West Coast Speed: Kentucky Wildcats Gear Up for Bryan Clay Invitational and Mount SAC Relays with Championship Focus
By the time most of Kentucky is winding down for a cool Bluegrass evening, the Kentucky Wildcats’ track and field team will be gearing up to showcase their elite speed, power, and endurance on the golden tracks of Southern California. The Wildcats are set to compete in two of the most prestigious and talent-rich meets in the nation: the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University and the legendary Mount SAC Relays in Walnut, California.
The dual appearance marks a significant moment in the Wildcats’ outdoor season—a chance not only to qualify athletes for the NCAA Championships but to make a powerful national statement about their rising dominance in collegiate track and field. These meets are known for delivering the kind of lightning-fast times and personal bests that define a team’s trajectory heading into May and June.
With an elite squad headlined by national contenders and future Olympians, the Wildcats are locked in. Here’s how the Kentucky track and field program is preparing to turn heads in California—and why their performances could define the 2025 outdoor season.
Golden Opportunities: What the Meets Represent
The Bryan Clay Invitational, named after the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon, is one of the nation’s premier mid-season meets. Held annually at Azusa Pacific University, it features deep competition in the distance events, including races under the lights that often produce world-leading times. The meet has become particularly famous for its fast 1500m and 5K races, attracting professional and collegiate athletes alike.
On the other side of the track calendar that same weekend is the Mount SAC Relays—a storied meet that dates back to 1959. This meet is widely regarded as one of the most iconic in American track and field, with alumni ranging from Florence Griffith Joyner and Carl Lewis to Allyson Felix. Held at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, it features elite competition across all disciplines, with a special focus on sprints, jumps, and relays.
For Kentucky, competing in both meets represents a two-pronged strategic attack: develop their mid-distance and distance runners at Bryan Clay while showcasing their speed and depth in the sprints and relays at Mount SAC.
Coach Lonnie Greene’s Vision
In his sixth season as head coach of the Wildcats, Lonnie Greene has transformed the program into a consistent national contender. Known for his discipline, sharp recruiting, and emphasis on speed, Greene’s squads have not only climbed the SEC rankings but have posted top-10 finishes on the national level.
“This is about preparation,” Greene said earlier this week. “These meets in California offer our student-athletes the opportunity to run on some of the fastest tracks in the world, against the best competition. We’ll find out who’s ready.”
Kentucky’s athletes won’t be racing for headlines alone—they’ll be chasing NCAA qualifying marks, PRs, and national top-10 times. And with Greene’s no-nonsense approach and an energized staff backing him, the Wildcats aren’t coming just to participate—they’re aiming to dominate.
Athletes to Watch: Kentucky’s Core in California
1. Jordynn West – Women’s 800m / 1500m
Fresh off an indoor season that saw her break through with multiple PRs, sophomore Jordynn West is one of the top mid-distance runners to watch at the Bryan Clay Invitational. With a smooth stride and an instinct for pacing, West is looking to dip under the 2:03 mark in the 800m and flirt with 4:10 in the 1500m—a time that would place her among the NCAA’s elite.
“This is the meet where you push yourself into that next tier,” West said. “Everything we’ve done in training has pointed to this moment.”
2. Kennedy Lightner – Men’s 400m / 4x400m
One of the most explosive quarter-milers in the SEC, Kennedy Lightner has anchored Kentucky’s relay success and become a leader in the locker room. The Mount SAC Relays are the perfect stage for Lightner to chase a sub-45 second 400m—a time that would not only secure his place at nationals but put him in the U.S. Olympic Trials conversation.
Look for Lightner to also run the 4x400m relay with championship-level urgency, as Kentucky seeks to post a season-best in the event.
3. Alexis Holmes – Women’s 400m
Alexis Holmes, the graduate transfer who stunned the track world at the NCAA indoor championships with her split in the 4x400m, is targeting her first outdoor statement performance of 2025. With a PR in the low 50s, Holmes is aiming to crack that elusive 49-second barrier this spring.
She’ll line up at Mount SAC against some of the fastest professional athletes in the country—a test that Holmes welcomes.
“We’re not scared of fast fields. We train for them,” Holmes said.
4. Jordan Anthony – Men’s 100m / 200m
A dual-sport athlete who also suited up for Kentucky football, Jordan Anthony is a blur in spikes. Known for his explosive start and top-end speed, Anthony is still unlocking his potential as a sprinter. He’s entered in the 100m and 200m at Mount SAC, where the fields are expected to include Olympians and seasoned pros.
A wind-legal sub-10.10 would launch Anthony into national stardom.
5. Megan Sutherland – Women’s 5,000m
At Bryan Clay, long-distance runners get their moment in the spotlight, and Megan Sutherland is seizing hers. A senior with big-time experience, Sutherland is eyeing a sub-15:50 performance that would place her firmly in NCAA finals contention.
The atmosphere at Bryan Clay—complete with pacing lights, loud crowds, and a who’s-who of distance elites—has a way of drawing magic out of competitors. Sutherland is ready to shine.
Strategic Importance: NCAA Implications
Beyond the chase for PRs and records, this California swing carries major implications for the NCAA postseason. Both meets are viewed by coaches across the country as the ideal venue to hit automatic qualifying standards for the NCAA East Preliminary in May.
For athletes hovering near qualifying marks, the margin for error is thin. With warm weather, sea-level elevation, and world-class competition, performances at Bryan Clay and Mount SAC often determine who’s headed to Eugene—and who’s headed home early.
Coach Greene has made it clear: “We want to be the team that shows up and takes care of business. That starts with execution, focus, and believing you belong on that level.”
A Legacy-Building Weekend
What makes this trip even more meaningful for the Wildcats is its potential to signal a new era of Kentucky dominance—not just in basketball and football, but in track and field. With rising stars, Olympic-level talents, and deep relays, Kentucky has a shot to finish top-5 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this year. A powerful performance in California would confirm their upward trend.
It’s also a recruiting play. Competing—and succeeding—at the nation’s most iconic track venues is a billboard to high school phenoms: Kentucky is the place to be.
Wildcats’ Schedule Highlights (California Meets)
Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa, CA):
- Thursday: Women’s 10K, Men’s 10K, early heats of 1500m
- Friday: Men’s and Women’s 800m, 1500m, 5K, Steeplechase
- Saturday: Fastest heats, distance medley relays, and Olympic development events
Mount SAC Relays (Walnut, CA):
- Friday: Sprint prelims, field events (jumps and throws), 4x100m
- Saturday: 100m finals, 400m, 200m, 4x400m, Elite Invitational races
- Sunday: Professional races, showcase events
Eyes on Paris: Olympic Dreams Begin Here
Several Wildcats have Olympic aspirations, and California meets like Bryan Clay and Mount SAC are often the unofficial starting blocks for those dreams. The performance standards needed to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials—and by extension the Paris Olympics—are steep, but not unreachable.
If Kentucky athletes can post elite times this weekend, they may just punch their ticket to the Trials and place themselves on international radars.