Friday, March 13
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Baylor
at
NCAA Indoor Championships
T&F Trio Focused on Making Finals, Getting on Podium
3/12/2026 4:56:00 PM | Track & Field
Haywood, Kelley, Prince ranked in top six going into NCAA Indoor Championships
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Baylor track and field's trio of pole vaulter Molly Haywood, sprinter Tiriah Kelley and hurdler Demario Prince are all focused on one thing going into the NCAA Indoor Championships that start Friday at the University of Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Center.
"I've learned a lot of lessons. I finished ninth (in the prelims) two years in a row," said Prince, looking for his first indoor All-America honor in the 60-meter hurdles. "So, I've always got that in the back of my mind. Going into this meet, it's just about getting into the final. That's the mindset."
As Baylor coach Michael Ford put it: "All of them have great shots to be a national champion. That's the reason why they all got there."
"For Demario and TK (Kelley), it's not about running the perfect race, you just beat people," Ford said. "You're not overly concerned with the time. But they've run and competed at the highest level already this year. What we talked about is just make the final first and then let's see where everything lands after that."
Like Prince, Kelley has lived through the pain of close misses. She was 10th in the 200-meter prelims at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships, 12th in the 200 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and 10th in the 4x100 relay.
"I think I've been pretty consistent (this year) indoors," said Kelley, the program record-holder at 22.53 seconds, with an elevation-adjusted time of 22.60 that ranks fourth nationally. "I only ran three (200-meter) races, and each of those were very consistent with my PR. I (set personal records) both times at Texas Tech this year. So, I think with a good race, just running my race, I can PR again."
Kelley might not need a PR to make it to Saturday's finals, but she will likely have to come close to Julien Alfred's NCAA record time of 22.01 to win it all. The loaded field includes reigning champion Indya Mayberry of TCU, 2024 indoor champion JaMeesia Ford of South Carolina and outstanding Georgia freshman Adaejah Hodge, who has a national-leading time of 22.32.
"Obviously, I'm coming for that time," said Kelley, who missed the Big 12 Championships with the flu. While she doesn't have a specific time in mind, "I want to PR, I want to win."
A two-time outdoor All-American and four-time Big 12 champion, Haywood's best finish at the indoor nationals came two years ago as a freshman, when she was ninth with a mark of 14-5 ¼. That equaled the mark of the four vaulters that placed 5-8, but Haywood had more earlier misses.
"I want that indoor one so bad," said Haywood, who placed eighth last year and fifth two years ago at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. "I think just having the experience, having been to nationals two times before indoors is really help. And then, honestly, just going into it confident, knowing that I'm capable of placing as high as I want to. Just going out there and executing what I've been doing in practice, what I know I'm capable of and not making it more than it is."
Haywood is ranked fourth nationally with a season-best mark of 15-0, but is a full foot behind Washington's Hana Moll (16-0), last year's NCAA Outdoor champion and the runner-up at the NCAA Indoors behind her sister, Amanda Moll.
"It's really fun being able to compete against the same people that I'm also friends with," Haywood said. "We're all excited to see each other – some of them for the first time this year. But you also want to beat them, and you know that they're really great competitors. Just using that to jump as high as you can."
Prince was on the outside looking in before clipping off a school-record time of 7.46 in finishing second at the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago. His elevation-adjusted time of 7.48 ranks sixth nationally but only seven hundredths of a second behind national leader Bradley Franklin of Samford.
With the times that have been posted this year, Prince said "it might take a record" to win this year. Florida's Grant Holloway set the collegiate, meet and facility records seven years ago with a time of 7.35.
"I think this is the most competitive the 60 hurdles has ever been," Prince said. "It's just going there, focusing on my race and just execute."
The two-day meet will be live streamed by ESPN+, with live results available at NCAA Indoor Championships.
For the latest news on Baylor track and field all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
NCAA MEET SCHEDULE
(Baylor entries)
Friday, March 13
(all times are Central)
6:55 p.m.: Men's 60-meter hurdles prelims (Demario Prince)
7:45 p.m.: Women's 200 meters prelims (Tiriah Kelley)
Saturday, March 14
4:00 p.m.: Women's pole vault (Molly Haywood)
5:30 p.m.: Women's 200 meters final (Kelley)
6:00 p.m.: Men's 60-meter hurdles final (Prince)
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"I've learned a lot of lessons. I finished ninth (in the prelims) two years in a row," said Prince, looking for his first indoor All-America honor in the 60-meter hurdles. "So, I've always got that in the back of my mind. Going into this meet, it's just about getting into the final. That's the mindset."
As Baylor coach Michael Ford put it: "All of them have great shots to be a national champion. That's the reason why they all got there."
"For Demario and TK (Kelley), it's not about running the perfect race, you just beat people," Ford said. "You're not overly concerned with the time. But they've run and competed at the highest level already this year. What we talked about is just make the final first and then let's see where everything lands after that."
Like Prince, Kelley has lived through the pain of close misses. She was 10th in the 200-meter prelims at last year's NCAA Indoor Championships, 12th in the 200 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and 10th in the 4x100 relay.
"I think I've been pretty consistent (this year) indoors," said Kelley, the program record-holder at 22.53 seconds, with an elevation-adjusted time of 22.60 that ranks fourth nationally. "I only ran three (200-meter) races, and each of those were very consistent with my PR. I (set personal records) both times at Texas Tech this year. So, I think with a good race, just running my race, I can PR again."
Kelley might not need a PR to make it to Saturday's finals, but she will likely have to come close to Julien Alfred's NCAA record time of 22.01 to win it all. The loaded field includes reigning champion Indya Mayberry of TCU, 2024 indoor champion JaMeesia Ford of South Carolina and outstanding Georgia freshman Adaejah Hodge, who has a national-leading time of 22.32.
"Obviously, I'm coming for that time," said Kelley, who missed the Big 12 Championships with the flu. While she doesn't have a specific time in mind, "I want to PR, I want to win."
A two-time outdoor All-American and four-time Big 12 champion, Haywood's best finish at the indoor nationals came two years ago as a freshman, when she was ninth with a mark of 14-5 ¼. That equaled the mark of the four vaulters that placed 5-8, but Haywood had more earlier misses.
"I want that indoor one so bad," said Haywood, who placed eighth last year and fifth two years ago at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. "I think just having the experience, having been to nationals two times before indoors is really help. And then, honestly, just going into it confident, knowing that I'm capable of placing as high as I want to. Just going out there and executing what I've been doing in practice, what I know I'm capable of and not making it more than it is."
Haywood is ranked fourth nationally with a season-best mark of 15-0, but is a full foot behind Washington's Hana Moll (16-0), last year's NCAA Outdoor champion and the runner-up at the NCAA Indoors behind her sister, Amanda Moll.
"It's really fun being able to compete against the same people that I'm also friends with," Haywood said. "We're all excited to see each other – some of them for the first time this year. But you also want to beat them, and you know that they're really great competitors. Just using that to jump as high as you can."
Prince was on the outside looking in before clipping off a school-record time of 7.46 in finishing second at the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago. His elevation-adjusted time of 7.48 ranks sixth nationally but only seven hundredths of a second behind national leader Bradley Franklin of Samford.
With the times that have been posted this year, Prince said "it might take a record" to win this year. Florida's Grant Holloway set the collegiate, meet and facility records seven years ago with a time of 7.35.
"I think this is the most competitive the 60 hurdles has ever been," Prince said. "It's just going there, focusing on my race and just execute."
The two-day meet will be live streamed by ESPN+, with live results available at NCAA Indoor Championships.
For the latest news on Baylor track and field all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
NCAA MEET SCHEDULE
(Baylor entries)
Friday, March 13
(all times are Central)
6:55 p.m.: Men's 60-meter hurdles prelims (Demario Prince)
7:45 p.m.: Women's 200 meters prelims (Tiriah Kelley)
Saturday, March 14
4:00 p.m.: Women's pole vault (Molly Haywood)
5:30 p.m.: Women's 200 meters final (Kelley)
6:00 p.m.: Men's 60-meter hurdles final (Prince)
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