KINGSVILLE, Texas - The Texas A&M-Kingsville track & field teams are back in the state of Texas this weekend as they kick off the first meet of the 2024 Outdoor season at the Trinity Invitational, hosted by Trinity University.

The two-day event will take place at Trinity Stadium. Joining the Javelinas will be conference rivals Angelo State and St. Edwards, as well as Division I competition in Incarnate Word. Other schools in attendance are Trinity, Our Lady of the Lake, Concordia, Schreiner, Texas Lutheran, East Texas Baptist, North Central Texas College, McMurray, St. Thomas, Southwestern, Hardin-Simmons, and Victoria College.

Last time out, the Hogs competed in the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships where the men brought home a third-place finish with the women coming in fourth. Three Javelinas posted new personal bests in events while the team brought home four gold medals.

Katryna Hernandez secured first-place in women's shot put and second-place in the women's weight throw, shattering her PB in the weight throw by over two meters. Similarly, Paxton Hair claimed gold in the men's weight throw with a new personal best of 18.47m (60' 7.25"), almost a meter better than his old record.

Thomas Nieto continued his domination in the pole vault, bringing home another gold medal in the event with a height of 5.47m (17' 11.25"). The vault was a new record in multiple categories - a new personal best, a new LSC record, and a new Columbian national record. Taylor Chaney secured the final gold medal of the championships for the Hogs in the men's 400m, clocking a time of 48.59, beating out second-place by almost three-tenths of a second.

The Trinity Invitational kicks off on March 1st and 2nd. Hammer throw, long and high jumps, 3K steeple, and the 10,000-meter will be held on Friday starting at 3 p.m. The rest of the events will be held on Saturday starting with javelin throw at 10 a.m.