FORT WORTH, Texas – Baylor track and field is poised to open its 2024 outdoor season in the TCU Alumni Invitational on Friday and Saturday at AP Ranch and TCU's Lowden Track.
 
Kicking things off at the Athletic Performance "AP" Ranch, Friday's competition will only be the discus and hammer throws that will begin at 9 a.m. With an adjusted schedule due to forecasted weather in the area, the women's 5,000 meters warms up the Lowden Track and Field Complex bright and early at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, and the 4x400-meter relay is planned to complete the meet at 3:10 p.m.
 
Live results will be provided online by NTX Timing.   
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears closed the indoor season in Boston, Mass., at the NCAA DI Track and Field National Championships on March 8-9 at the TRACK at new balance. Alexis Brown (long jump) and Nathaniel Ezekiel (400m) both ended their time as All-Americans, earning BU's four team points in the women's meet and its lone team point in the men's meet.
 
PUT 'EM ON WATCH
The 2023 outdoor season saw five program records fall from four student-athletes. Not returning, Annamaria Kostarellis set the women's 5,000- and 10,000-meter records with Ryan Day running the new top time in the men's 5,000 meters. Coming back in 2024, Mariah Ayers in the 200 meters and Gary Moore Jr. in the hammer throw stand to defend their records this spring.
 
BACK FROM BRONZE
Two of BU's highest finishes on the national stage last year came in outdoor-only competitions, the 400-meter hurdles and the javelin throw. Nathaniel Ezekiel (400mH) and Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi (javelin throw) both earned bronze medals at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin and are looking to build championship-caliber junior-year campaigns.  
 
WACO'S NEWEST FIXER UPPER
Debuting the newly renovated Beynon Hobart BSS 2000 track surface, the Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium will host two regular season meets across March and April before hosting the 2024 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet in late May. The first home meet of the season is the Clyde Hart Classic, held next weekend, March 22-23. Tickets for the Clyde Hart Classic and Michael Johnson Invitational are on sale now. Tickets for the Big 12 Outdoor Championship will be on sale at a later date determined by the conference office.
 
CROWN THE PRINCE
Demario Prince was named Big 12 Outstanding Freshman of the Year for the 2024 indoor season last week. Posting five marks in the program's top 10, Prince was the lone freshman in the men's and women's 60-meter hurdle fields and ended his freshman indoor campaign as a second-team All-American. He secured the 11^th-best time in the nation heading into the NCAA Championships with his dual 7.62-second races, adjusted to 7.64 due to altitude, at the Big 12 Championships. Prince is the eighth Bear to win the honor and shares the 2024 award with Oklahoma State's Denis Kipngetich.
 
 
To stay up to date throughout the year on all things Baylor track and field, follow the team on Facebook, X and Instagram: @BaylorTrack.