ACU Wins 2 Events, Sets Several Personal Bests in Waco

Friday, April 24

Waco, Texas

Abilene Christian

Michael Johnson Invitational

Vincent Luffey runs during the 2026 Wes Kittley Invitational.

Photo by: Sarah Eunyoung

ACU Wins 2 Events, Sets Several Personal Bests in Waco

4/25/2026 10:55:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Don Garrett

WACO, Texas - The ACU track and field team spent the past two days competing with some of the NCAA powerhouses and the Wildcats have numerous all-time personal bests to show for the weekend at Baylor's Michael Johnson Invitational.

Two Wildcats won their events in Waco – Rhet Punt won the hammer throw, the first event of the meet, with a new personal best toss of 210-3/64.09m. On Saturday, Mark Barajas dominated a small field in winning the 3000 steeplechase with a season best time of 9:27.14. Second place finishers for the Wildcats included: Vincent Luffey in the 1500 with a time of 3:54.33; Saylor Stevenson in the 3000 steeplechase in a time of 11:17.95; and Mariana Van Dyk moving into 2^nd place in the shot put on her final throw of the competition with a huge personal best throw of 50-8.25/15.45m (she also placed 5^th in the hammer throw with a personal best throw of 169-11/51.80m),

ACU also rounded up a large number of top-5 performances. One major breakthrough came from Arthur Jenkins (AJ), who placed 3^rd in the triple jump with a personal best jump of 51-7.75/15.59m that moves him into the top-50 in NCAA Division II. Natalie Poe high jumped her way to 3^rd place with a personal best of 5-7/1.70m (also a personal best of 14.43 in the 100 hurdles.) Ryan McMeen continues to see dramatic improvement in placing 4^th in the 400 hurdles with a personal best time of 51.83. Justin Smithey placed 4^th in the discus with a throw of 165-3/50.27m.

Other key performances that led to personal bests were: Ciara Tilley with a personal best of 148-5/45.24m in the discus, along with teammate Ella Cockrum with a personal best in the discus of 146-4/44.62m; Rylan Smart with a season best throw of 17901/51.84 in the hammer throw; Chianel Asoburuenwu with a personal record in the 200 of 23.84 (plus only .02 off her personal best in the 100 with a time of 11.22); Avery Myrick threw the javelin 137-1/42.03m, a season best for her; and Nickens Lemba with a time of 47.51 in the 400 in his first individual 400 time for ACU. The women's 4x100 also ran a season best time of 45.10.

The Wildcats will make a visit to Lubbock next weekend, the final meet before the WAC Championships hosted by UT Arlington.