T&F: Bears Open Postseason Run with Big 12 Championship

Thursday, May 14

Tucson, Arizona

Baylor

Big 12 Outdoor Championship

T&F: Bears Open Postseason Run with Big 12 Championship

5/13/2026 6:23:00 PM | Track & Field

Hosted by Arizona, the outdoor meet will kick off Thursday with the multi events

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

TUCSON, Ariz. – Boasting 10 top-four marks in conference, the 16^th-ranked Baylor women will compete in the Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championship, which begins Thursday at the University of Arizona's Drachman Stadium.

Senior Tiriah Kelley, the 200-meter bronze medalist at the NCAA Indoor Championships, has the No. 1 time in the 200 meters at 22.51 and will run in Thursday's semifinals of her signature event. But she also has a top-eight time in the 100 meters and is part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relays that are both ranked in the top four.

"I think everybody's mentally ready to go," said Baylor coach Michael Ford. "We have a lot more top-10 placers right now on the ladies' side than the men. If the ladies hit it right, I think we'll be in the top four. If the men hit right, we'll probably squeeze into maybe the top eight.

"For us to be in contention on the ladies' side, our heavy hitters need to hit this weekend. And then we've got to get some of those, I always say, garbage points that people don't think a lot about. But I think those 6, 7, 8 places are really critical."

The Baylor women also boast three of the conference's top four pole vaulters in Molly Haywood (2^nd, 14-10 ¾), Tenly Kuhn (3^rd, 14-10 ¼) and Alencia Lentz (4^th, 14-6 ¼).

"To have three at this level that can all possibly win conference, that's big," Ford said. "Of course, you've got to do it when the lights come on. But I think that unit is so tight. Even though they compete against each other at the meets, they really do want to see each other do well. For them, it's like, 'Okay, who can be second? Who can be third?' And for me, the order doesn't matter. The points are the points."

While Serafima Lucero and Janae De Gannes are ranked second in the 400-meter hurdles and long jump, respectively, indoor All-American Demario Prince is No. 2 in the 110-meter hurdles at 13.47.

The men also have a chance to score big in the relays, with the 4x100 ranked fourth and the 4x400 third going into the conference championships.

Thursday's schedule begins early with freshman Kingston Williams in the men's decathlon and Logan Todorovich, Madilyn Todorovich and Kiara Wesseh in the women's heptathlon. The evening running session includes the men's and women's 200-meter semifinals and Lucero in the 400-meter hurdles.

The three-day meet concludes with a full schedule on Saturday, capped by the men's and women's 4x400 relays at 8:50 and 9.05 p.m.

Live results are available at Big 12 Championship, with the meet also streamed on ESPN+.

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

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