T&F Hosts Michael Johnson Invitational

Friday, April 21

Waco, Texas

All Day

Baylor

Michael Johnson Invitational

Tickets

Kam Jackson crossing the line in the 100 meters at Tom Jones

T&F Hosts Michael Johnson Invitational

4/20/2023 4:35:00 PM | Track & Field

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BU welcomes 20 teams to Bear Country for Green & Gold Weekend

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            When Hasani Barr was tripped up after the 200-meter mark in the 400-meter finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships, his first thought was, "This was my shot."
            Unable to finish the race or run in the 4x400-meter relay final, Barr said it was "really frustrating," because the relay team had talked about winning a national championship "since the beginning of the season."
            "I believe that I could have won the individual national championship (in the 400)," he said. "And when I fell, I was like, 'This was my shot. This was my opportunity.' I kind of came up short, but that's just how life goes. I wanted to run in that relay so bad, just so I could help get that victory, but it just wasn't in God's plan."
            Barr will get a chance for a little redemption at this weekend's Michael Johnson Invitational at the Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium, running in the 200 meters Friday night and coming back to run in the 4x400-meter relay on Saturday.
            "Me and the guys, we were just talking about it, this is the day we want to break the collegiate record," Barr said of the 2:58.53 record clocking by Florida last year. "(Baylor's former quarter-milers) say they want to see us break the record, so we want to give them what they want."
            That would also mean breaking the school record of 3:00.04, which was set at the NCAA Championships in 2007 with a quartet of Reggie Witherspoon, LeJerald Betters, Kevin Mutai and Quentin Iglehart-Summers. Three weeks ago, the 4x400 relay team of Kamden Jackson, Matthew Moorer, Nathaniel Ezekiel and Dillon Bedell ran the program's fourth-best time of 3:00.61 at Texas Relays, which also ranks as the No. 4 mark in NCAA this year.
            "I just want to win the race first," said Baylor coach Michael Ford. "But I'll be honest with you, I think it's doable. Just depending on weather and everything, and seeing how they compete. Since indoor, they've been kind of circling this date down as the day they want to break the record."
            What will make it even more special is if they set the record in front of the meet's namesake. Former Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, along with Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner and former All-American Skylar White, will be recognized as Legends of the Meet in a ceremony beginning at approximately 2:10 p.m. Saturday.
            "I've never personally met Michael Johnson," said Barr, who ranks 10^th nationally in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 45.56 that he ran at last week's Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Fla., "so that'll be good to finally meet him and just be able to have our great Baylor athletes come out and just watch us compete."
            Four meets into the outdoor season, the Baylor men are ranked 20^th nationally, with top-10 individual marks from Barr, the men's 4x400 relay, Nathan Ezekiel (third, 400-meter hurdles) and Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi (third, javelin).
            Ford said the Bears have 16 NCAA regional-qualifying marks on the men's side and 12 on the women's side, "and I think we will get some more regional marks this weekend."
            "I think the kids enjoy running at home," Ford said. "It gives us an extra boost when we're at home, especially with the crowd. We've always had great crowds at our home meets. And I can sleep in my bed and not have to worry about sleeping in a hotel."
            Mariah Ayers, who ranks 21^st nationally in the 200 meters with a 22.90 time she ran last week at Florida, said she's excited about her last home meet. One of 15 student-athletes recognized on Senior Day, Ayers said, "It's kind of sad that it's almost coming to an end, but I'm happy."
            Barr said there is "no better feeling when I'm at home and I can get the home crowd and everybody supporting me, with my family coming down. I feel good."
            The MJ Invitational begins both days with field events at 11 a.m., with running events starting at 6 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday. Iowa was a late addition to a 20-team field that includes Kansas State, Kentucky, Nebraska, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech.
            "We kind of just prepare for going out and going against great competition," Barr said. "I got two new personal bests (in the 200 and 400), so I can't be too upset about that. It makes coming into this meet with good competition even more comfortable, knowing I'm in a good spot in the season and I'm performing just how I want to perform."

WACO, Texas – Baylor track and field opens the gates of the Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium on Friday and Saturday for the Michael Johnson Invitational. Action begins both days with field events at 11 a.m., with running events starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday.

Abilene Christian, Arizona State, Boston, Illinois State, Incarnate Word, Iowa, Kansas State, Kent State, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Texas, Northern Illinois, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M Commerce, TCU, Texas, Texas State, Texas Tech and UT-Arlington will all journey to Waco for one of the premier meets of the NCAA outdoor season.

BU enters the meet with the men's team ranked at No. 20 in the nation, with the women up nine spots from last week at No. 47.

In the USTFCCCA #EventSquad rankings, six BU event groups find top-15 marks as the men's 400 meters leads at No. 2, men's 200 meters at 3, women's 400-meter hurdles and 200 meters at 9, women's 400 meters at 10 and men's 100 meters at 15.

Highlighted individually, Nathaniel Ezekiel (third – 400m hurdles) Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi (third – javelin), the men's 4x400 (fourth) and Hasani Barr (10^th – 400 meters) represent the Bears in the national top-10 lists four meets into the outdoor season.

There have already been five new program records set, as Annamaria Kostarellis took the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, Ryan Day in the 5,000 meters, Gary Moore Jr. in the hammer throw and the 4x200-meter relay all recorded program-leading marks.

The 2023 Baylor track and field senior class, consisting of Luke Anthony, Mariah Ayers, Barr, Ava Miller, Brooke Botha, Nicholi Brown, Ben Conacher, Hailey Goodell, Kade Hulett, Koi Johnson, Sophia Leidner, Hannah Link, Matthew Moorer, Elijah Morris, Rylie Smith and four-year manager Meghan Sonnek, will be honored on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Head coach Michael Ford will also welcome back Michael Johnson, Jeremy Wariner and Skylar White as the Legends of the Meet, with a ceremony beginning at approximately 2:10 p.m. on Saturday.

The meet will not be streamed, but live results will be available online from Delta Timing.

The Michael Johnson Invitational will be featured as part of Green & Gold Weekend, a community-centered event. Baylor Athletics will host events throughout the weekend, including the football spring game at McLane Stadium on Saturday and Baylor Softball hosting defending national champion Oklahoma in a Big 12 series.

To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor track and field, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorTrack.

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