During the 2024 Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Weber State University’s women’s track and field team struggled. The Wildcats finished seventh out of ten teams. However, rather than getting down on themselves, the Wildcats got back up and worked harder, leading to the Outdoor Championships a few months later.

The team turned around and finished third in the conference, with strong performances coming across the board.

“I think our mentality changed,” senior mid-distance runner Angelyca Chapman said. “I personally did not perform very well at the indoor conference championships, and my teammate pulled me aside and comforted me … I worked harder to achieve my goals so I wouldn’t have that same outcome. I believe everyone else had that change as well.”

After failing to make the final heat in the conference, Chapman came back to outdoor track and made it to the final heat, finishing fourth in the conference.

Coming into this season, Chapman trusts her training and believes she’s where she needs to be to break the school record for the 400m dash.

The team also saw some great performances last year in the field, including two outdoor conference champions in Kapuake’oke’oomele Pulotu in the discus and Dawson Rothenbuhler in the shot put. Pulotu will be entering her senior season of college track, while Rothenbuhler is entering her junior year. The Wildcats also saw a great performance from Alyssa Hansen, who finished second in the hammer throw.

The Wildcats will also see the return of some of their top sprinters, including junior Paige Walz and senior Makayla Oliver, who finished fifth and sixth in the 100m dash last season outdoors.

The team will also feature hurdlers such as Walz and junior Eliza Smith, along with long-distance runners such as senior Laurie Murphy and junior Saga Hagelin.

The Wildcats will have their first and only indoor meet on Jan. 10-11 at the Stromberg Complex.