NEW ORLEANS/RICHARDSON, Texas — On Tuesday, the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association slotted the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's track and field program sixth in its first weekly National Performance Ratings Index. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Lone Star Conference announced that sophomore Ja'Qualon Scott and classmate Thomas Nieto have been named LSC Athlete of the Week for the second time in as many weeks. 

The Javelinas moved up 23 spots into sixth, largely thanks to top performances by Scott and Nieto. Scott was named LSC Track Athlete of the Week in consecutive releases after collecting a pair of first-place medals at the Charles Austin Classic. He clocked in at 13.87 in the 110m hurdles, ahead of a 51.44 time in the 400m hurdles, which ranks third in all of NCAA Division II. Additionally, after finishing in 13.62 at the Wes Kittley Invitational, he holds the top spot on the 110m hurdle leaderboards. 

Nieto claimed back-to-back LSC Field Athlete of the Week honors as he once again set the nation's top mark in the pole vault with a 5.35m (17-6.5) clearance on his third attempt at the Texas State Track and Field Stadium. He slotted himself atop the 2023 Columbian outdoor rankings and sits 13th on the World list. 

Also featuring on the DII Performance List, junior Michael Samihamba checks in at 6th on the 400m dash leader board after completing the race in 47.7, while four throwers appear. 

In the shot put, senior Marco Arevalo sits 10th at 17.20m (56-5.25), with graduate student D.J. Delancy not far behind in 12th at (55-1). Additionally, junior Paxton Hair ranks sixth in the discus at 52.19m (171-3), and graduate student Stephen Cardenas 12th in the hammer throw at 57.41m (188-4). 

The Javelinas are now set to compete in the Texas Relays at Mike A. Meyers Stadium on the campus of Texas from Thursday through Saturday. 

 To keep up-to-date with Javelina track and field, follow the program on Facebook at /JavelinaSports, Twitter @JavelinaTFXC, and on Instagram @JavelinaTFXC