WSU Cougars head to Reno for Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships...

The Washington State men's and women's track team is off to Reno, Nevada for Sunday and Monday's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (photo courtesy Reno-Sparks Convention Center).

The MPSF meet returns to Reno for the first time since 2000, and will host the meet for the ninth time in its 33-year history.

After an 18-year run at the University of Washington's Dempsey Indoor, the meet moved to Spokane when The Podium opened in 2022. Before hand, the meet was held in Reno from 1993-99, and in Flagstaff, Arizona from 2000-2002.

The Cougars head to Reno as the defending men's team champions, while the women finished second behind Oregon State.

On paper, Oregon State appears to have the most balanced team on the women's side, though Hawaii, and Long Beach State may have something to say.

The men's competition appears wide open with Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton the favorites on paper.

With Washington State now a distance-only program, the Cougars and Portland should rack up most of the team points in the 800, mile, 3000, 5000, and the distance medley relays.

Perhaps two of the biggest questions on the men's side involve Evans Kurui (Paul Merca photo) and Solomon Kipchoge.

Kurui went to Boston last week with the intent of bringing down his 5000 meter time from the 13:24.79 mark he ran in December on the same Boston University track.

While Kurui finished second in the invitational 5000 in 13:27.21, he was almost 28 seconds behind winner Parker Wolfe, who ran a world leading 12:59.09. In the meantime, Portland alum Woody Kincaid of Nike was third in 13:30.30, and Japan's Nagiya Mori was fourth in 13:32.07.

Entering conference championship weekend, Kurui stands number 20 on the NCAA descending order list, while Kipchoge is at number 19 at 13:24.30.

Even though it's possible that both could improve on their marks, they would have to do it on their own. While both were raised at altitude in Kenya, racing at altitude is a different ball game. The NCAA has an altitude adjustment formula for marks set in venues above 3000 feet. Reno's elevation is about 4500 feet.

Kipchoge has been a bit of a mystery, as he hasn't raced since December in Boston. To date, there is no word on whether he's sustained an injury, or whether something else is in play.

One Coug who doesn't have to worry about advancing to the NCAA championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas in two weeks is Rosemary Longisa.

Longisa enters the weekend at number 3 in the women's 800 at 1:59.71, and number 7 in the mile at 4:24.59.

However, teammate Zenah Cheptoo may need some help in the 3000 and/or the 5000. In the 5000, she's number 21 on the NCAA D1 descending order list at 15:17.80, while she's outside the top 25 in the 3000 at 8:53.90.

Media partner RunnerSpace.com ($) will stream both days of the MPSF Championships.

The meet's time schedule is available here, while the link to live results is available here. 

NOTE: The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation contributed to this report.

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