LUBBOCK, Texas - Director of Cross Country and Track Nick Cordes has released the 2023 LCU frack & field schedule, announced on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The indoor portion of the schedule consists of 10 events counting the national championship meet. The outdoor portion features a full 14 possible events, including a pair of meets at the LCU Soccer & Track Facility. 

Lubbock Christian will alternate between Texas Tech and the University of New Mexico during the indoor season. The Chaps will open the season at the Corky Classic Jan. 13-14 down the road at the Sports Performance Center, before heading to Albuquerque for the first time on Jan. 21 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center. 

LCU will then split up for the first time the weekend of Jan. 27-28, with half of the team staying in Lubbock for the Texas Tech Open, and the other half crossing state lines to the UNM Team Open. The full marathon of Chaparrals will return to the Land of Enchantment on Feb. 3-4 for the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. 

The weekend of Feb 10-11, the Chaps split up once again, with some members staying home for the Jarvis Scott Open at Texas Tech, while others return to New Mexico for the Don Kirby Elite Invitational. The regular season ends just one day before the Lone Star Conference Championships, with the Chaps heading to the Sports Performance Center for the Matador Qualifier.

LCU heads back to the SPC the next day to compete in the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships. Last season, the men's team finished eighth, while the women finished tenth. Bryce Spencer paced the men with a third place finish in the weight throw, while Madelyn Merrell had the highest finish of any Chap that weekend, finishing second in the 800-meter run. 

If any members of the Lubbock Christian track team qualifies for the NCAA Championships, they will head to Virginia Beach, Va. Mar. 10-11. Last season, Anna Salisbury qualified for the 400-meter run at the national championships, finishing 10th out of 20 competitors, missing the finals by 0.35 seconds. 



The outdoor season begins just up the road in Canyon at the West Texas A&M Spring Break Classic Mar. 17-18. The Chaps continue to stay close to the nest the next week, heading just down the road to Texas Tech for the Masked Rider Open Mar. 24-25. 

The weekend of Mar. 29-Apr. 1 brings the first split squad tour of the outdoor season, with several members heading to the Bobcat Invitational at Texas State in San Marcos. The best and most qualified Chaps will go up against some of the most elite talent in the nation at the 95th annual Texas Relays in Austin. The Chaps last competed at the Texas Relays in 2021, with Keitron Boyd competing in the 200-meter run and Samuel Wing competing in the 400-meter hurdles. Wing picked up a top-30 finish in the event. The LCU men's 4x400 relay team of Wing, Boyd, Haven Hernandez and Mitch Stutler finished 17th at the meet.

LCU returns to Canyon on Apr. 7-8 for the Jo Meaker Classic before beginning their longest trip of the season, splitting up to compete in their choice of three meets in California. Some members may compete Apr. 12-15 at the vaunted Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. against the top competition from Division-II and from Division-I schools on the west coast. LCU has never had a competitor compete in the event.

Another option for the Chaps is the Bryan Clay Invitational Apr. 13-15 in Azusa, Calif., hosted by Azusa Pacific. LCU last competed at the top-tier event in 2018, with Jaylen Tryon finishing 34th and setting a provisional mark in the 800-meter run. On the women's side, the Lady Chaps also last competed at the event in 2018, led by Andria Sanchez finishing fifth in the 5,000-meter run, while Amira Cunningham finished 11th with a provisional mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. 

Two other options for the Chaps will be Apr. 14-15, first in Long Beach, Calif. at The Beach Invitational hosted by Long Beach State. LCU has never competed at an event hosted by the 49ers. The final option is just down the road in Hobbs, N.M., at the Ross Black Open, also Apr. 14-15, at New Mexico Junior College.

For the third straight season, LCU will host The Open at the LCU Soccer & Track Facility on Apr. 21. It is the lone regular season home meet for the Chaps, and will bring in top talent from the Lone Star Conference and abroad. Lubbock Christian will stay in Hub City to wrap up the regular season at Texas Tech for the Corky/Crofoot Shootout Apr. 28-29. 

For the first time in program history, Lubbock Christian will host the 2023 Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships at the LCU Soccer & Track Facility May 4-6. Spencer walked away from the 2022 edition of the LSC Championships as the Male Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, while also winning gold in the hammer throw and finishing second in the discus and javelin. Salisbury led the women with a second place finish in the 400-meter run.

The Chaps will have one more chance to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships at the West Texas A&M Last Chance Meet in Canyon on May 14. The NCAA DII Outdoor Championships will be held May 25-27 in Pueblo, Colo. at the CSU ThunderBowl. Last season, Spencer finished 15th in the discus at the national championships in Allendale, Mich., while Salisbury finished 15th in the 400-meter run. 


All meet dates and times are subject to change due to weather and other circumstances. Fans can stay up to date with the LCU track & field team at lcuchaps.com.