Javelinas recognized by national organization
While staying focused and working diligently during the indoor season, the Javelina track and field program has continued to show everyone in the conference why they should be on top.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Hurdler Jaqualon Scott, Pole Vaulter Thomas Nieto and Heptathlon athlete Dean Wallace were recently honored by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with the title of All-Americans.
This title is only given to those who meet the standards of the USTFCCCA. All three men put up exceptional times and points at their previous indoor championship meet which put them on the road to success.
“I can tell you that it’s the greatest honor I’ve achieved in college. I was really close a lot of times to making the national meet and I fell short but this year was my last indoor season. I made the meet and I left an All-American…it was no better way to end it for me, it was really truly awesome,” Wallace said. Each athlete has dedicated their time to better themselves and put their names on the map all while representing TAMUK.
“My next goal moving into outdoor season is to win. I want to win very badly, all I can do is keep pushing every day,” Scott said. “Being All-American was something I wasn’t expecting, I just try to stay focused on eventually making it to nationals again.”
Now that the Javelinas and newly All-Americans have ended their indoor season they look to go into outdoor season winning gold and breaking school records.
“I feel so proud of me and all the work that I did to complete this goal, but I’ll keep working because I’m not satisfied,” Nieto said. “My goal moving forward is to break the school record and move on to nationals so I can win a gold medal. It takes a lot of discipline and dedication. You just have to be strong and never give up.”
Nieto was also previously honored not once but twice by the USTFCCCA South Central Region Indoor Field Athlete of the 2023 year.
Along with the supportive coaching staff and Javelina fans, all three men have been motivated and pushed to be in the successful position they are in now.
“We were pretty excited and positive. I think our preparation was good. I knew that all three of them would do well. I was confident, and they were confident as well,” Head Coach Ryan Dall said. “It’s always great to have people be successful. I think it shows other potential athletes that they can excel here and be their best here.”
To have made it so far in the season and being honored with a title like this has given Scott, Wallace and Nieto the chance to show the nation and everyone in the Division II Lone Star Conference how strong a team TAMUK is.
The Javelinas are gearing up for their next competition and are preparing to bring it home for the Cactus Cup meet in Javelina Stadium on April 15.