The West Texas A&M men’s and women’s Track & Field teams finished their 2022 indoor season with a bang. Both the men’s and women’s side had many notable performances. As a team, West Texas A&M swept the LSC Championship trophies, produced NCAA Champions, South-Central Regional Award winners, All-Americans, LSC Awards, and many broken records. West Texas A&M has had an impressive run and hopes to continue this into their outdoor season. The outdoor season began Friday, March 28, 2022, where they hosted the ‘WT Spring Break Classic’ in Canyon, TX.

West Texas A&M Track & Field is coached by Matt Stewart who has also racked up the accolades for the indoor season. Coach Stewart swept the ‘Coach of the Year’ awards for both the men and the women. This would not be all for Coach Stewart during the indoor season. He was also named the ‘South Central Regional Men’s and Women’s Coach of The Year’. Coach Stewart led the Buffs and Lady Buffs to a Top 5 finish during the NCAA Championships. The Lady Buffs would finish third and the Buffs would complete their indoor season in fourth.

The Buffs and Lady Buffs are fortunate enough to have many athletes who excelled during their indoor season. The Zada Swoopes, a reigning shot-put national champion, female Field Athlete of the Year, and South-Central Region Women’s Field Athlete of the year. Benjamin Azamati, a multi-time ‘Men’s Track Athlete of The Year’, LSC Male Track Athlete of the Year, South Central Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, and an Olympic runner. Leah Belfield, an NCAA All-American, LSC Track Athlete of the Year, and South-Central Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.

Zada Swoopes has had quite the career here at WT and continues to add onto her All-American, NCAA, and LSC accolades. Her Track & Field run is not over, and she will continue to accomplish much more before it is. When asked ‘What does this NCAA Championship title for indoor Shot-Put mean to you’, Swoopes stated, “It means that all of my hard work paid off. The five-years paid off, all of the surgeries that I had, the ups and downs... it just means it all paid off and I will be remembered as one of the greatest.” Swoopes a fifth-year senior is competing for her last time during the 2022 season. To finish off her career at WT, she hopes to leave an 18-5 in Shot-Put, 60 meters in discus, and 60 meters in hammer throw. Swoopes is no stranger to the spotlight and hopes to “leave some type of memory for herself here”. WT Buff Nation wants to know what motivates Swoopes to win. This is what the Champion has to say, “My younger me. Growing up I have always wanted to be like Michelle Carter and like the great Michael Carter. I keep striving every day because I am getting closer and closer to that goal.” Swoopes will continue trying to reach her goals during her outdoor season at WT.

Benjamin Azamati is known as one of the best runners in the nation, even on the Olympic level. Azamati a native of Ghana has competed at WT for three seasons. Azamati has acquired several awards, accolades, and continues to receive worldwide recognition. We are lucky enough here at WT to have Azamati competing for our Track & Field team. Azamati is an Olympic runner, the LSC Athlete of the Year & Outstanding Athlete of the Year, and not to forget a multi-time National Champion. Azamati hopes to do better during his outdoor season where he aspires to break previous PR’s. When asked what it means to him to have all of the success he has had at WT, he states, “It means a lot. Of course, this is not where I want to be, I am not the best in my career yet and I know I am going to get far. So, the success I have had serves as a motivation for me.” Azamati a stellar athlete continues to WOW WT Buff Nation. Azamati recognizes the positive and motivating group he is around day in and day out. Azamati has been under the spotlight during his time at WT and continues to be pressured to be better. Azamati states, “to deal with nervousness, I picture myself getting into the blocks and picture everything going according to plan.” Azamati shares techniques that his coaches have implemented to assist with race day pressure. Azamati will continue his 2022 run as he competes in the outdoor Track & Field season.

Leah Belfield came to WT as a Freshman during the 2019-2020 season. Belfield is a native of New Zealand and has made quite the name for herself in Canyon, TX. Leah is in her third season as a Track & Field athlete at WT and with only a classification of a sophomore has already accomplished amazing things. In her short time here at WT, she has been a First Team All-American, First Team All-Lone Star Conference, and is now an NCAA National Champion in the 200-meter dash. Belfield also competed in the indoor 60-meter dash where she placed second. Belfield states that she never thought that becoming a National Champion would happen for her. She shares, “I came from a really small place at home in New Zealand... they had one sprinter, one thrower, and one jumper. I wouldn’t have gotten here without Stew and all of the support from the team.” Belfield is hoping for PR’s during her outdoor season and is excited to compete in her second one for WT. She was able to beat her outdoor record during her indoor season and is excited to see where this takes her. Belfield attributes her success and finding WT to Coach Murry. Belfield speaks highly of her coach back home and states, “he picked me out of a school fun athletics class and told me, “Hey, come train!” I did that for a few years and then came over to WT and Stew has been a really big influence on my track career. He helps me get better and better every year.” Belfield is not done with her Track & Field career and will continue to be recognized for her outstanding work on the track and in the classroom. Belfield was one of two WT Women’s athletes to be named to the ‘Lone Star Conference 2022 Women’s Indoor Track & Field All-Academic Team’. Belfield left WT Buff Nation and future Buffaloes with some advice, “trust the process and timing. The coaches know what they are doing, and they are supportive. You never know how far you can go.”

West Texas A&M will continue their outdoor Track & Field season. Their next meet will be held in Canyon Texas, April 7-9, 2022. WT will host the Joe Meaker Classic & Multi. Come support your WT Track & Field team.

From WT Buff Nation, Goodluck Track & Field. #BUFFNATION