Wayland Baptist's track and field program has achieved many impressive accomplishments since
Brian Whitlock arrived on the scene as coach in 2004. This weekend in Pittsburg, Kan., the Pioneers have a good shot at doing something that hasn't been done at Wayland in 30 years: win men's and women's national titles at the same meet.
Along with another perennial power, Indiana Tech, Wayland's teams will be the odds-on favorites when the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships get under way at 4 p.m. Thursday in Pittsburg, Kan.
"It will be between us and Indiana Tech. We're really the only schools that have the firepower to win," Whitlock said. "They have depth and some quality runners. It should be a good competition between the two schools."
NAIANetwork.com will broadcast all sessions of the national championships. Packages can be purchased for $14.95. For more information, go to NAIANetwork.com. For the schedule of events and other information, click
here.
Wayland twice has claimed men's and women's national titles at the same meet, something Indiana Tech did indoors last year. Both of Wayland's dual crowns were indoor championships, first in 1986 then again in 1988, during an impressive five-year run of national titles for the Pioneer men from 1985-89.
"It's something that hasn't been done since I've been here, so it would mean a lot to our program," said Whitlock, who has been a head coach or assistant for seven women's and two men's titles in his 14 years at Wayland, most recently the 2017 women's outdoor title. In addition, the Pioneers under Whitlock have 10 runner-up showings, including eight for the men.
The closest Wayland has come during Whitlock's tenure to winning dual crowns was in 2014 when the women won outdoors and the men finished second by four points.
The coach believes if the Pioneers perform how they're capable, they'll sweep.
On the women's side, where Wayland finished third last year after winning in 2016, Whitlock has the Pioneers as slight favorites over Indiana Tech.
"On paper I have us with an edge of about six points. That's if we have a decent meet. We're capable of scoring more," Whitlock said. "Friends (Kan.) and Southern New Orleans have an outside shot if one of us don't take care of business.
"I really like our chances. We've been there and done this," he added. "Our girls are used to the pressure. They won outdoors last year, and at cross country nationals ran really well (finishing a close second). That's good because our distance girls a big part of what we're doing this week."
Another big part for the WBU women will be the relays.
"That's a big key," Whitlock said. "We have a chance of being top two in all three relays. We have a good group of kids who buy into the team idea and relays."
The coach said it will take the entire team to make it happen.
"We have some kids running really well, like
Devin Johnson and
Silvia Sosa. We'll be leaning heavily on those two for some good things."
Another key piece to Wayland's puzzle will be
Telecia Briscoe, who has been slowly recovering from injury, hopefully in time to defend a pair of national titles she won last year in the 60 hurdles and long jump.
"There are a lot of other pieces. We have quite a bit of depth and a lot of talent. We just have a good group of competitors. The kids are used to this stage.
"If our women perform really well I think we can for sure win it. But we have to perform."
Whitlock said it will take close to 90 points to claim the title in both women's and men's divisions.
Unlike the Wayland women, Whitlock has the Pioneer men as slight underdogs.
"I have Indiana Tech as the favorite. We have to have a really good meet, which we're capable of, to beat them," he said. "I'm not seeing any other teams with enough firepower to challenge."
The Pioneer men have something to prove after their incredible run of finishing on the podium (top four teams) at 14 straight national championships (dating back to 2010) came to an end last year in Johnson City, Tenn., where Wayland placed fifth. WBU then placed sixth at outdoor nationals.
For the Pioneers to win what would be their first national title since 2012, they'll need what Whitlock called his three "studs" to have big meets.
"My studs – juniors
Quintaveon Poole and
Leon Boyd, and senior
Tre Hinds – have to be studs. Those three guys have to score a lot of points. We'll lean heavily on them.
"After that the rest of our pieces have to fall into place. We have to have some kids step up and run well."
He said the 400 and 600 will be key races.
"Those are two huge races in which we're favored over Indiana Tech. We have to put three in the finals, maybe four."
And, like on the women's side, Whitlock said relays also will be key.
"The wild card is the DMR (distance medley relay). Of all the relays, men and women, that's the only one I'm a little unsure of. If we can make that final on Thursday that will be huge."
The meet, being hosted by Pittsburg State University, will continue on Friday and conclude around 5 p.m. Saturday.
"I'm excited because we have a lot of parents and family members coming. It should be the most people we've ever had watching us at a national meet. We're excited about the opportunity."
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