Baylor Track & Field Heads to Kansas for DeLoss Dodds Invitational with Key Debuts, Rising Stars
After getting their feet under them with a pair of in-state meets to open the indoor season, Baylor Track & Field is ready to test itself on a bigger stage. The Bears head north to Manhattan, Kansas this weekend for the DeLoss Dodds Invitational, hosted at Kansas State’s Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track. It’s a meet that carries a touch of nostalgia, featuring a lineup that echoes the old Big Eight days-Kansas, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and select athletes from Oklahoma State will join Baylor and K-State in what should be a competitive early-season measuring stick.
Action gets underway Friday morning with the women’s pentathlon and men’s heptathlon starting at 10:45 a.m. Field events kick off at 3:45 p.m., and the women’s 800 meters will open the track schedule at 4:15 p.m.
For Baylor head coach Michael Ford, this meet is about more than just results-it’s about getting a clearer picture of who this team is and where it’s headed.
“We’ll get to see some more conference schools and just see where we match up, where we’re lacking, and where we’re strong,” Ford said. “For me, it’s just trying to get us going in the right direction. It’s about figuring out who our 26 are that we’re going to bring to the Big 12 Championships.”
Colbert and Oyibu Set for Season Debuts
Among the most anticipated storylines this weekend is the season debut of fifth-year senior Laurenz Colbert and freshman standout Success Oyibu in the 60 and 200 meters.
Colbert, who received a waiver from the Big 12 to compete this season, brings plenty of experience and pedigree to the track. He was an outdoor All-American as a freshman in 2022 and an NCAA Indoor qualifier in the 200 that same year. Last spring, he finished fifth in the 100 and helped Baylor’s 4x100 relay squad to a third-place finish at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.
“He’s probably had his best fall since he went to nationals two years ago,” Ford said. That’s a strong endorsement for a sprinter who’s already proven he can compete at the highest level.
As for Oyibu, she’s a name to watch. The first-semester freshman from Africa brings impressive credentials to Waco, including a pair of podium finishes at the CAA U-18/U-20 African Championships-gold in the 200 and silver in the 100. Her personal bests of 11.42 in the 100 and 23.56 in the 200 speak for themselves.
But this weekend will be her first taste of indoor competition, and that transition isn’t always smooth-especially for athletes used to the open straights of outdoor sprints.
“I just wanted to get a little more familiar with her and get her used to running indoor, because she has never run indoor,” Ford explained. “She’s a phenomenal sprinter, but she’s used to running the 100, not the 60. The issue in the 200 is whether she can maneuver the turns.”
To prepare, Baylor took Oyibu to Texas Tech and had her run on the outside lanes to get a feel for the curves. “She was like, ‘Man, I feel like I’m going to fall,’” Ford said. “It’s just learning how to keep her feet moving and underneath her, but I think she can be big-time for us.”
Baylor Women Boast National Leaders
The No. 19-ranked Baylor women’s squad is already making noise nationally, led by two athletes sitting atop the NCAA performance lists. Pole vaulter Molly Haywood has cleared 15-0, while Tiriah Kelley set a school record in the 200 meters with a blistering 22.56.
Haywood was named Big 12 Female Athlete of the Week following her performance at the Ted Nelson Invitational in College Station. Kelley earned the same honor after her season-opening run at the Corky Classic. Both are not just winning-they’re setting the tone for what could be a special season for the Bears.
Multi-Event Talent on Display
In the multi-events, Baylor will showcase a mix of experience and youth. Returning all-conference performer Logan Todorovich is back in the women’s pentathlon and will be joined by her sister, freshman Madilyn Todorovich, and sophomore Kiara Wesseh.
On the men’s side, sophomore Dexter Brice and freshman Kingston Williams are set to compete in the grueling seven-event heptathlon. These early-season multis are often about rhythm and reps-getting a feel for the sequence of events and dialing in technique. But they also offer a glimpse into who might be ready to break out when the conference championships roll around.
What’s Next
This meet is about more than just times and marks-it’s about building momentum, identifying strengths, and learning where adjustments are needed. With the Big 12 Indoor Championships looming, every rep counts.
Live results from the DeLoss Dodds Invitational will be available throughout the weekend, offering fans a chance to follow along as Baylor tests itself against some of the conference’s best.
Stay locked in. The Bears are just getting started.