Trinity Tigers Shine Amidst Weather Delays at Home Meet

Despite disruptions from thunderstorms, Trinity track and field athletes set school records and earned multiple top finishes at the J.G. Gonzales Memorial Invitational.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:36am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a track and field competition, with sharp planes of deep navy, forest green, and bright yellow colors conveying the dynamic energy of the event.Trinity's track and field athletes overcome weather delays to deliver record-breaking performances at their home invitational meet.Kingsville Today

Trinity University hosted the J.G. Gonzales Memorial Invitational track and field meet on April 3-4, where the Tigers earned 23 top-three finishes across 38 events despite weather delays from thunderstorms. Two Trinity athletes broke school records, including first-year Ian Zahner in the hammer throw and sophomore Annabelle Lanik in the long jump.

Why it matters

The J.G. Gonzales Invitational is a rare home meet for Trinity's track and field team, providing a unique opportunity for the athletes to compete in front of family, friends, and the home crowd. The team's strong performance despite weather disruptions highlights their resilience and ability to adapt, which will be crucial as they prepare for the upcoming Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Outdoor Championships.

The details

Despite thunderstorms that delayed the meet schedule, Trinity's track and field team excelled at the J.G. Gonzales Memorial Invitational. In the field events, the Tigers earned eight top-three finishes, including first-place finishes by Lanik in the women's long jump and Zahner in the men's hammer throw, where he broke his own school record. In the track events, Trinity collected 13 podium finishes, including three first-place honors by seniors Halle Hamilton, Gianna Keena, and Kris Duggan.

  • The J.G. Gonzales Memorial Invitational was held on April 3-4, 2026.
  • Zahner broke his own school record in the hammer throw just two weeks prior to the meet.

The players

Ian Zahner

A first-year Trinity athlete who broke the school record in the hammer throw, extending his previous mark by nearly three meters.

Annabelle Lanik

A sophomore Trinity athlete who broke the school record in the long jump, improving her previous mark by 0.02 meters to 6.18 meters.

Bocar Diagana

A senior international business major and team captain for Trinity track and field who was unable to compete due to an injury but still came to support his team.

Trinity University

The host institution for the J.G. Gonzales Memorial Invitational track and field meet.

Southern Athletic Association (SAA)

The athletic conference Trinity University recently transitioned to, which has brought new challenges with the addition of indoor track meets and a lengthened season.

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What they’re saying

“It's definitely a different feeling. It was great, especially for the senior class. It was our senior recognition. It's also our last time at home. That was just a very, very great moment. Hopefully, the staff enjoyed it, and it's always a plus having family and friends around.”

— Bocar Diagana, Senior, International Business Major

“My first [school record] was at home. From my perspective, not competing and seeing people do it just makes me really happy. I see them train – that's where they practice – and it's just good to see that pay off for them.”

— Bocar Diagana, Senior, International Business Major

“I think the meet went really well overall. The past couple meets, it's just been me going to the meet by myself or with a small group, and that makes it hard to feed off of the team's energy. So that was a change, and it just got me really excited and ready to get back on the track. We had big marks all over the different events, whether it was throws, sprints or jumps.”

— Bocar Diagana, Senior, International Business Major

What’s next

Trinity track and field now looks ahead to the Texas A&M Kingsville Cactus Cup on April 10-11 as the last meet remaining before the team competes in the first-ever Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Outdoor Championships on April 24-25 at Berry College in Georgia.

The takeaway

Trinity's track and field team demonstrated their resilience and adaptability by delivering a strong performance at their home meet despite weather delays, setting school records and earning multiple top finishes. This success positions them well as they prepare to compete for the inaugural SAA Outdoor Championship title.