Cats Head to Waco for Michael Johnson Invitational

Friday, April 24

Waco, Texas

Abilene Christian

Michael Johnson Invitational

Jaeden Thomas runs the long jump at the 2026 Wes Kittley Invitational

Photo by: Sarah Eunyoung

Cats Head to Waco for Michael Johnson Invitational

4/23/2026 12:05:00 PM | Track & Field

Live Results

By: Don Garrett

ACU will take a squad 40 athletes to Waco this weekend to compete in the prestigious Michael Johnson Invitational, one of the top invitational meets in the Southwest. 'The MJ' is named for former NCAA national champion and 4-time Olympic gold medalist, Michael Johnson, who competed for Baylor and was the only man to ever win the 200 and the 400 in one Olympiad, doing so in 1996.

The field at this meet will include 18 NCAA Division I schools representing nine different conferences. Beside host Baylor, the Big 12 will also have Texas Tech and TCU in attendance. The Wildcats' WAC foe Tarleton State will be on hand, and other Division I conferences represented include: SEC (Texas, Texas A&M); American (UNT); Southland (Incarnate Word, UTRGV); C-USA (Sam Houston); SWAC (Grambling State, Prairie View A&M); MAC (NIU, Buffalo); and ACC (SMU). Two top Division II programs will also be present – West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian.

ACU has athletes entered in almost every event at the MJ. This meet will be crucial for getting great relay times in preparation for the conference meet coming soon and the relay fields are strong at the MJ Invitational.

ACU meet entries include:

MEN

100 – Abraham Olufemi-Dada
200 – Ethan Krause, Olufemi-Dada
400 – Durrell Collins, Nickens Lemba, Jaylen Thomas
800 – Evan Martin, Vincent Luffey
1500 – Luffey
5000 – Andruw Villa
110 hurdles – Miguel Hall, Canaan Fairley
400 hurdles – Ryan McMeen, Hall
Steeplechase – Mark Barajas
4x100 relay – Olufemi-Dada, Collins, Krause, Fairley, Thomas
4x400 relay – Collins, McMeen, Lemba, Thomas
Long jump – Horatio Brooks
Triple jump – Arthur Jenkins, Donovan Ramirez
Discus throw – Justin Smithey, Matthew Udemba
Hammer throw – Rhet Punt, Rylan Smart, Matthew Udemba

WOMEN

100 – Chianel Asoburuenwu, Lauren Foxworth, Kee'Lani Whitlock, Darinasia Taylor
200 – Asoburuenwu, Foxworth, Whitlock
400 – Morgan Morris, Madelyn McFadden, Gracee Whiteaker, Anna Vyn
800 – Emma Santoro, Jalyn Childers, Vyn
1500 – Chloe McLellan
5000 – McLellan
100 hurdles – Hana Banks, Nele Huth, Natalie Poe
Steeplechase – Audrey Chitwood, Saylor Stevenson
4x100 relay – Foxworth, Whitlock, Taylor, Asoburuenwu
4x400 relay – McFadden, Childers, Vyn, Santoro, Morris
High jump – Poe, Huth
Long jump – Halle Gunter, Huth
Triple jump – Jaeden Thomas
Shot put – Ciara Tilley, Mariana Van Dyk, Sterling Glenn
Discus throw – Ella Cockrum, Avery Myrick, Tilley
Hammet throw – Glenn, Myrick, Van Dyk
Javelin throw – Myrick, Glenn

The Michael Johnson Invitational will be held at the Clyde Hart Track and Field Complex, adjacent to McLane Stadium. Friday, field events start with the men's hammer throw at 11 a.m. Running events begin at 5:30 p.m. with the women's 200.

Saturday gets underway at 11 a.m. with the women's javelin and running commences at 12:30 p.m. with the 100 hurdle prelims.