LUBBOCK, Texas - The Abilene Christian track and field teams will head to the Sports Performance Center on the Texas Tech University campus to compete in the Corky Classic this Friday and Saturday. The ACU men enter 2026 following a fifth-place finish at the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, scoring 61 points. The Wildcat women also placed fifth at the WAC indoor meet, with 50 points scored.
The Wildcat women have 21 athletes returning from the 2025 roster, of which 11 scored at either the indoor or outdoor championship. Of those 11 scorers from last year, there are seven entered in Lubbock –
Hana Banks,
Jalyn Childers,
Sterling Glenn,
Nele Huth,
Natalie Poe,
Emma Santoro and
Gracee Whiteaker. Two additional returnees who didn't score last year at the WAC Championships are also entered –
Lola Buentello and
Mariana Van Dyk, with Van Dyk particularly primed for a breakout season.
The Wildcat women's team also will benefit from a huge influx of new talent this year – 18 athletes who did not compete for ACU last year. Of these 18 newcomers, 12 are entered in Lubbock – transfers Chianel Asobureunwu and
Chloe McLellan; 2025 redshirt
Skyla Riedel; plus freshmen
Mackenzie Flaugher,
Lauren Foxworth,
Halle Gunter,
Madelyn McFadden,
Morgan Morris, Cierra Tilley,
Anna Vyn,
Kee'Lani Whitlock and
Neriah Williams.
The ACU men have 12 men returning from the 2025 roster, including WAC decathlon champion
Canaan Fairley. Of the 12 returnees, nine will compete at the Corky Classic –
Mark Barajas,
Benjamin Castro, Fairley,
Miguel Hall,
Ethan Krause,
Vincent Luffey,
Donovan Ramirez,
Rylan Smart and
Andruw Villa. All nine of the returnees who will compete for the Wildcats in Lubbock scored at the WAC - indoors, outdoors or both.
The Wildcat men also have a large influx of new track and field talent on board this year, with 13 athletes who did not compete for ACU in 2025 on the 2026 roster. Of those 13 newcomers, eight are competing at the Corky Classic – transfers Durrell Collins,
Nickens Lemba and
Rhet Punt; 2025 redshirt
Ryan McMeen and freshmen Arthur "AJ" Jenkins,
Evan Martin,
Abraham Olufemi-Dada and
Jaylen Thomas. The ACU coaches will begin to see this weekend the impact the newcomers will have on the team in 2026.
The Corky Classic will sport a sterling field this year – with Big 12 teams Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, TCU and host Texas Tech; other Division I programs like Texas A&M and Texas, plus Division I schools New Mexico State, Northwestern State, Purdue, SMU and WAC colleague Tarleton State will journey to Lubbock. Also joining the field are Division II powerhouses West Texas A&M, Angelo State and Lubbock Christian. The field will be rounded out by some of the strongest junior college programs in the country – Barton County CC, New Mexico JC, Odessa College, South Plains College and Western Texas College.
The Corky Classic commences on Friday at 3 p.m. with the women's weight throw, with running beginning at 4 p.m. with the 60 hurdles prelims (the 60 and 60 hurdles will both be contested on Friday night). Saturday begins at 11 a.m. with the women's shot put and the women's 200 meters.
Live results can be found at
Prime Time Timing and the meet will be streamed on ESPN+.
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