Mesa, AZ- On Friday, ACU Men's Track and Field challenged the Mesa Invitational at Mesa Community College.  Sophomore Zak Kleppe and Senior Kendrick Murphy both broke records and set other season marks.  Kleppe went one step further posted an NAIA B qualifying mark.  Murphy just missed qualifying.

Kleppe finished third in the 110 meter hurdles with an ACU record time of 14.83.  The time qualified Kleppe as the NAIA B qualifier but also gave him the fastest time in the GSAC this year for the 110m hurdles.

Murphy became the fastest ACU runner ever as he delivered an ACU record breaking 10.72 in the 100 meter dash- just missing the NAIA B qualifying mark by one hundredth of a second.  He threw the javelin for the first time this season and set a personal best mark of 147'6".

For good measure, Kleppe and Murphy ran the middle legs of the 4x100 relay (bookended by Sophomores Joe Avance III and Alias Sturges) and the quartet recorded an ACU season best 42.72- the second fastest time at the Mesa Invite and in the GSAC in 2018.

Sturges was a busy man himself as along with the relay he also broke a school record with his 22'2.65" long jump.  For good measure, he set a personal best 44'6.75" triple jump- tying Murphy for the longest of the season.

The javelin had the most ACU traffic as five guys threw with four guys- counting Murphy- competing for the first time of their careers or season.  Behind Murphy's effort, Junior Jordan Leary peaked at 135'7".  Freshman Maverick Gamez reached 126'3".  Freshman Billy Carter (104'0") and Freshman Tyler Black (93'9") rounded out the group.

Black also tried the shot put (27'10") and discus (62'7") for the first time in his career.

Carter was also good for two more events- long jump (19'4") and triple jump (40'8.75").

On Friday and Saturday, the Firestorm will be part of the Mt. SAC Relays at El Camino College.  That will serve as their final tune-up before the GSAC Championships in two weeks.