Acero Climbs to Top of National Leaderboard, Bulldogs Win Four Events at D3 Challenge

SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran track and field continued its outdoor season, hosting the annual D3 Challenge at Bulldog Stadium, the site of the 2025 SCAC Championships in April, in Seguin this weekend.

The two-day event was highlighted by pole vaulter Ezra Acero (San Antonio/Harlan) climbing the national leaderboard to become the new leader in Division-III with an event winning mark of 4.95m (16' 2.75"). The senior has won the pole vault at the D3 Challenge in three of his four seasons at his home venue.

Acero also finished third in the javelin throw with a mark of 49.19m (161' 5"). Acero also ranks nationally in the javelin throw, ranking 15th in the event after his performance in the CenTex Invitational three weeks ago.

Freshman Braylen Brown won the 400m dash with a time of 48.66 seconds.

The 4x400m relay team comprised of Brown, Gavino Ramirez (Alice/Alice), David Hinojosa, and Eden Perez - who entered the weekend ranked number two in Division-III - won the event with a time of  The team finished with a time of 3:21.13.

Shayne Moss (San Marcos/San Marcos) won the long jump with a mark of 6.68m (21' 11") while Rickey Franks ((Rockport/Rockport-Fulton) finished second with a mark of 6.65m (21' 10").

Jacob Grissom (Thrall/Thrall) finished second in the 400m hurdles with a time of 59.81 seconds.

Lucas Falcon (Victoria/Victoria East) finished second in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:14.70. Wesley Holub (Wallis/Brazos) finished third in the 1500m run with a time of 4:15.08.

Amir McClain (Converse/Veterans Memorial), who entered the weekend third nationally in the triple jump, finished second in the event on Saturday with a mark of 13.56m (44' 6") while adding a fourth place finish in the high jump with a mark of 1.88m (6' 2").

Parker Cabra (Schertz/Randolph) finished third in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.40 seconds.

In throws, Cutter Clancy (Stockdale/Stockdale) finished second in the javelin throw with a mark of 50.05m while Jacob Cortinas (Brownsville/Lopez Early College) finished fourth with a mark of 46.81m (153' 7"). Beau Hill (Salado/Salado) finished fifth with a mark of 38.21m (125' 4") in the hammer throw.

Full Results: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/89365/m/2025_TLU_D3_Challenge

Texas Lutheran will travel to San Antonio for the Trinity Invitational next week starting on Friday, March 28. For all updates on Texas Lutheran Track and Field, follow @tluthrows and @tluxctf on Instagram as well as as all official TLU Athletics accounts. All schedule updates can be found on tlubulldogs.com.