CARROLLTON, Ga.- After more than a month away from competition, the University of West Georgia women's track and field team is set to return to action at the Samford Open on January 17 in Birmingham, Alabama. The meet marks the Wolves' first competition of the new year after opening the indoor season with an impressive second place finish at the Commonwealth Opener.

The Samford Open will feature a deep and competitive field that includes Alabama, Mississippi State, Auburn, Jacksonville State, and several other programs, giving UWG another opportunity to measure itself against high-level Division I competition as the indoor season continues.

Sprints & Hurdles 
The Wolves enter the Samford Open with a strong sprint and hurdle group led by senior Campbell Brown, a senior from Forsyth, Georgia, and stands as the UWG school record holder in the 60m dash after breaking the record last season with a time of 7.62. Brown opened the season with a fourth-place finish at the Commonwealth Opener, clocking a time of 7.72, and will look to continue her momentum in Birmingham.

Freshman Kellie Walker, a Covington, Georgia native, will continue her early collegiate career after placing fifth in the 60m dash at the Commonwealth Opener with a time of 7.77. Walker also made an immediate impact in the 200m, earning a third-place finish with a time of 25.66. Walker was also named ASUN freshman of the week after her performance at the Commonwealth Opener. Fellow freshman Genesis Price from Atlanta, Georgia will compete again after recording times of 8.20 in the 60m and 26.88 in the 200m during her collegiate debut.

In the hurdles, freshman Kierra McKenna from Clarkston, Georgia impressed at the season opener by earning fourth place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.33. McKenna also contributed in the field, leading the Wolves in the long jump with a 4.39m jump at the Commonwealth Opener. Senior Chloe Leblanc, a Lake Placid, Florida native, will make her season debut in the hurdles, entering with a mark of 9.56. Leblanc brings versatility to the lineup as she also competed in the 200m at the last meet and holds the UWG school record in the 600m, which she broke with a time of 1:40.4.

Senior Valeyna Renteria-Silva from Warner Robins, Georgia returns to the hurdles after placing fifth at the Commonwealth Opener with a time of 9.59 and setting a personal record of 44.56 in the 300m. Freshman Empress Malone from Fayetteville, Georgia will also compete after earning sixth place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 10.79 and posting a 28.17 in the 200m at her first collegiate meet.

The 400m group is highlighted by sophomore Ty Daniel from Thomaston, Georgia, who will make her season debut in the event. Daniel is the UWG school record holder in the 400m after setting the mark during the program's inaugural Division I season and enters the meet with a mark of 55.18. At the Commonwealth Opener, she recorded a 40.80 in the 300m.

Freshman Elise Duncanson from Atlanta, Georgia will compete in her first collegiate 400m after a strong debut at the Commonwealth Opener, where she ran 8.09 in the 60m and broke the UWG 300m record with a time of 40.22.

Distance 
The distance group will see several Wolves make their season debuts at the Samford Open, beginning with junior Jordan Jarnot from Beavercreek, Ohio, who will open her indoor season in the 800m with a mark of 2:33.04. Senior Linda Vasquez from Douglasville, Georgia will also make her season debut in the 800m, entering with a mark of 2:40. Junior Linda Rivero from Tucson, Arizona, a transfer from Pima Community College, will compete in her first indoor meet of the season.

In the mile, freshman Haley Hartman will make her first indoor appearance of the year with a mark of 5:50, while senior Kathrin Maurer from Vienna, Austria will also open her season in the event, entering with a mark of 5:30. Junior Reatta Danhof from Tucson, Arizona will compete in her first indoor mile of the season as well.

The 3000m will be led by junior Kristal McQueen from Marietta, Georgia, one of the most accomplished distance runners in program history. McQueen enters her first indoor race of the season with a mark of 10:29.58 and currently holds UWG school records in the mile, 3000m, and 5000m. Senior Madeline Gaskin from Marietta, Georgia will make her indoor season debut in the 3000m with a mark of 11:42.64, while senior Catherine Greer from Roswell, Georgia will also open her season in the event.

Jumps 
The lineup for UWG will begin with junior Amaya Hammel from Franklin, Georgia, who earned fifth place in the high jump at the Commonwealth Opener with a mark of 1.40 meters and enters the Samford Open with a mark of 1.46 meters. Freshman Bella Jones from Saint Charles, Missouri impressed in her collegiate debut by earning third place in the high jump with a mark of 1.45 meters.

In the pole vault, senior Carleigh Bynum from Camilla, Georgia continues to lead the way after placing fourth at the Commonwealth Opener with a vault of 3.63 meters. Bynum is the UWG school record holder in the event and enters the meet with a mark of 3.75 meters. Sophomore Mallory Peavey from Fitzgerald, Georgia will also compete after recording a personal-best mark of 3.18 meters in the season opener.

Kierra McKenna will also return to the long jump after leading the Wolves at the Commonwealth Opener with a mark of 4.39 meters, while Genesis Price will compete again after recording a 4.03 meter jump in her debut.

In the triple jump, sophomore Jordan Kelly from Warner Robins, Georgia returns after posting a mark of 10.89 meters at the Commonwealth Opener and enters the meet with an improved mark of 11.16 meters. Freshman Alyvia Matthews from Bremen, Georgia will make her collegiate debut in the triple jump. 

Throws
The throws group opened the season with strong performances and will look to build on that success at the Samford Open. Sophomore Day Atkins from Stockbridge, Georgia earned third place in the shot put at the Commonwealth Opener with a throw of 12.60 meters and also recorded a 13.98 meter mark in the weight throw. She enters the meet with a 13.55 meter mark in the shot put and 16.21m in weight throw. 

Junior Dru Green, a Carrollton, Georgia native, was one of the Wolves' top performers at the season opener, earning second place in the shot put with a throw of 12.60 meters and third place in the weight throw with a personal best mark of 16.83 meters. Green enters the Samford Open with marks of 12.72 meters in the shot put and 16.83 meters in the weight throw.

Freshman Leilah Mathieu from Dacula, Georgia will also compete after recording a 9.85 meter throw in the shot put and a 10.25 meter mark in the weight throw during her collegiate debut. Junior Kyla Ford from Warner Robins, Georgia returns to the weight throw after earning fifth place at the Commonwealth Opener with a personal best mark of 16.00 meters.

The Wolves will be led by Head Coach Ryan Bailey, along with sprints, jumps, and hurdles coach Shanicka Dyson-Woodman, pole vault coach Shannon Riley, throws coach Robert Brown, and graduate assistants Phelani Maduwa and Olivia Fulford. 

The Wolves continue their indoor campaign on Saturday, January 17th, and fans can stay connected with all things UWG track & field by following @uwgxctf on Instagram and @UWGTrack on X.