Texas Track & Field Opens 2026 With Strong Showing at Corky Classic
LUBBOCK, Texas - If the Corky Classic was any indication of what’s to come, Texas Track & Field fans have every reason to be excited. The Longhorns opened their indoor season with a mix of breakout debuts, clutch performances, and promising depth across the board - all signs that this squad is ready to make some serious noise.
Let’s start with the headliner: freshman Bayleigh Minor wasted no time making her mark. In her collegiate debut, she didn’t just win the women’s 600-yard run - she led a Texas sweep at the top.
Minor clocked in at 1:19.51, a strong opener that put her ahead of sophomore transfer Anouk Krause-Jentsch, who was right behind her in 1:19.81. Another newcomer, Amelliah Birdow, rounded out the group with a fifth-place finish at 1:20.68.
That’s three Longhorns in the top five - a clear statement from a reloaded middle-distance crew.
On the men’s side, junior transfer Jayden Jones showed off his speed in the 200-meter dash, finishing fourth overall with a time of 21.03 - good for second among collegiate runners in the field. Texas Ex Marcellus Moore and senior Kendrick Smallwood also competed, finishing 13th and 18th respectively, as the Longhorns tested their sprint depth early in the season.
Relays are always a litmus test for team chemistry, and both the men’s and women’s 4x400 squads delivered solid results. The women's quartet of Mackenzie Collins, Birdow, Krause-Jentsch and Abigail Wolfe took third in 3:34.92 - a strong early-season mark that hints at even faster times to come. The men’s ‘A’ team - Chris Brinkley, Logan Popelka, Conor Kelly and John Rutledge - also grabbed third in 3:06.85, while the ‘B’ squad (Jonathan Hertwig-Ødegaard, Neo Modibe, Troy Mason and Sihle Mahlangu) finished seventh in 3:08.89, giving Texas a glimpse of its relay depth.
In the field events, freshman Jeanne Le Goffe turned heads in the triple jump. Her second-round leap of 13.19m (43-3.25) not only earned her third place, it also vaulted her to No. 6 on Texas’ all-time performer list - an impressive feat for a freshman just getting started.
The shot put saw a trio of Longhorn men land in the top eight, led by junior Michael Piñones. He saved his best for last, using his sixth and final throw to launch a 18.66m (61-2.75) mark - his best-ever season opener and good for third overall.
Sophomore transfer Shaiquan Dunn wasn’t far behind in seventh (17.78m / 58-4), and freshman Benjamin Shue rounded out the group in eighth (17.71m / 58-1.75). On the women’s side, junior transfer Giavonna Meeks stepped back into competition with a fifth-place finish, thanks to a first-round throw of 15.58m (51-1.50).
In the high jump, junior Osawese Agbonkonkon continued his consistent form, clearing 2.10m (6-10.75) for the second consecutive meet and tying for sixth. For the women, Caroline Peterson hit a new collegiate best by clearing 1.71m (5-7.25), earning her a fourth-place finish and some early momentum heading into the season.
All in all, it was a strong opening weekend for Texas - one that showcased the team’s depth, the impact of its transfers, and the promise of its freshmen. With performances like these right out of the gate, the Longhorns are setting the tone for what could be a standout indoor campaign.