KINGSVILLE, Texas — The Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field team is headed to Azusa, California, as the squad looks to improve its top marks ahead of the 2023 NCAA Division II Track and Field National Championships. Seventeen student-athletes will make the trip for the APU Last Chance Meet, hosted at the Cougar Athletic Stadium on the campus of Azusa Pacific.
 
The competition will begin at 2 p.m. CT on Friday with the men's javelin at noon, while things on the track get going at 6 p.m. CT with the women's 800m run.
 
Each 4x400m relay squad will make the trip, as the women's team, made up of freshman Melanie Roland, sophomore Vitiana Robert, junior Sophia Ramirez, and sophomore Cynai Christopher, currently rank 21st with a time of 3:45.06 from the 2023 Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, Roland is slotted 34th in the open 400m after clocking in at 55.39, and Christopher 59th at 55.7.
 
The men's 4x400m relay squad comprised of sophomore Ja'Qualon Scott, junior Bryson Dyer, freshman Tony Benitez, and junior Michael Samihamba, meanwhile, sit fourth nationally at 3:08.48.
 
Scott also boasts the top mark in the 400m hurdles, following a 50.46 performance at the league meet, and rank third in the 110m hurdles thanks to a 13.56 time from the Texas Relays. Samihamba, meanwhile, will look to cement his qualification in the 400m dash, as he now checks in at 16th at 46.99.
 
Rounding out the group that will take to the track, sophomore Cody Fountain posted a time of 1:50.55 in the 800m run at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight Invitational, placing him 28th nationally.
 
Among the field athletes, freshman Fakhreddine Benhadja sits 27th in the high jump, with a 2.08m (6-9.75) clearance from the conference championships, and a pair of throwers in senior Marco Arevalo and junior Garrett Burns will look to improve their stock.
 
Arevalo ranks 15th in the shot put, with a season-best mark of 18.26m, and Burns 34th in the discus following a 54.24m (177-11) measurement.
 
Saturday's field events will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT and feature a slew of Blue and Gold athletes in field athletes ahead of running finals at 3 p.m. CT.
 
The men's pole vault is slated for 2 p.m. and will feature a trio of top-ranked competitors. Sophomore Thomas Nieto leads the way with the second-highest clearance in DII at 5.45m (17-10.5), while sophomore Blake Gordon and junior Reid Barba are tied for 13th with a 5.01m (16-5.25) mark.
 
Shortly after, junior Jazmin Ray will take on the triple jump, an event that's seen her reach 12.09m (39-8) in the triple jump, slotting her 31st nationally.
 
 Live results as well as a full recap following the meet can be found on javelinaathletics.com To keep up-to-date with Javelina track and field, follow the program on Facebook at /JavelinaSports, Twitter @JavelinaTFXC and on Instagram @JavelinaTFXC