Wildcats shine in season-opening Corky Classic

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Abilene Christian track and field programs opened the 2022 indoor season this weekend, turning in a weekend full of strong performances at Texas Tech's Corky Classic. The Wildcats came home with ten WAC top-10 marks, including Levi Chambers' victory in the 3000m. 
 
INSIDE THE MEET:

• Results
• Host: Texas Tech University
• Site: Sports Performance Center
• Location: Lubbock, Texas

 
QUOTABLE:

• "It was very exciting to have this small group compete this weekend at Texas Tech," head coach Jerrod Cook said. "We had some great first of the year performances at the meet and can't wait for the whole team to be back in competition next Friday."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Levi Chambers' highlighted the opening day for the Purple and White, winning the 3000m with a time of 8:42.22 in the 3000m, which was good enough for ninth all-time on ACU's record book.   
• Gabe Trevino came in fourth in the same event, doing so with a time of 9:10.78. 
• Cooper Goggans picked up a sixth-place finish in the mile run with a time of 2:32.27. 
• In her first jump of the season, junior Payton Kirk earned sixth place and set a new indoor personal best with a distance of 19'2 ¾" in the long jump. That mark is the best indoor jump by any Wildcat since the 2003 season.
• On the men's side, Will Harris picked up a PR of his own in the long jump, doing so with a seventh-place mark of 7.11 meters (23'4"). 
• Cole Newman (16'3 ¼") and Grant Baker (15'9 ¼") came in sixth and seventh respectively in the pole vault, with the latter improving upon his previous indoor best by a full foot. 
• Ella Anttila finished sixth overall with a distance of 12.55 meters (41'2 ¼") in a women's triple jump event that saw a new all-time collegiate record jump. 
• Annina Brandenburg took third in the women's shot put with a throw of 15.68 meters (51'5 ½"), while high jumper Zoe Spinn ended her day in a four-way tie for fourth place with a distance of 1.65 meters (5'5"). 
• Breonna McCarthy-Reese (3:19.72) turned in a 6th-place finish in the women's mile, while teammates Georgina Balderas (3:29.31) and Destini Smith (3:37.39) came in 10th and 11th respectively. 
• Gabe Trevino came in fourth in the same event, doing so with a time of 9:10.78. 
• In her first jump of the season, junior Payton Kirk earned sixth place and set a new indoor personal best with a distance of 19'2 ¾" in the long jump. That mark is the best indoor jump by any Wildcat since the 2003 season.
• On the men's side, Will Harris picked up a PR of his own in the long jump, doing so with a seventh-place mark of 23'4".
• Cole Newman (16'3 ¼") and Grant Baker (15'9 ¼") came in sixth and seventh respectively in the pole vault, with the latter improving upon his previous indoor best by a full foot. 
• Ella Anttila finished sixth overall with a distance of 41'2 ¼" in a women's triple jump event that saw a new all-time collegiate record jump. 
• Annina Brandenburg took third in the women's shot put with a throw of 51'5 ½", while high jumper Zoe Spinn ended her day in a four-way tie for fourth place with a distance of 5'5". 
• Breonna McCarthy-Reese (3:19.72) turned in a 6th-place finish in the women's mile, while teammates Georgina Balderas (3:29.31) and Destini Smith (3:37.39) came in 10th and 11th respectively. 

 
UP NEXT: 

• The Wildcats head back to Lubbock next week for Friday's Red Raider Open. It is the second of three consecutive trips to Texas Tech to begin the 2022 campaign.