Texas Tech University track and field opened the new season Friday with the opening day of the 10th Wes Kitley Invitational, hosted by Abilene Christian University.
Wes Kitley, currently the head track and field coach at Tech University, returned to Abilene Christian and was hired in 1983 as the women's track and field head coach. Kitley is a member of the ACU Sports Hall of Fame and was instrumental in giving ACU its NCAA title. Abilene Christian Athletics said she won 29 national track and field championships.
Kitley served as ACU's head coach until 2000, when he was hired as Tech's head track and field coach.
Kitley, who currently leads the Red Raiders, completed the first day of his honorary tournament.
In the women's discus throw, Polytechnic graduate student Zoe Burleson took first place with a time of 55.57 meters, and sophomore Mackenzie Davis took second with a time of 51.00 meters. Freshman Kyrieth Hollands placed fifth with a height of 42.46 meters.
In the men's discus throw, graduate student Devin Roberson took first place with a throw of 58.95 meters. Senior Connor Wood placed fifth at 49.61 meters. Junior Cole Omlin placed 12th with a throw of 41.43 meters.
Four Red Raiders placed in the top five in the women's 5,000 meters. Freshman Jenna Carter took first place with a time of 17:40.05. Her junior, Sarah Zdanski, placed second with a time of 17:41.76, and her sophomore teammate, Hannah Spears, placed third with a time of 17:43.19. Junior Taylor Limbaugh placed fifth with a time of 17:49.48.
In the boys 5,000 meters, junior Samuel Ashley placed sixth in 15:18.60, and sophomore Trey Leathers placed ninth in 15:22.43.
In the men's 1,500 meters, senior TJ Gregg won in 3:54.18. Senior Kirk Zuber placed fourth with a time of 4:02.33. Senior Paul Sherrill placed ninth with a time of 4:02.23.
According to Tech Track & Field
In the women's javelin throw, freshman teammates Leah Howard and Keith Hollands placed first and second, respectively. Howard took first place with a distance of 46.50 meters, followed by Hollands with a distance of 46.05 meters.
In the boys javelin throw, sophomore Adam Dubois won with a throw of 58.06 meters. Omrin, who competed in the discus earlier in the day, placed ninth in the javelin with a throw of 47.78 meters.
In the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase, sophomore Isaac Hernandez took first place with a time of 9:20.66.
In the girls' 3,000-meter hurdles, first-year student Lily Mather took first place with a time of 10:49.24.
The Tech team concludes the Wes Kitley Invitational at noon Saturday and live stats will be updated on Athletic.net.
