The UCA Track and Field Team would strive for excellence at the two day meets in Fayetteville and Boston for the Tyson and David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 13 and 14.

The main focuses of the events, sophomore Bailee Villavaso, competing in the Tyson Invitational, and senior Jack Dingman, who would represent UCA in Boston.

Villavaso would truly shine at her event in Fayetteville, getting second place in the Women’s Pole Vaulting competition with a distance of 4.25 meters. 

This would be an all time great for Villavaso who made a new height in her Indoor Pole Vaulting record, previously held by her performance at the Washburn Open on Jan. 30 through 31 where she had a score of 4.02 meters.

This also puts Villavaso at the top of the UCA recorded records for Pole Vaulting with the previous record held by herself. 

It should be noted that the current record entered on UCA’s records on Athletic Net has not been updated since 2025; however, the fact still remains that Villavaso has broken her own recorded record of 3.91 meters.

Dingman would find himself invited to the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at the same time.

Competing in the one-mile-run, Dingman would place 36th place with a recorded time of 4:01.73 with a technical time of 4:01.738 being beat out by Brigham Young University freshman Tyler Sainsbury who had a technical time of 4:01.735.

Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Josey Weaver would stress the importance of these two athletes.

“Always great to leave a weekend with school records falling and an ASUN record as well. Super proud of Jack Dingman and Bailee Villavaso for chasing the best version of themselves,” Weaver expressed. “We will look to have our entire team follow in their footsteps in two weeks.”

Of course, Dignman and Villavaso were not the only two that would be successful. 

Senior Madeline Hill would find herself in 16th place in the Women’s 3000 meter race with a time of 9:42.85.

She would be joined by junior Joia Perry, who would get 22nd place in the Women’s Weight Throwing Competition who would score a distance of 19.27 meters.

On the Men’s side, there would be senior Jaden Schneeberger who would place 18th in the Men’s Weight Throw with a distance of 20.86 meters.

Weaver would show his support for the team as a whole.

“We had our last tuneup this weekend before we head to our ASUN Championships in Louisville, Kentucky,” Weaver said. “We seem to be in a really good spot heading in, and will use these next two weeks to prep mentally for the task ahead.”

The ASUN Championships will be on Feb. 27 through 28.

The Championships will consist of 56 events and will start at 9:00 a.m on Friday and 8:30 a.m on Saturday.