Baylor Opens 2026 Indoor Season with Strong Showing at Corky Classic Day 1
LUBBOCK, Texas - Baylor Track & Field kicked off its indoor campaign with a solid showing on Day 1 of the Corky Classic, notching six top-10 finishes and showing early-season promise across multiple events at Texas Tech’s Sports Performance Center.
The women's pole vault was a standout event for the Bears, with Alencia Lentz and Tenly Kuhn going back-to-back in third and fourth place, respectively. Lentz cleared 13-9¾ on her final attempt, a clutch performance that secured her a podium finish.
Kuhn followed with a clearance of 13-3¾, just shy of a personal best. The event was won by Texas A&M freshman Lily Carlson, who soared to 14-5½ - a mark that sets the bar high for the rest of the season.
On the men’s side, the 300 meters proved to be Baylor’s sweet spot. Malik Franklin, a sophomore transfer from Arizona State, made an immediate impact in his debut, winning his heat and finishing seventh overall on time. Teammates Tyler Honeyman (33.54) and Aren Spencer (34.01) also turned in competitive performances, placing 10th and 13th, respectively.
In the women's 300 meters, sophomore Aaronya Kinchen narrowly missed cracking the top eight. She finished second in her heat and ninth overall with a time of 39.17 - just three-hundredths of a second behind Arizona State’s Niaya Morgan. The race was won by Texas Tech’s Mekenze Kelley, who clocked in nearly two seconds ahead, but Kinchen’s finish showed she’s right in the mix early in the season.
The long jump featured a pair of Todorovich sisters competing for Baylor. Sophomore Logan Todorovich landed at 18-11¼, finishing 10th and missing the finals by less than three inches.
Freshman Madilyn Todorovich jumped 17-8¼ in her collegiate debut, placing 21st. It’s early days, but the potential is clearly there for both.
In the sprints and hurdles, Baylor’s women advanced five athletes to the semifinals across the 60 meters and 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Hannah Lowe posted a 7.41 in the opening round of the 60 meters - the fastest non-automatic qualifying time - before clocking a 7.43 in the semis to finish 13th overall. Freshman Jada Edwards and Lowe both reached the semis, placing 14th and 16th, respectively.
In the 60-meter hurdles, sophomores Kaylah Braxton and Logan Todorovich advanced past the opening round. Braxton went on to finish 18th in the semis, while Todorovich didn’t finish her race.
On the men’s side, Arkansas transfer Sebastian Berntsen made his Baylor debut, running a 7.06 in the 60 meters and placing 14th in the long jump with a mark of 23-10¼. Freshman Kingston Williams also had a busy day, reaching the semifinals of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.18 and placing 24th in the long jump at 22-3¾.
While Berntsen, Ricquan Graham, and Arizona transfer Brian Limage didn’t advance in the 60 meters, sophomore Austen Diggs turned heads. He won his heat in 6.87 and then shaved off time in the semifinals, finishing with a 6.82. That kind of progression is exactly what coaches want to see in January.
The action continues Saturday with field events beginning at 11 a.m. CT and track events following at 11:30 a.m. One of the marquee moments of the weekend will be the season debut of two-time Big 12 champion and 2024 All-American Tiriah Kelley, who’s slated to compete in the 200 meters and the 4x400-meter relay.
Fans can catch the meet live on ESPN+, with real-time results available through Primetime Timing.