T&F to Compete in Big 12 Indoor Championships

Friday, February 25

Ames, Iowa

All Day

Baylor

Big 12 Indoor Championship

T&F to Compete in Big 12 Indoor Championships

2/24/2022 2:53:00 PM | Track & Field

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            Matthew Moorer still sees himself as a quarter-miler, but his calling just might be in the 200 meters.
            While he's ranked third in the Big 12 and 25^th nationally in the 400 meters with a season-best time of 46.59, the senior from Ypsilanti, Mich., could be more of a threat in the 200 with a time of 20.80 that's fifth in the Big 12 and 21^st nationally going into the Big 12 Indoor Championship that begins Friday at Iowa State's Lied Recreation Center in Ames, Iowa.
            "I love the 400, definitely, just because that's what I came down here for and the tradition that Baylor has," Moorer said. "That's something I've always wanted to represent, the other greats like Jeremy Wariner and Michael Johnson. I definitely love the 400 more, but if the 200 is my calling, it's my calling."
            Before this year, Moorer had run only a handful of 200-meter races in his collegiate career and never been clocked at under 21 seconds. He's done it three times in four meets this year, with a time of 20.73 at the Texas Tech Shootout Classic that was adjusted to 20.80 because of the track.
            Baylor coach Michael Ford said it was "almost by mistake" that he discovered Moorer's potential in the 200. During the fall workouts, he broke 27 seconds in a 250-meter sprint.
            "Every kid, from Trayvon Bromell to Trey Harts to Whitney Prevost, if they've run under 27 for a 250, they usually make nationals and they're usually an All-American," Ford said. "Matt ran a 26-something, and I was like, 'Whoah! He might be able to run a good (200). He ran really fast at the first meet and just continued getting better."
            Faced with a difficult decision, Ford entered Moorer in the 200 meters at the conference meet, along with senior Isaiah Cunningham, sophomore Kamden Jackson and freshmen De'montray Callis and Laurenz Colbert. Howard Fields III, the reigning Big 12 Outdoor champion, is entered in the 400 along with sophomore Dillon Bedell and junior Hasani Barr.
            "I don't know if he's ready to do both this year, maybe outdoor," Ford said of a difficult 200-400 double, one that Johnson pulled off in winning gold in both races at the 1996 Olympics. "I think the schedule permits it a little bit more outdoor. But, we've also talked about the relay qualifying for nationals. And this is our last chance to qualify."
            Ranked second in the Big 12 and 13^th nationally, the 4x400 relay of Bedell, Moorer, Jayson Baldridge and Fields ran a season-best time of 3:06.23 at last month's Rod McCravy Memorial Track & Field Meet in Lexington, Ky. With only the top 12 relays qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Ala., the Bears will have to break 3:06 to make it in.
            "I think we're ready to drop a really fast time," Moorer said.
            "The depth is there and the numbers are there, we've just got to hit it again," Ford said of the relay.
            On the men's side, Baylor's other threats include freshman Nathan Ezekiel in the 600-yard run; and freshman Johnny Brackins in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump.
            "I think going into it, for the most part, we're pretty healthy," Ford said. "That's always a good sign. I think just building off the success we've had meet-in and meet-out, we should do well. I think if we hit right on the ladies' side, we should finish in the top four, and we'll probably finish fifth or sixth on the men."
            The defending NCAA Indoor national champion in the 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Ackera Nugent is the headliner for the Baylor women. She has a Big 12-leading mark of 7.90 that ranks fourth nationally.
            "This is just a meet to see where I'm at going into nationals," Nugent said. "I'm the type of person who focuses on the bigger picture ahead, but I use the things that are leading up to the bigger picture to get an advantage. I'm just staying humble, because at the end of the day, I don't know what can happen."
            Besides Nugent, Baylor's best threats include Tuesdi Tidwell in the pole vault; Kavia Francis and freshman Imaobong Uko in the 400 meters; and a 4x400 relay of Francis, Uko, Gontze Morake and Mariah Ayers that ranks second in the Big 12 and 12^th nationally.
            "I'm so amazed to see what the girls can do," Nugent said. "I've seen these young ladies grow in so many ways, from being more focused to doing what they have to do to dropping their times every week and being consistent. That shows that there's a good thing going on with them mentally and physically."
            The Big 12 Championship will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, with John Hurtz and Johanna Gretschel commenting.

WACO, Texas – Baylor track & field heads to Ames, Iowa, to compete at the 2022 Big 12 Indoor Championship on Friday and Saturday in the Lied Recreation Center. The meet, hosted by Iowa State, is set to begin at 11 a.m. with the men's heptathlon on both days.

"I've been really happy with this team this year because they've really focused on executing their races," said head coach Michael Ford. "I think going into it, for the most part, we're pretty healthy- and that's always a good sign when we're healthy. I think if we just build off the success we've had meet in and meet out, we'll do well."

The Bears return 2021 Big 12 Champs Aaliyah Miller and Tuesdi Tidwell, while expecting big things from impact freshmen Nathaniel Ezekiel and Johnny Brackins.

2021 silver medalist Ackera Nugent currently holds the No. 1 spot in the Big 12 for the 60-meter hurdles with the program-record 7.89-second finish.

"I think I'm on a really good path," said Nugent, who won the 2021 NCAA Indoor title with an U20 world-record time of 7.91 last March. "The thing about this season is I've been really consistent with my time. I'm really excited to see what I'll do on the big day."

Baylor currently has 12 student-athletes ranked in the top-25 for their individual events, and both 4x400-meter relay squads find their marks on the list.

This weekend's championship meet will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with John Hurtz and Johanna Gretschel commentating. PrimeTime Timing will be providing live results online throughout the event.

For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all season long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.