Texas A&M Track & Field competed in its first outdoor meet at the UTSA Invitational on Friday, March 20-21. The Aggies traveled southwest to the Park West Athletic Complex in San Antonio and took 12 different event titles back home.
A&M opened Day 1 of the meet with the field events, starting with graduate student Sam Hankins competing in men’s javelin. Hankins recorded a mark of 71.16m/233-6 for a first place title, kicking off the morning with a win for the Aggies.
The Maroon and White dominated the women’s javelin, sweeping the top three spots. Graduate student Katelyn Fairchild placed first, while her sister, junior McKenzie Fairchild, placed second. Closing out the podium, senior Ana De La Garza took home third place, securing a command over the leaderboard for A&M.
On the outskirts of the track, the Fightin’ Farmers participated in the long jump, hammer throw and shot put to round off the day. In the men’s long jump, senior Khybah Dawson won first with a dominating 7.84m/25-8.75 jump. Placing fifth in women’s hammer throw was senior Jayla Hooper, who had a historical debut by recording a throw of 55.89m/183-4 which ranks as the fifth best toss on A&M’s all time list.
To end the day, junior Carlie Weiser competed in the women’s shot put. The Giddings native recorded a mark of 16.02 m/52-6.75 and took home one last win to round out the Aggies’ opening day.
A&M took full advantage of the second day, putting the “field” in track and field. The Aggies ended the meet with eight field titles and four track titles, solidifying the start of their 2026 outdoor campaign. They received a total of eight titles in the second day alone, leaving San Antonio with a lasting impression. Junior Abigail Martin secured the Aggies’ first win of the day in women’s discus throw. She recorded a toss of 56.29m/184-8, giving the Maroon and White plenty of momentum to start Day 2.
Following discus, the men’s triple jump team swept their competition, taking all three spots on the leaderboard. Sophomore Jaydon Shield finished first with a personal best of 15.66m/51-4.50, followed by senior Jaden Harris and graduate student Daniel Falode.
The next A&M title that followed was in the 4x100m dash, marking its first track title of the meet. The women’s 4×100 team took home first place with a time of 43.58. Senior Jasmine Montgomery returned to her hometown and took first place in the women’s 100m dash with a blazing 11.16.
In women’s pole vault, A&M gained another title win, with senior Ava Riche recording her personal best. Riche cleared 4.10m/13-5.50, moving her to seventh place all time in the Aggie record books. Putting the men back in the spotlight, freshman Etoro Bassey took first in the men’s high jump with a mark of 2.19m/72.25, solidifying himself at sixth on the A&M all time list.
To round off an impressive day for the Maroon and White, the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay took to the blocks. The women’s relay went first, and the Aggies did not disappoint, taking home first place with a time of 3:33.16. The men went next and secured A&M its final title of the meet with a combined time of 3:08.70..
This is not the end of the road trip for the Aggies, as they gear up for the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina, from Thursday, March 26-28.