MPSF Indoor Track & Field Adds Fresno State, Texas State
Photo: Ella Spaulding (Courtesy: Fresno State)
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has announced the addition of the Fresno State women and Texas State men and women to its indoor track & field membership, beginning with the upcoming 2026-27 season. The Bulldogs and Bobcats will both be first-time members in MPSF Indoor Track & Field. The MPSF’s 34th championship will feature the largest competition in the conference since 2020 with 34 teams vying for titles--21 women and 13 men--taking place February 26-27, 2027, at the Podium in Spokane, Washington.
In addition to Fresno State and Texas State, lined up for MPSF Indoor Track & Field are Boise State, Cal State Fullerton, Colorado State, CSUN, Long Beach State, Oregon State, Pacific, Pepperdine, Portland, Sacramento State, San Diego State, San Francisco, St. Mary’s, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, Utah State, Utah Valley, and Washington State.
Since hiring MPSF Commissioner Foti Mellis in 2021, the conference has added 102 teams, 49 schools, and eight sports. "The addition of these exceptional programs reflects the strength and momentum of MPSF Indoor Track & Field," said Mellis. "Our member institutions are committed to providing an outstanding championship experience, and we are excited to welcome both longtime conference partners and first-time participants as we build the future of MPSF Indoor Track & Field together. We look forward to an outstanding championship in Spokane."
Fresno State brought home a pair of Mountain West Conference individual titles in 2026. Junior Liz Tarczy defended her high jump championship and has medaled in the event in all three of her conference meets. Additionally, junior Ella Spaulding was the Mountain West pentathlon champion, backed by the second-highest five-event total in school history (4,022). “We are excited for our indoor team to join the MPSF and have the chance to continue to compete at a high level against some new and familiar opponents,” said Head Coach Jason Drake. Fresno State will be making its third appearance in the MPSF across its athletic department (women’s lacrosse-2009-21; men’s soccer-1992-95).
This past season, Texas State freshman first team All-American Tshephang Dankuru recorded a sixth-place men’s high jump finish at the NCAA Championship after clearing 2.18 meters, becoming just the second Bobcat all-time to score points at NCAA’s. Senior Aiden Hayes competed in the same event at the national meet and placed 12th. On the women’s side, Sun Belt Conference Track Performer of the Year Abigail Parra broke the all-time Bobcat record in the mile (4:40.41) and 3,000-meter (9:29.24). Melanie Duron was named the Sun Belt Field Performer of the Year, backed by her second-straight shot put conference title (17.01m). Both Bobcat programs won the Sun Belt team title last year, the sixth for the women and second for the men. “We are excited to join the MPSF Indoor conference as I have had the privilege to be there in the past with two other universities,” said Head Coach John Frazier. “This will provide a great opportunity for student-athletes to showcase their talents amongst other great programs.” Texas State, located in San Marcos, Texas, is making its first-ever appearance in the MPSF across all sports.
The MPSF enters 2026-27 with 127 total national championships across 10 different sports dating back to 1992, including a conference record-setting six titles during the 2025-26 academic year. The MPSF’s 117 NCAA titles lead the nation amongst Division-I Non-Power Four Conferences.
MPSF Indoor Track & Field information, including specific championship details, will be located on the conference website’s championship central page at https://mpsports.org/. Follow the MPSF on social media @MPSFSports.