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NEWS: Salt Lake CC Cuts Track & Field, Hakon DeVries Under Investigation at Kentucky & Washington State to Cut Field Events to Go All-In for Distance
- Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
- Jun 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Yes, it's true, we still have a number of transfers that we still need to cover. Even so, we thought it would be best to add a little variety to our content offerings today!
With a handful of key headlines happening around the NCAA (and the NJCAA), and many more likely on the way, we wanted to knock out a few pieces of news before things became even crazier in the coming weeks.
Here are a few things happening around the country that you may not have caught...
Kentucky Distance Coach Hakon DeVries Currently Under Investigation by University
Last week, multiple outlets reported that Kentucky distance coach Hakon DeVries has been suspended with pay, "pending investigation." The news validates recent rumors received by The Stride Report throughout the spring months concerning DeVries and his status within Kentucky's track and field program.
Conducting the investigation is the University of Kentucky's Office of Equal Opportunity which, per their website, "Provide timely, sensitive, and discreet responses to complaints and reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment and retaliation."
According to FOX 56 News, "the university declined to provide further comment, and the nature of the allegations is not known at this time." Per John Cheves of Yahoo Sports, the investigation's conclusion is not expected to be reached until, "sometime in August," according to University of Kentucky officials.
DeVries has just completed his 12th year with the University of Kentucky track and field program. Despite the sprints-centric nature of the team's roster, the Wildcats have found sporadic success in the middle events under DeVries, specifically on the women's side.
In the winter of 2023, the Kentucky women produced a time of 10:53 in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR), a mark which still stands at NCAA #23 all-time (indoor). The year before that, the Wildcat women went on to place 5th in that event at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships.
This past spring, Kentucky's Jenna Schwinghamer advanced to her first national meet as an individual after running a 2:02 (800) PR at the East Regional Championships.
Washington State to Go All-In on Distance Events, Will Cut Field Events & Retain Some Sprints
Last week, Washington State University announced that they will be changing the roster structure of their men's and women's track and field teams moving forward. According to the press release, the Cougars' will be, "shifting to a distance-focused approach."
In turn, fields events at Washington State University will not be supported while opportunities in the sprints and hurdles will be "limited" moving forward. Athletes who are impacted by this move will still have their scholarships honored.
The Cougars have produced a handful of standout distance runners in recent years. And of those standouts, few have been more productive than Evans Kurui and Zenah Cheptoo have been over the last year or two. The former ran times of 13:16 (5k) and 27:37 (10k) this past spring, earning 5th place All-American honors in the latter event. Meanwhile, the latter name has run times of 8:56 (3k), 15:40 (5k) and 32:23 (10k) during her short time with the Cougars.
With this roster shift, one can expect the Washington State men and women to become increasingly more competitive as teams during the fall months.
The Cougar men last qualified for the NCAA XC Championships as a team in 2017 when they placed 24th overall out of 31 teams. The year prior, the Washington State men placed 14th at the 2016 national meet. According to Track & Field News, the Washington State women have not qualified for the NCAA XC Championships as a team since 1985.
Coach Wayne Phipps has slowly begun to invest in overseas long distance runners over the last few years. Aforementioned names such as Kurui and Cheptoo are just two examples. And now, with even more resources at his finger tips, it wouldn't be a surprise for Washington State to add even more international long distance runners in an effort to create a more competitive scoring five.
That, on paper, is bad news for multiple teams who will have to compete against Washington State in the near future.
Gonzaga and Portland currently reside in the West Coast Conference, a league that Washington State and Oregon State are temporarily competing in during the cross country season while the PAC-12 rebuilds. Once Washington State and Oregon State return to the PAC-12 in 2026, they will face-off against proven long distance programs such as Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State and Gonzaga, all of which are leaving their respective conferences for the PAC-12 in 2026.
Salt Lake CC Cuts Track & Field, Will Retain Cross Country
Last week, Salt Lake Community College announced that they are cutting their men's and women's track and field program. They will continue to sponsor men's and women's cross country. Athletes on scholarship and those who have signed their letters of intent will have their scholarships honored for the upcoming 2025-26 academic calendar year.
"After thorough evaluation, this decision reflects broader institutional priorities and financial challenges. It was made after careful consideration and in no way reflects negatively on our student-athletes, who have represented the college with excellence and dedication."
The move to cut Salt Lake CC's track and field programs comes as a surprise. The Bruins first started sponsoring men's and women's track and field just three years ago. Since then, both teams have found tremendous success, producing multiple individual national champions on the oval and winning multiple national team titles on the grass.
Key names to have come out of SLCC's track and field program include JaQuavious Harris (signed pro contract with Saucony), Emerald Kehr (signed with LSU), Jayden Holdsworth (NJCAA 3k champion), Michael Maiorano (signed with Utah State), Melanie Anderson (NJCAA steeple champion) and more.
Salt Lake Community College is under the new direction of Athletic Director, Gary Veron, the former Associate Athletic Director at BYU who was hired last month. Isaac Wood, the coach for SLCC track and field and cross country, was a former assistant coach for BYU prior to joining the Bruins.
