Acoff Continues Strong Start to the Season at MLK Jr. Invitational
Albuquerque, NM – The Firestorm Track & Field program traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico. It was a great opportunity for the teams to test themselves against some of the best talent in the nation.
Competing against historic programs like the University of Texas, Stanford, California, University of Arizona, and Grand Canyon University, the Firestorm held its own and was able to outperform some NCAA Division one and two athletes.
There were many bright moments and multiple personal records (PR) over the two-day meet. Some stand out accomplishments were:
-Sophomore TaHaj Acoff finished 4th overall in the men’s shot put with a throw of 51′-7″, a personal best and the second furthest throw in ACU history.
-Freshman Tanner Johnson ran a PR in the 600-meter race on Friday with a time of 1:24, the third fastest time in program history. He followed it up with a college PR on Saturday of 1:59.89 in the 800-meter race. This places him fifth fastest time in program history.
-Freshman Kaden Clark led the men’s vaulters, with a vault of 12′-8.25″, #4 all-time and a college PR.
-Freshman Daniel Kpeh was ACU’s top hurdler, running the 60-meter-high hurdles in a time of 9.19 seconds. A PR for Kpeh and the seventh fastest time in program history.
Thoughts from Head Coach Brian Bell
“The coaching staff and I are pleased with the team’s progress and how well they competed with the ‘big dogs.’ This was some of the best competition we have faced in the eleven years ACU has had a track and field program. The team met the challenge and will leave the University of New Mexico with some newfound confidence.”
Top Event Finishers
- 60 Meter: Markeese Wright – 7.16
- 200 Meter: Markeese Wright – 23.11
- 300 Meter: D’Angelo Hawthorne – 36.49
- 400 Meter: Lionel McPhaull – 52.7
- 600 Meter: Tanner Johnson – 1:24.70 – #3 in program history
- 800 Meter: Tanner Johnson – 1:59.85 – #5 in program history
- 60 Meter Hurdles: Daniel Kpeh – 9.19 – #7 in program history
- Pole Vault: Kaden Clark – 12′ 8.25″ – #4 in program history
- Long Jump: Brady Farris – 19′ 6.75″
- Triple Jump: Brady Farris – 40’9.75″
- Shot Put: Tahaj Acoff – 51′ 7″ – #2 in program history
- Weight Throw: Ethan Aguirre – 33′ 6.5″
Next On the Schedule
The team will travel to Coolidge, AZ next Saturday to compete at the Central Arizona College Invitational. Both Track and Field events begin at 10:00am.
Roll Storm!
