The Patriots are set to head south to Rice University for the 42nd Victor Lopez Classic, a two-day meet featuring top collegiate competition. Distance events will kick off the action on Friday night, followed by a full slate of races on Saturday, culminating in high-stakes invite heats to close out the meet. 
 

EVENTS TO WATCH 

DBU will open Friday's competition in the 1500m, with Luke Brooker, Lucas Acevedo, and Ryan Garcia lining up in the first heat, followed by Colton Howard and Luke Ronsman in heat two. The 5000m is shaping up to be a deep and competitive field, with 24 athletes slated to race, including DBU's Jeb Williamson, Isaac Pendley, Wesley Payne, and Grayson Klosowski. 
 

On Saturday, Christopher Foreman will lead the Patriots in the 100m hurdles, joined by freshman Yair Berrios. A strong DBU contingent—Jack Benton, Zach Guerra, Daniel Kanz, Luke Lawton, Jett Haynie, and Diego Oliver—will take on the 400m dash, while Foreman returns alongside Christopher Kyser for the 100m sprint. 
 

The 800m will feature Josten Watkins, Luke Browning, and Tucker Franklin, followed by a large group of Patriots in the 200m. Benton, Kanz, Lawton, Haynie, Oliver, and Kyser will return to the track, joined by Lawson Mooney, Dylan Hill, Noah Shelby, and Luke Nicholie. Rounding out the day's events, Guerra, Berrios, Nicholie, and Landon Lindsey will take on the 400m hurdles. 
 

Saturday night's invite races promise to be the highlight of the meet, offering DBU athletes the opportunity to post competitive marks ahead of the Lone Star Conference Championships and potentially meet national provisional qualifying standards. Micah Fitch will get things started in the 800m invite, followed by Luke Weaver and Connor Neuse in the 200m dash.