The Big 12 Track and Field Championships have arrived in Tucson for the first time, and the Arizona Wildcats wasted no time making history. Just one day into the competition, the home crowd at Roy P. Drachman Stadium witnessed a conference champion crowned and a school record shattered.

Senior Jett Kinder launched the javelin 70.02 meters (229 feet, 9 inches) on Thursday afternoon to claim the men’s title. That personal best not only secured 10 crucial points for the Wildcats but also tied for the eighth-best outdoor mark in program history. Kinder’s victory was the highlight of a solid opening day for the Arizona men, who sit in third place with 18 points. The squad also earned points in the hammer throw, where Tyler Michelin placed fifth and Michael Ogbeiwi took seventh, while Evans Tanui chipped in with a seventh-place finish in the 10,000-meter run.

On the women’s side, the Wildcats are in fourth place with 13 points after day one. Junior Erin Tack led the charge with a runner-up finish in the javelin, while teammates Aislin Martinez (sixth) and Emily Psarras (seventh) also contributed valuable points. But the most electrifying moment of the day came in the 200-meter prelims, where senior McKenna Watson blazed to a school-record time of 22.9 seconds. That mark shatters the previous record of 22.91 set by Brianna Glenn way back in 2002—a 24-year-old milestone that finally has a new name attached to it. Watson’s performance earned her a spot in Saturday night’s finals.

With the stage set for more prelims and finals on Friday, followed by the championship finale on Saturday, the Wildcats are proving they belong on the Big 12 stage. Whether you’re gearing up for your own personal best or just cheering from the stands, this is the kind of momentum that inspires every athlete to chase greatness.