PULLMAN, Wash. (Aug. 29, 2024) -- The MPSF has announced the return of the Washington State University Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field teams as well as the Oregon State women beginning with the upcoming 2025 season. Washington State, located in Pullman, Washington, was previously long-standing members of MPSF Indoor Track & Field from 1993- 2021, having participated in each conference championship across 28 seasons since the MPSF's inaugural year. Under the leadership of then-head coach and current MPSF Championship Meet Referee Rick Sloan, the WSU men won a pair of MPSF titles in 1998 and 2001, while the women went back-to-back in 1999-2000. The Cougar men collected 41 All-American honors, while the women had 19 during their first 28 years in the MPSF. Oregon State, located in Corvallis, Oregon, competed in the MPSF for six years from 2015-20.
 
This past March, two student-athletes represented Washington State at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Mason Mahacek finished in 12th-place for All-American honors in the heptathlon, making his NCAA Championship debut after accumulating a Cougar record-setting total of 5,762 points in the regular season's New Mexico Collegiate Classic. On the women's side, freshman Eva Lowder tied for 15th in the NCAA pole vault, after qualifying with a program record 4.35m during the season. She collected second team All-America honors with a 4.15m leap while at NCAA's, becoming the first Cougar pole vaulter to be named an All-American in 17 years (Tyson Byers, 2007) and the first freshman to earn the honor in 22 years (Tamara Diles, 2002). "The MPSF has been an excellent home for indoor track and field on the west coast for many years," said 11th-year WSU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Wayne Phipps. "WSU has had a long history of being part of the MPSF for both men's and women's indoor track and field, and we are very excited to return and to provide an awesome championship experience for our student-athletes."
 
Oregon State is coming off its highest scoring indoor national finish since the program was reinstated in 2004, led by seniors Kaylee Mitchell and Grace Fetherstonhaugh, the former of whom finished in the NCAA's top-10 in the 3,000-meter (9:02.91) for All-American honors. Two seasons ago, Oregon State produced a school record three indoor All-Americans. "We are excited to be rejoining the MPSF and competing for an indoor championship this Winter in Spokane," said eighth-year Beaver Head Coach Louie Quintana. "I know that our student-athletes are thrilled to compete in a scored championship event and we are thankful to be a member of this great conference. We are looking forward to the partnership."
 
The 32nd edition of the MPSF Indoor Track & Field Championship will be held in The Podium in Spokane, Washington, February 21-22, 2025. The event is currently lined up for 19 teams-- 13 for women and six for men across 13 universities. Scheduled to join Washington State on the men's side are Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Long Beach State, Portland, and UC Riverside. The same six programs, in addition to Oregon State, Hawaii, Pepperdine, San Francisco, St. Mary's, UC Davis, and UC Irvine will compete in the women's competition.
 
Since the 2021 hiring of MPSF Executive Director Foti Mellis, 39 teams (six indoor track & field) and 15 schools (four ITF) have been added to the conference. "The MPSF is excited to welcome Washington State and Oregon State back to MPSF Indoor Track & Field," said Mellis. "These two schools will enhance an already competitive field of teams for both the men and women. The MPSF continues its tradition of adding quality programs to the conference and providing a place for these athletes to compete for a conference championship and qualify for the NCAA Championships. We look forward to an exciting competition in Spokane's world-class facility, The Podium."
 
MPSF Indoor Track information, including specific championship details, will be forthcoming on the conference website's championship central page at mpsports.org and on social media @MPSFSports. Learn more about Washington State Indoor Track & Field at www.wsucougars.com and @WSUCougarXCTF, as well as Oregon State's program on www.osubeavers.com and @BeaverTFXC.