Cullowhee, N.C. – After a brief reprieve from the road, the Western Carolina track and field teams are back in action this weekend as they participate in the 11th annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. The weekend's meet in Lynchburg, Va., marks the third consecutive appearance at the Liberty-hosted meet for the Catamounts and their fifth overall.
The Catamounts will be joined by competition from the Carolinas and Virginia with representatives from several different collegiate levels. WCU has 79 entries across 53 events at the two-day meet. VMI and ETSU join the Catamounts as the Southern Conference's representation in Lynchburg.
Events start at 1:40 p.m. Friday with the men's and women's 60-meter dash preliminaries. Field events begin at 2 p.m. with the men's weight throw and the women's long jump and pole vault.
Saturday's action starts bright and early with the women's high jump underway at 8:30 a.m. Track events hit the starting blocks at 9:45 a.m. with the men's and women's 200m dash.
ESPN+ coverage of the meet will be provided on both days of competition (paid subscription required), beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Noon on Saturday.
Friday and Saturday's Meet
Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational | (Fri) – 1:40 p.m. – 9:25 p.m. | (Sat.) 8:30 a.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Live Results: https://tinyurl.com/5n84t95e
Watch Day One (ESPN+ - beginning at 5:30 p.m.): https://tinyurl.com/5cu9ajsa
Watch Day Two (ESPN+ - beginning at 12:00 p.m.): https://tinyurl.com/khbrhdy8
Catamounts to Watch:
Western Carolina standout Noah Straley will be busy this weekend as the junior is scheduled to compete in four total events. The Jacksonville, Fla. product is set to see action in the 200m and 400m events on track, while also running the third leg of the 4x400-meter relay. He is also registered for the men's long jump as he looks to take advantage of a final tune-up before the Southern Conference Indoor Championships at the end of the month.
The Catamount speedsters on the women's side have their work cut out for them as well, with 12 entries across the 60m, 200m, 300m, and 400m events. Cymoria Thomas, Armani Blair, Millie Simmons, Kyndal Saunders, Marie Harris, Leah Butler, and Aniya Patterson will lead the Catamounts in the sprints, with Thomas, Butler, and Saunders on deck to join Shaneil Lysight in the 4x400m.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
Following the competition in Lynchburg, WCU has another week off before returning to the Commonwealth of Virginia for action at the 2025 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 28 – March 1. VMI will host the conference championship on post at the Corps Physical Training Facility as the Catamounts go for the gold in Lexington, Va.
