The track and field team will hit the road this weekend after having an unexpected rest week due to the weather last weekend.
The Wildcats will head north to the University of Oklahoma to compete in the John Jacobs Invitational for the third time in as many years. The meet will be one of the biggest the team has entered this outdoor season, with 28 teams expected to be there. ACU will compete against some of the elite in collegiate running from Alabama, Oklahoma State and Southern Methodist University.
Competition begins at 5 p.m. Friday with the women’s hammer throw followed by the men’s. The running events will begin Saturday at 12:15 p.m. with the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
ACU has three women competing in the field events at OU who are currently ranked among the conference’s top-10 performers. Pole vaulter Mackenzie West owns the 10th-best pole vault in the league with a height of 11 feet-7.25 inches, and in the throws, sophomores Kayla Melgar and Lonnie Smith are top-10 in both the discus and hammer.
For the men, the Wildcats will have four individuals ranked among the Southland’s top-10 with Kai Schmidt leading the men. Following him is sophomore Morgan Knight (174-6), freshmen Joshua Hunter (170-9) and senior Jelani Rainey (161-11).
On the track, the women’s distance team will look to continue their dominating outdoor performance.
Allie Hackett along with teammate Diana Garcia-Munoz are entered to run the mile. This will be Hackett’s first mile race of the outdoor season. Last week she was in California competing at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays were she ran a lifetime best 5k time of 16:03 for an 18th-place finish against elite runners.
Twin sister, Michaela Hackett and freshman’s Aubrey Till and Carnley Graham will be running the 3k at the invitational. Marina Guerrero will look to improve her times and Southland Conference rankings in the 800m and steeplechase this weekend as well.
In sprints, Kimone Green is going after her third 400-meter hurdle win of the season. Her two previous wins came in Lubbock and in Abilene two weeks ago. Corniel Lionel is entered in the 100m and 200m respectively. Lionel ran a wind-aided 10.25 at Abilene’s Wes Kittley Invitational two weeks ago.
In the 400m dash, ACU is represented by Southland Conference-ranked seniors Rosen Daniel and Deandre McBride. Daniel has the league’s No. 2 time at 46.72 and McBride is ninth at 48.33.
Live results will be available both days online at CFPI timing.
