After a string of impressive performances to start the indoor season, the K-State track and field team will make its first out-of-state trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico over the weekend to take part in the New Mexico Team Invitational.
Before the trip south, though, K-State’s multi-event athletes will first compete in the Jayhawk Classic in Lawrence. The events began Thursday and will wrap up this afternoon.
At the New Mexico Team Invitational, K-State will face off against Air Force, Alabama, California, New Mexico, UCLA, Utah State, UTEP and — striking closer to home — Big 12 rival TCU.
On the men’s side, K-State, ranked 34th in Division I, will face off against eight top-50 teams including No. 6 TCU. The Wildcats will be sporting several high-performing athletes in the meet, including freshman high jumper Christoff Bryan.
Bryan, who has only competed once this season but is ranked fourth nationally, has the conference’s best mark of the season and the third-best jump in Division I.
Ranked No. 12 on the women’s side, K-State has its highest national ranking since 2008. The Wildcats will also face stiff competition in Albuquerque, including three other top-50-ranked squads.
The K-State women have seven different athletes sitting atop the Big 12 in their respected events. Freshman sprinter A’Keyla Mitchell is looking to stay perfect in competition after taking five-straight gold medals to begin her career. Mitchell, already owns two individual school records in 60- and 200-meter sprint events.
The Invitational is the first large meet of the indoor season for K-State.
