Wildcats Open Outdoor Season at Home with the Wes Kittley Invitational

Friday, March 21

Abilene, Texas

Abilene Christian

Wes Kittley Invitational

Photo by: Tyler Rog

Wildcats Open Outdoor Season at Home with the Wes Kittley Invitational

3/20/2025 12:18:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Don Garrett

ABILENE - The Wildcats open the 2025 outdoor season at home after a brief break following both the men's and women's team finishing 5 th in the team race at the WAC Indoor Championship held in Spokane, WA, at The Podium USA indoor track facility. The Wes Kittley Invitational this coming Friday and Saturday is the only home meet during the 2025 season. The Invitational is named for ACU All-America and ACU Sports Hall of Fame member, Wes Kittley, the Head Track and Field Coach at Texas Tech University, where he has won 2 national championships in T&F. Wes Kittley is also a member of the UTTFCCCA Hall of Fame and the TTFCA T&F Hall of Fame.

Joining ACU and Texas Tech (8 th in both the men's and 10 th in the women's team race at the NCAA D-1 Indoor Championship last weekend) will be joined by several prominent sub-D-1 programs like New Mexico Junior College (2nd in the men's team race and 3rd in the women's team race at the recent NJCAA Indoor Championships); McMurry University (8 th in the NCAA D-3 Indoor Championships), and Angelo State University (8th in the men's team race at the NCAA D-2 Indoor Championships). Other teams attending include: Hardin-Simmons University, Hill College, Midwestern State, North Central Texas College, Ranger JC, and Western Texas College.

This weekend will be final home track meet for several students who will be celebrated for their final season at ACU with the Senior Recognition Ceremony during the meet. Women who will be celebrated include: Brianna Brand, Katelyn Coldicott, Tessa Holderman, Ja'Kaylon Record, Gracyn Reed, Kailey Roskop, Ja'Dasia Sims (ACU's only conference champion at the recent WAC Indoor Championship); and Luize Velmere. The men being recognized will be Cooper Goggans (finished his eligibility indoors a few weeks ago), Rhett Kahlden, Stone Smith, and Sutton Welch.

This weekend will highlight the ACU outdoor track debuts for a large number of Wildcat newcomers. This group includes: Tristan Smalls and transfer Landon Gary (100, 200); Vincent Luffey and Benjamin Castro in the 800; a large group in the 1500 (Andruw Villa, Carlos Cortez, Matthew Engle, and Austin Roberts); steeplechaser Mark Barajas; and pole vaulter Brady Rygaard. On the women's team, prominent newcomers included Laya'Lapri Ratney (100 hurdles); 400 runners Emma Santoro, Jalyn Childers, and Gracee Whitaker; half-milers Lola Buentello and Charley Hamilton; 1500 runners Hannah Kasper and Alyssa Quinones; and steeplechasers Madison Anderson and Charley Hamilton. In the field events, additional newcomers include long jumper Aaralyn Strambler; high jumper Kennadi Payne; and throwers redshirt freshman Sterling Glenn and Mariana Van Dyk competing in all four throwing events – shot put, discus, hammer throw, and javelin. Heptathlete Nele Huth will also compete in several events – 100 hurdles, shot put and javelin.

Competition will kick off with field events on Friday – the women's discus throw will be followed by the men's discus throw on the infield at Elmer Gray Stadium starting at 12:30 on the infield. The women's javelin will be followed by the men's javelin at 5 p.m. at the same venue. Friday, on the track, the Distance Carnival will begin at 6 p.m. The women's and men's 1500 will be followed by the women's and men's steeplechase; the women's and men's 5k and will finish the night with the women's 10K. Things start on Saturday with the women's pole vault at 12 noon, followed by the men's vault. At 1 p.m., the men's and women's long jump competitions begin simultaneously on adjacent runways. Running gets started on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the sprint relays. The Track & Field Senior Recognition is scheduled for 5:30.

This the first time in recent memory that the Wes Kittley Invitational does not occur during Spring Break at ACU. To encourage attendance, both days of the invitational are free admission.