Thursday, April 16
Long Beach, CA
University of Louisville
at
Pacific Coast Invitational
Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics
Kirwa Moves to World Lead in Men’s 3000m Steeplechase at Bryan Clay Invitational
April 17, 2026 | Track & Field
The sophomore took nearly six seconds off his own program, ACC, and meet record with a time of 8:08.10, the second-fastest time in collegiate history.
The University of Louisville track & field teams competed at a trio of meets in California on Thursday, fielding solid performances at the Bryan Clay Invitational, Mt. SAC Relays, and Pacific Coast Invitational.
Geoffrey Kirwa was undoubtedly the story of the day for the Cardinals, clocking a world-leading time of 8:08.10 in the men's 3000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational that also ranks as the second-fastest time in collegiate history.
More detailed information on Thursday's action from all three meets can be found below.
BRYAN CLAY INVITATIONAL
Results
The Louisville distance squad kicked off competition at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., one of the premier outdoor track & field distance meets in the nation, led by Kirwa's run for the ages in the men's 3000m steeplechase.
The sophomore from Kapsabet, Kenya continued to stake his claim as one of the elite steeplechasers in the world in his season debut in the event, crossing the line in 8:08.10 to move to the top of the world leaderboard for the 2026 season.
The time ranks as the second-fastest in collegiate history and comes within striking distance of the long-standing NCAA record of 8:05.4 that was set by Washington State's Henry Rono, the former world record holder in the event, in 1978.
Additionally, Kirwa's time shaves nearly six seconds off his previous program record, ACC record, and meet record of 8:13.89 that he set at the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational last April.
The Cardinals also got a pair of personal-best performances in the open sections of the 10000m on Thursday morning, as Heidi Meade finished in a time of 34:56.70 on the women's side and Jack Moore clocked a time of 30:14.92 in the men's race.
Two-time All-American Elsingi Kipruto will make his collegiate outdoor debut in the invitational section of the men's 10000m later tonight, while the second day of the Bryan Clay Invitational will begin tomorrow morning, as the Cards are set to compete across both the 800m and 5000m distances on Friday.
MT. SAC RELAYS
Results
KJ Byrd wrapped up his season debut in the men's decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., accumulating a personal-best total of 7,891 points that moves him up to second in program history and ranks as the fourth-best total in the NCAA thus far this season.
Over the course of the final five events of the competition, Byrd recorded a 110m hurdles time of 14.68, a personal-best toss of 44.35m (145-6) in the discus throw, a pole vault clearance of 5.10m (16-8.75), a mark of 48.92m (160-6) in the javelin throw, and a 1500m time of 4:51.32.
In the women's heptathlon, Lucy Fellows was forced to retire from the competition after beginning the second day with a season-best long jump mark of 5.83m (19-1.5).
PACIFIC COAST INVITATIONAL
Results
The Cardinals competed at the Pacific Coast Invitational to wrap up the second day of their five-meet split, as the Louisville sprinters, throwers, and pole vaulters concluded their first of two meets in Long Beach.
Kaia Tupu-South continued her string of solid performances in the throws ring, posting a mark of 53.89m (176-9) to place fifth in the women's discus throw.
The Cards also got a top-five finish in the men's pole vault, as Ty McPhail cleared a final bar of 5.08m (16-8) to finish in a tie for fifth place.
Breanna Braham rounded out the day for the Cardinals with a personal-best time in the women's 400m, moving up to sixth in the program record books after crossing the line in 54.77.
The sprinters, throwers, and pole vaulters will remain in Long Beach for the Beach Invitational scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Jack Rose Track.
The Louisville jumpers will also begin competition at the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Va. tomorrow afternoon with the Cards set to field athletes in both the men's and women's long jump.
Mt. SAC Relays – Day Two
April 16, 2026
Walnut, Calif. | Hilmer Lodge Stadium
* = Personal Record
DNF = Did Not Finish
Women's Heptathlon
Lucy Fellows – DNF
Women's Long Jump (Heptathlon)
Lucy Fellows – 5.83m (19-1.5)
Men's Decathlon
KJ Byrd – 7,891 points *
Men's 1500m (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 4:51.32
Men's 110m Hurdles (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 14.68
Men's Pole Vault (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 5.10m (16-8.75)
Men's Discus Throw (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 44.35m (145-6) *
Men's Javelin Throw (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 48.92m (160-6)
Bryan Clay Invitational – Day One
April 16, 2026
Azusa, Calif. | Cougar Athletic Stadium
* = Personal Record
(sr) = School Record
(mr) = Meet Record
(ACC) = ACC Record
DNF = Did Not Finish
Women's 10000m
Heidi Meade – 34:56.70 *
Emma Heckel – DNF
Men's 10000m
Jack Moore – 30:14.92
Spenser Wolf – DNF
Men's 3000m Steeplechase
Geoffrey Kirwa – 8:08.10 * (sr) (mr) (ACC)
Pacific Coast Invitational
April 16, 2026
Long Beach, Calif. | Jack Rose Track
* = Personal Record
Women's 100m
Maya Taylor – 12.31 (+3.2)
Women's 200m
Jalasia Lewis – 25.13 (+2.5)
Ruby Nwosu – 25.32
Maya Taylor – 25.44 (+2.6)
Nia Booker – 25.55 *
Women's 400m
Breanna Braham – 54.77 *
McKenzie Bell – 55.53
Jalasia Lewis – 57.33
Ruby Nwosu – 57.52
Zylah Sturdivant – 57.89
Nia Booker – 59.10
Women's 400m Hurdles
Keira Antoni – 1:01.47
Women's Pole Vault
Lydia Stuart – 3.91m (12-10)
Men's Pole Vault
Ty McPhail – 5.08m (16-8)
Luther Mogelvang – 4.93m (16-2)
Logan Isaacs – 4.78m (15-8.25)
Women's Discus Throw
Kaia Tupu-South – 53.89m (176-9)
Aja Johnson – 45.09m (147-11)
Men's Discus Throw
Johnny Sabinski – 45.94m (150-8)
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagramand X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
Geoffrey Kirwa was undoubtedly the story of the day for the Cardinals, clocking a world-leading time of 8:08.10 in the men's 3000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational that also ranks as the second-fastest time in collegiate history.
More detailed information on Thursday's action from all three meets can be found below.
BRYAN CLAY INVITATIONAL
Results
The Louisville distance squad kicked off competition at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., one of the premier outdoor track & field distance meets in the nation, led by Kirwa's run for the ages in the men's 3000m steeplechase.
The sophomore from Kapsabet, Kenya continued to stake his claim as one of the elite steeplechasers in the world in his season debut in the event, crossing the line in 8:08.10 to move to the top of the world leaderboard for the 2026 season.
The time ranks as the second-fastest in collegiate history and comes within striking distance of the long-standing NCAA record of 8:05.4 that was set by Washington State's Henry Rono, the former world record holder in the event, in 1978.
Additionally, Kirwa's time shaves nearly six seconds off his previous program record, ACC record, and meet record of 8:13.89 that he set at the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational last April.
The Cardinals also got a pair of personal-best performances in the open sections of the 10000m on Thursday morning, as Heidi Meade finished in a time of 34:56.70 on the women's side and Jack Moore clocked a time of 30:14.92 in the men's race.
Two-time All-American Elsingi Kipruto will make his collegiate outdoor debut in the invitational section of the men's 10000m later tonight, while the second day of the Bryan Clay Invitational will begin tomorrow morning, as the Cards are set to compete across both the 800m and 5000m distances on Friday.
MT. SAC RELAYS
Results
KJ Byrd wrapped up his season debut in the men's decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., accumulating a personal-best total of 7,891 points that moves him up to second in program history and ranks as the fourth-best total in the NCAA thus far this season.
Over the course of the final five events of the competition, Byrd recorded a 110m hurdles time of 14.68, a personal-best toss of 44.35m (145-6) in the discus throw, a pole vault clearance of 5.10m (16-8.75), a mark of 48.92m (160-6) in the javelin throw, and a 1500m time of 4:51.32.
In the women's heptathlon, Lucy Fellows was forced to retire from the competition after beginning the second day with a season-best long jump mark of 5.83m (19-1.5).
PACIFIC COAST INVITATIONAL
Results
The Cardinals competed at the Pacific Coast Invitational to wrap up the second day of their five-meet split, as the Louisville sprinters, throwers, and pole vaulters concluded their first of two meets in Long Beach.
Kaia Tupu-South continued her string of solid performances in the throws ring, posting a mark of 53.89m (176-9) to place fifth in the women's discus throw.
The Cards also got a top-five finish in the men's pole vault, as Ty McPhail cleared a final bar of 5.08m (16-8) to finish in a tie for fifth place.
Breanna Braham rounded out the day for the Cardinals with a personal-best time in the women's 400m, moving up to sixth in the program record books after crossing the line in 54.77.
The sprinters, throwers, and pole vaulters will remain in Long Beach for the Beach Invitational scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Jack Rose Track.
The Louisville jumpers will also begin competition at the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Va. tomorrow afternoon with the Cards set to field athletes in both the men's and women's long jump.
Mt. SAC Relays – Day Two
April 16, 2026
Walnut, Calif. | Hilmer Lodge Stadium
* = Personal Record
DNF = Did Not Finish
Women's Heptathlon
Lucy Fellows – DNF
Women's Long Jump (Heptathlon)
Lucy Fellows – 5.83m (19-1.5)
Men's Decathlon
KJ Byrd – 7,891 points *
Men's 1500m (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 4:51.32
Men's 110m Hurdles (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 14.68
Men's Pole Vault (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 5.10m (16-8.75)
Men's Discus Throw (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 44.35m (145-6) *
Men's Javelin Throw (Decathlon)
KJ Byrd – 48.92m (160-6)
Bryan Clay Invitational – Day One
April 16, 2026
Azusa, Calif. | Cougar Athletic Stadium
* = Personal Record
(sr) = School Record
(mr) = Meet Record
(ACC) = ACC Record
DNF = Did Not Finish
Women's 10000m
Heidi Meade – 34:56.70 *
Emma Heckel – DNF
Men's 10000m
Jack Moore – 30:14.92
Spenser Wolf – DNF
Men's 3000m Steeplechase
Geoffrey Kirwa – 8:08.10 * (sr) (mr) (ACC)
Pacific Coast Invitational
April 16, 2026
Long Beach, Calif. | Jack Rose Track
* = Personal Record
Women's 100m
Maya Taylor – 12.31 (+3.2)
Women's 200m
Jalasia Lewis – 25.13 (+2.5)
Ruby Nwosu – 25.32
Maya Taylor – 25.44 (+2.6)
Nia Booker – 25.55 *
Women's 400m
Breanna Braham – 54.77 *
McKenzie Bell – 55.53
Jalasia Lewis – 57.33
Ruby Nwosu – 57.52
Zylah Sturdivant – 57.89
Nia Booker – 59.10
Women's 400m Hurdles
Keira Antoni – 1:01.47
Women's Pole Vault
Lydia Stuart – 3.91m (12-10)
Men's Pole Vault
Ty McPhail – 5.08m (16-8)
Luther Mogelvang – 4.93m (16-2)
Logan Isaacs – 4.78m (15-8.25)
Women's Discus Throw
Kaia Tupu-South – 53.89m (176-9)
Aja Johnson – 45.09m (147-11)
Men's Discus Throw
Johnny Sabinski – 45.94m (150-8)
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagramand X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
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