powerhouse programs of West Texas A&M.

Inside the Albuquerque Convention Center, the Lady Buffs once again proved why they remain the gold standard in the Lone Star Conference. Posting a dominant 208.50 points, the women secured their 13th consecutive LSC Indoor Track & Field Championship behind an incredible haul of 10 individual event titles. It wasn’t just a win — it was a statement of sustained excellence.

The tone was set early on Championship Saturday by Abigail Abugire, who captured the mile title in 5:00.36. She later doubled her impact by claiming the 800m crown with a 2:07.30 performance that now ranks among the best in program history. Esther Conde-Turpin added to the momentum in the hurdles, matching one of the fastest 60m hurdle times the program has ever seen at 8.32 to secure another conference title.

Sprint star Blessing Akintoye delivered one of the meet’s defining performances. Already enjoying a standout season, she surged to victories in both the 200m and 400m. Her 52.28 finish in the 400m didn’t just win gold — it reset the school record, established a new LSC Championship benchmark, and climbed into elite territory nationally within NCAA Division II history.

Depth proved to be another key factor in the Lady Buffs’ runaway victory. Helena Klutsey-Carboo and Deborah Acheampong added valuable sprint points in the 200m, while Emiliia Tangara grabbed silver in the 400m. Sierra Cornell followed with a strong runner-up finish in the 800m, and Acheampong later added another silver in the 60m dash.

In the field events, Leidy Cuesta’s triple jump title further padded the team total. Meanwhile, the distance squad delivered a massive contribution. Kalkidan Vincendeau and Sarah Koomson finished second and third in the mile, while Naomi Addo led a dominant showing in the 3,000m with a winning time of 10:05.10. Teammates Eliette Chaput and Julie Lafare followed close behind to create a major point swing.

The Lady Buffs capped the meet in fitting fashion by winning the 4x400m relay, as Sandra Appiah, Klutsey-Carboo, Asana Hamidu, and Tangara combined for a 3:37.34 finish to close out another championship performance.

Not to be overshadowed, the Buffs men also delivered a title-winning effort of their own. Scoring 183 points, the men captured their eighth LSC Indoor Championship with five individual victories.

James Dadzie headlined the sprint group with a blazing 6.66 win in the 60m, supported by Isaac Botsio’s runner-up finish. Jerry Jakpa’s 200m silver added to the momentum with one of the fastest marks in program history. Distance standout Adrian Legarreta emerged as one of the meet’s biggest stars, winning the 3,000m after already claiming the 5K title earlier in the weekend.

Field success came from Oyeyoni Oyewale-Johnson, whose triple jump victory set the tone early, while Mahmoud Ibrahim added points with a podium finish in the shot put.

Now, both programs shift their focus toward the national stage. With confidence surging and momentum fully on their side, West Texas A&M heads east to Virginia Beach for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships on March 13–14, where conference dominance will be put to the ultimate test against the nation’s best.