Watch Mt. SAC Relays Live on USATF.TV ($)
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LARAMIE, Wyo. – The University of Wyoming track & field team will enjoy the beautiful California sunshine this week, heading to the Golden State for an eventful trip Thursday through Saturday. The majority of the team will start at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate in Long Beach, Calif., on Thursday and will stick around in Long Beach for the Beach Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, some athletes will compete at the Mt. SAC Relays in Torrance, Calif., on Thursday and the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., on Thursday and Friday.

With the trip to California comes the first chance to compete at sea level during the 2018 outdoor season, which has featured the typical weather battles as the Pokes have traveled up and down the Front Range. The opportunity to compete at sea level will especially benefit the UW distance squad, which is looking forward to big things this weekend.

Sophomore Daniel Hintz, currently the No. 2 runner in the Mountain West for the men's 1,500 meters, has his sights set on moving up the UW all-time list for the event. Hintz is ranked No. 5 in program history after he clocked an altitude-adjusted 3 minutes, 45.85 seconds at the CU Invitational. Fellow New Zealand native Harry Ewing will run in a talented heat of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays, looking to improve on his altitude-adjusted time of 8:57.76 that currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West.

Wyoming's two current conference leaders are primed to take on a talented group of competitors this weekend as well. Senior Damon Unland is currently ranked first in the league for the men's hammer throw and returns to the site of his personal best mark in the event this weekend. Unland took third in the hammer at the Pacific Beach Intercollegiate in Long Beach last season, tossing 198 feet even. He has come within two inches of that mark this season, but will attempt to cross the 200-foot barrier for the first time in his career as he returns to Long Beach for the pair of meets hosted by Long Beach State.

Meanwhile, jumps star Ja'la Henderson takes a comfortable MW women's triple jump lead into the busy week. Henderson's mark of 43-0.5 from the Tom Benich Invitational is tops in the league by over a foot, but she is chasing San Diego State junior Lisa-Anne Barrow in the conference long jump standings. Barrow recently leapt a league-leading 20-9.25, while Henderson's mark of 20-2.5 from the Jerry Quiller Classic ranks second in the conference. Henderson will attempt to take advantage of the warm weather to make a move in the national rankings as well, where she is currently slotted ninth in the triple jump and tied for 34th in the long jump.

All event groups will be out in full force during UW's west coast trip, which will help prepare the Pokes for the outdoor conference championships slated to take place in Fresno, Calif., in just under a month. Follow along with all the action using the live video and live results links above and by following @wyo_track on twitter.