SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist men's and women's track and field teams will kick off their 2022-23 campaign at the Boo Rogers and Crimson & Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, KS, this weekend.
The Boo Rogers combined events will run Dec. 9-10, while the Crimson & Gold Invitational is scheduled for Saturday.
Head Coach Ford Mastin enters his 26th season with the Bison after leading the women to its second-ever GAC Championship and the men to a runner-up finish at the 2022 GAC Outdoor Championships. Additionally, Mastin was named the conference Coach of the Year.
Assistant Coach Mark Heard returns for his 15th year, while Brian Whitlock joins the staff after finishing his first season as head coach of the Bison XC squads.
On the women's side, Oklahoma Baptist returns notable runner Mary McKey. The junior earned four top-10 finishes last indoor season. Throwers Jade Byrd and Caitlin Mannon come back after astounding indoor seasons. Byrd registered a couple of top-10 finishes, while Mannon placed first overall once.
For the men, Jax Holland and Maxamillian Wheeler return with plenty of experience. Holland, a sprinter, posted team-best times in the 200m (48.30) and 400m (22.25) last season. Wheeler, a distance runner, racked up five top-10 finishes, including a win in the 5k at the OBU Last Chance in February.
