LEVELLAND — Following a pair of top-five national finishes during the indoor season, the South Plains College men's and women's track and field teams will kick off their outdoor campaign Saturday at the Wes Kittley Invitational on the campus of Abilene Christian University.

Field events will begin with the men's javelin at 9:30 a.m., with track events getting underway with the men's and women's steeplechase at 12:30 p.m.

The Texans return a number of sophomores from last year's squad that finished second at the national meet in Kansas, including decathlete Asani Hylton who placed fourth nationally with 6431 points. Jump specialist Holland Martin and Danylo Molchanov return for South Plains, looking to build on their top 10 finishes in the triple jump last season.

Martin Placed fifth at nationals with a mark of 50' 2.50", while Molchanov took six with a jump of 49' 8.25". Martin capped the 2019 indoor season with a second place finish in the triple jump, soaring 51' 5.50" at the national meet in Kansas.

The Lady Texans enter the outdoor season following a third-place national finish during indoors, as they look to a group of freshman long-distance runners and several returners from last season's squad which placed fourth at the outdoor national meet.

Ruth Usoro, a sophomore from Nigeria comes in as one of the top triple jumpers in the country following a fourth-place national finish a year ago in which she posted mark of 41' 7.25". Janiel Moore will play a major role for the Lady Texans on the track as she looks to improve on a fifth-place national finish in the women's 400 hurdles last season, clocking a 1:02.90 at the national meet.

Patrice Moody will be touted as one of the top hurdlers in the country during her second year in Levelland after she turned in a 14.16 at nationals during her freshman season, notching a fourth-place national finish. The Lady Texans will roll out a pair of long-distance runners that will undoubtedly be two of the top runners in the country in Gladys Jemaiyo and Dorcus Ewoi.

At the indoor national meet on March 2, Ewoi and Jemaiyo combined for 13 points in the women's mile run,  as Ewoi was crowned national champion, turning in a time of 5:03.16. Jemaiyo finished just six seconds behind in 5:09.46, good enough for sixth. Jemaiyo also scored in the 5000 and 3000 for the Lady Texans, while Ewoi took third in the 3000 with a time of 10:12.79.

Following the trip to Abilene, South Plains will return to the track March 23 in Lubbock at the Fearless Champion Open, followed by a trip to Austin for the 2019 Texas Relays.

Saturday meet schedule:

Field Events

9:30 A.M. Javelin Throw* Men/Women

Long Jump Men (2 jump pits, men and women will run simultaneously)

Long Jump Women (2 jump pits, men and women will run simultaneously)

1:00 P.M. Pole Vault* Women/Men

1:05 P.M. Discus Throw* Men/Women (wind direction will determine location)

2:00 P.M. High Jump* Women/Men

Triple Jump Men (2 jump pits, men and women will run simultaneously)

Triple Jump Women (2 jump pits, men and women will run simultaneously)

Track Events – Finals

12:20 P.M. 3000 m Steeplechase (Women/Men)

1:00 P.M. National Anthem

1:05 P.M. 4x100 m Relay (Women/Men)

1:15 P.M. 1500 m Run (Women/Men)

1:35 P.M. 100 m Hurdles (Women)

1:45 P.M. 110 m Hurdles (Men)

2:00 P.M. 400 m Run (Women/Men)

2:20 P.M. 100 m Run (Women/Men)

2:40 P.M. 800 m Run (Women/Men)

2:55 P.M. 400 m Hurdles (Women/Men)

3:20 P.M. 200 m Run (Women/Men)

3:50 P.M. 4x400m Relay (Women/Men)