Baylor Track & Field Heads to Lubbock With Fresh Faces and High Hopes
LUBBOCK, Texas - The indoor season officially kicks off for Baylor Track & Field this weekend at the Corky Classic, and head coach Michael Ford is bringing a mix of experience and new energy to the track. With 14 newcomers among the 44 athletes making the trip to Texas Tech’s Sports Performance Center, this meet marks more than just the start of a new season - it’s the beginning of a new chapter for a program adjusting to change, but still aiming high.
While a few Bears got their spikes dirty last month at the McFerrin 12-Degree Invitational in College Station, this two-day meet in Lubbock is the first full-team event of the year. Field events get underway Friday at 3 p.m., with the track events starting shortly after at 3:30.
For Ford, now in his 25th year with the program and fifth as head coach, the excitement of a new season never fades.
“I’m always excited about the new season because I get to see new athletes compete,” Ford said. “Even if you bring the same team back, there are still nuances. For me as a coach, it’s about getting my legs back under me and figuring out how our conference meet is going to shape up.”
New Faces, Big Potential
On the women’s side, Baylor has added some serious talent through the transfer portal. Nita Koom-Dadzie (Texas) and Addison Stevenson (LSU) join a returning group that includes some heavy hitters. Ruth Kimeli, a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier, is back, as is Tiriah Kelley - a two-time Big 12 champion and 2024 All-American in the 4x100 relay.
Kelley, who also qualified for last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 200 meters and both sprint relays, is leaning into the nerves and excitement that come with a fresh start.
“I’m definitely nervous, but it’s excitement, though,” she said. “This is a new season. New things happen every year.”
On the men’s side, sophomores Tyler Honeyman and Abbas Ali return from the 4x400 relay squad that earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships. They’ll be joined by a trio of transfers who could make an immediate impact - long jumper/sprinter Sebastian Berntsen (Arkansas), Malik Franklin (Arizona State), and Brian Limage (Arizona).
Berntsen, in particular, sounds like a man who knows he’s found the right fit.
“The moment I talked to Coach Stacey Smith, I just knew this was the spot for me,” Berntsen said. “They gave me the opportunity to do both the long jump and sprints. I was just sure this was the right place.”
Berntsen has his sights set on joining Baylor’s elite 26-foot jump club - a group that includes names like Lee Miles (indoors) and Johnny Brackins, Danny Brabham, and Chris Gillis (outdoors).
Moving Forward Without Legends
This season also marks a significant transition for the Bears, who are competing in their first full meet since the passing of legendary coach Clyde Hart in November. They’re also without two of last season’s national champions: Alexis Brown, the 2025 indoor long jump champ, and Nathaniel Ezekiel, a Bowerman finalist and the 2025 outdoor 400-meter hurdles national champion. Both athletes turned pro following standout collegiate careers, with Ezekiel capping his run by placing fourth at the World Championships in a Nigerian national-record 47.11 seconds.
As tough as it is to lose athletes of that caliber, Ford believes the men’s team may actually be more balanced in 2026.
“Every year, you lose somebody. That’s just the way sports go,” Ford said.
“I think our men’s team is going to be better without Nate. Even though that’s hard to say, I really think overall we’ll be a better team.
We’re going to be solid in the sprints and hurdles, and I think long jump is going to be one of our big keys this year. We’ve also got a couple middle distance runners, which will help, too.”
Notable Absences, But Momentum Builds
While All-Americans Molly Haywood (women’s pole vault) and Demario Prince (men’s 110-meter hurdles) won’t be competing this weekend, the Bears have already seen strong early returns. Haywood opened her season with a 14-3 vault at the McFerrin meet - a mark that sets the tone for what could be another big year.
Stacked Field in Lubbock
The Corky Classic features a deep and competitive field. Baylor will line up against 22 other teams, including Big 12 rivals TCU, Arizona, and Arizona State. SEC powerhouses Texas and Texas A&M are also in the mix, along with SMU from the ACC and Purdue from the Big Ten.
Saturday’s action kicks off with field events at 11 a.m., followed by running events at 11:30. The meet wraps with the always-anticipated 4x400 relays, set to go off around 4 p.m. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+, with real-time results available via Primetime Timing.
It’s a new season for Baylor Track & Field - one filled with fresh faces, big goals, and a program ready to turn the page while honoring the legacy that built it.