Friday, March 20
Abilene, Texas
Abilene Christian
vs
Wes Kittley Invitational
Photo by: Tyler Rog
ACU Hosts Wes Kittley Invitational This Weekend
3/18/2026 4:28:00 PM | Track & Field
The Abilene Christian track and field team opens the outdoor season in Abilene by hosting the 2026 Wes Kittley Invitational at Elmer Gray Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
The meet is named for the former ACU head track and field coach, who coached the Wildcats to 29 team national championships from 1983-99. Kittley took over the Texas Tech men's program in 2000 and has led the Red Raiders to two national titles. Kittley is also a member of the ACU Sports Hall of Fame and a recipient of the ACU Alumnus of the Year award. On a broader scale, he is also a member of the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the US Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
ACU hosts a strong field for this weekend's teams with participating Division I schools which include Tarleton State, whose men's team had a national champion long jumper and women's team finished in the top-25 at the Indoor Track and Field National Championship last weekend, UT Rio Grande Valley, whose women's team won the Southland Conference indoor title last month; and a partial squad from Texas Tech that includes several All-Big 12 Conference athletes.
Division II squads include Angelo State, whose men's team placed 4th at its national meet last weekend, and Midwestern State. Hardin-Simmons and McMurry will also take part, along with top NJCAA schools Odessa College, whose women were 3rd and men were 4th at its national indoor meet, and Western Texas College, which had both men and women finish in the top 25 at the national indoor meet.
This will be the first home meet for many of ACU's newcomers, and also the final home meet for 12 Wildcats, who will be honored during the Senior Recognition on Saturday. Women being honored include Chianel Asoburuenwu, Peyton Bornstein, Chloe McLellan, Avery Myrick, Hadley Phillips, Natalie Poe, and Kate Williams. Men competing in their final home meet for ACU include Horatio Brooks, Kevin Castruita, Canaan Fairley, Donovan Ramirez, and Rylan Smart.
The two-day meet will begin with the discus throw commencing at the ACU Throws Field on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Activity will move to Elmer Gray Stadium on Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the javelin and the Distance Carnival (1500, steeplechase, 5K, and 10K) getting started at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, field events get started in Elmer Gray Stadium at 12 p.m., with the throwing events (hammer throw and shot put) starting at 2:30 p.m. at the ACU Throws Field. Running kicks off on Saturday with the 4x100 relay at 2 p.m. The Senior Recognition is scheduled to start just after 5 p.m.
The meet is named for the former ACU head track and field coach, who coached the Wildcats to 29 team national championships from 1983-99. Kittley took over the Texas Tech men's program in 2000 and has led the Red Raiders to two national titles. Kittley is also a member of the ACU Sports Hall of Fame and a recipient of the ACU Alumnus of the Year award. On a broader scale, he is also a member of the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the US Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
ACU hosts a strong field for this weekend's teams with participating Division I schools which include Tarleton State, whose men's team had a national champion long jumper and women's team finished in the top-25 at the Indoor Track and Field National Championship last weekend, UT Rio Grande Valley, whose women's team won the Southland Conference indoor title last month; and a partial squad from Texas Tech that includes several All-Big 12 Conference athletes.
Division II squads include Angelo State, whose men's team placed 4th at its national meet last weekend, and Midwestern State. Hardin-Simmons and McMurry will also take part, along with top NJCAA schools Odessa College, whose women were 3rd and men were 4th at its national indoor meet, and Western Texas College, which had both men and women finish in the top 25 at the national indoor meet.
This will be the first home meet for many of ACU's newcomers, and also the final home meet for 12 Wildcats, who will be honored during the Senior Recognition on Saturday. Women being honored include Chianel Asoburuenwu, Peyton Bornstein, Chloe McLellan, Avery Myrick, Hadley Phillips, Natalie Poe, and Kate Williams. Men competing in their final home meet for ACU include Horatio Brooks, Kevin Castruita, Canaan Fairley, Donovan Ramirez, and Rylan Smart.
The two-day meet will begin with the discus throw commencing at the ACU Throws Field on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Activity will move to Elmer Gray Stadium on Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the javelin and the Distance Carnival (1500, steeplechase, 5K, and 10K) getting started at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, field events get started in Elmer Gray Stadium at 12 p.m., with the throwing events (hammer throw and shot put) starting at 2:30 p.m. at the ACU Throws Field. Running kicks off on Saturday with the 4x100 relay at 2 p.m. The Senior Recognition is scheduled to start just after 5 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
/ Track & Field
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