Friday, April 24
Waco, Texas
Baylor
vs
Michael Johnson Invitational
T&F: 16 Seniors Will Be Recognized at Michael Johnson Invite
4/23/2026 6:31:00 AM | Track & Field
Bears’ final home meet includes 16 teams from Texas
WACO, Texas – Baylor track and field will honor 16 seniors, including All-Americans Tiriah Kelley, Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn, at the Michael Johnson Invitational that begins Friday at Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium.
The Bears will also honor the late Jayson Baldridge, a former All-Big 12 hurdler and relays All-American who passed away last August after a two-year battle with leukemia; and the 1976 Southwest Conference Indoor championship team that is hosting a 50-year reunion.
"That was Coach (Clyde) Hart's first conference championship team, so I'm looking forward to meeting them," Baylor head coach Michael Ford said. "I'm always grateful for all the alums that come back. And this should be a good meet."
After competing at a "mini-nationals" last week with a combined 25 ranked teams at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Florida, the Michael Johnson will be more of a regional meet with 16 teams from Texas and two from Louisiana, along with Northern Illinois and Buffalo.
The two-day meet begins with the hammer throw at 11 a.m. Friday, with a lighter running schedule Friday night that includes the 200 meters, the newly named Jayson Baldridge men's 400-meter hurdles, the 1,500 meters and 5,000.
Kelley, the bronze medalist in the 200 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, will run just her second outdoor 200 meters after recording a 22.64-second time at last week's meet in Florida that ranks top 10 nationally.
"Some of them have competed at the highest level, going to nationals and going to a lot of international meets," Ford said of the seniors. "Having that last home meet is sad, but it's also another step for them to start growing up and going into the real world. We have a lot of Big 12 champions and All-Americans that will be leaving us, so it'll be sad and good for us at the same time."
Junior All-American hurdler Demario Prince will make his outdoor debut, running in the 110-meter hurdles and the 4x100 relay. This will be his first meet since finishing third in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
While Texas and Texas A&M will send only a handful of athletes, the meet also includes Texas Tech, TCU, Houston, SMU, ACU, North Texas and Tarleton State.
Live results for the meet will be available at Michael Johnson Invitational. Saturday's schedule will include the Senior Recognition at 10:30 a.m. and the 1976 Southwest Conference Indoor Champion recognition at 1 p.m. and will wrap up with the 4x400 relays at around 4 p.m.
Ticket prices for all home meets are $11 for general admission, with bleacher-style seating with backrests throughout the grandstands; or $17 for individual chairback seating for the bottom half rows closest to the south (riverside) finish line.
For the latest news on Baylor track and field all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
The Bears will also honor the late Jayson Baldridge, a former All-Big 12 hurdler and relays All-American who passed away last August after a two-year battle with leukemia; and the 1976 Southwest Conference Indoor championship team that is hosting a 50-year reunion.
"That was Coach (Clyde) Hart's first conference championship team, so I'm looking forward to meeting them," Baylor head coach Michael Ford said. "I'm always grateful for all the alums that come back. And this should be a good meet."
After competing at a "mini-nationals" last week with a combined 25 ranked teams at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Florida, the Michael Johnson will be more of a regional meet with 16 teams from Texas and two from Louisiana, along with Northern Illinois and Buffalo.
The two-day meet begins with the hammer throw at 11 a.m. Friday, with a lighter running schedule Friday night that includes the 200 meters, the newly named Jayson Baldridge men's 400-meter hurdles, the 1,500 meters and 5,000.
Kelley, the bronze medalist in the 200 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, will run just her second outdoor 200 meters after recording a 22.64-second time at last week's meet in Florida that ranks top 10 nationally.
"Some of them have competed at the highest level, going to nationals and going to a lot of international meets," Ford said of the seniors. "Having that last home meet is sad, but it's also another step for them to start growing up and going into the real world. We have a lot of Big 12 champions and All-Americans that will be leaving us, so it'll be sad and good for us at the same time."
Junior All-American hurdler Demario Prince will make his outdoor debut, running in the 110-meter hurdles and the 4x100 relay. This will be his first meet since finishing third in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
While Texas and Texas A&M will send only a handful of athletes, the meet also includes Texas Tech, TCU, Houston, SMU, ACU, North Texas and Tarleton State.
Live results for the meet will be available at Michael Johnson Invitational. Saturday's schedule will include the Senior Recognition at 10:30 a.m. and the 1976 Southwest Conference Indoor Champion recognition at 1 p.m. and will wrap up with the 4x400 relays at around 4 p.m.
Ticket prices for all home meets are $11 for general admission, with bleacher-style seating with backrests throughout the grandstands; or $17 for individual chairback seating for the bottom half rows closest to the south (riverside) finish line.
For the latest news on Baylor track and field all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.
- BaylorBears.com -
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & FieldBaylor Track & Field: 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Recap!
Tuesday, March 17
Baylor Track & Field: 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Molly Haywood 60m Hurdle's Final
Tuesday, March 17
Baylor Track & Field: 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Demario Prince 60m Hurdle's Final
Tuesday, March 17
Baylor Track & Field: 2026 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Tiriah Kelly 200m Final
Tuesday, March 17
