Women's Track & Field | March 23, 2018

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan track and field team will open the 2018 outdoor season on Friday at the Victor Lopez Classic, hosted by Rice University.

In addition to the host Owls, the Broncos will battle Sam Houston, Lamar, Chicago State, Tulsa, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Arkansas Little Rock, McNeese State and Houston.

WMU has had three weeks off since the end of its season at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship and is eager to move on from a disappointing end to the indoor season.

"I think everyone realizes we should have finished higher at the MAC Championship," said head coach Kelly Lycan. "Outdoors is always, no pun intended, a breath of fresh air. It's nice to get out in the sun. To an outsider they might think it seems like the same thing, but the outdoor season really changes the sport."

Senior thrower Brittany Casey has been waiting for the outdoor season, where she specializes in the hammer throw and the discus. Casey capped off her junior year with a career-best performance at the MAC Outdoor Championship, which WMU hosted. The Zeeland, Mich., native threw the third-best distance in program history at 184' 4" (56.18m) and took fifth place to score at the MAC Championship for the first time in her career.

"Since I have been at Western Michigan, Brittany has had the most growth as a thrower and as a person," said assistant throws coach Pat Tracy. "She has improved over 30 feet in the last two seasons, so let's see what's in store for her this year. She is one of our most competitive athletes in practice and in meets."

Casey and the rest of the Bronco throwers will kick off the meet with the hammer throw on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET.