Jackson State University claimed the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference outdoor track and field championship in Baton Rouge. The Tigers edged Texas Southern by 32 points, finishing with 142 points to Texas Southern’s 110. The women’s team placed seventh overall.
Jackson State’s men’s team won its first conference title since 1990. Mark Thorne, who was named MVP at the 1990 meet, watched as head coach 36 years later. Thorne was also named SWAC Coach of the Year following this year’s competition, according to the university.
The Tigers secured multiple medals during the meet. Collins Kibet won gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:41.74. Kaiden Berry, the co-Most Outstanding Field Performer, took gold in the shot put with a throw of 17.13 meters (56-02.50).
Jackson State also scored points in sprints, hurdles, and distance events. Sedgwrick Pitts Jr. finished fourth in the 200 meters in 20.96 seconds. Rickey Green III was seventh in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.77 seconds. Duncan Koima led distance runners with a third-place finish in the 1,500 meters in 4:02.22, while Eric Lagat finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:55.87.
The Tigers’ distance runners contributed heavily to the team’s success. Koima was second in the 5,000 meters, followed by Kimutai in third, and Lagat in seventh. Kipruto finished second in the 10,000 meters, with Koima third and Lagat fifth.
In field events, Berry finished second in the discus with a throw of 49.17 meters (163-01). Elijah Blige was third in discus, and Da’Lon Harris was fourth. Robert Salhab III placed third in the hammer throw, with Harris in fourth. In jumps, Jordin Smith cleared 2.02 meters (6-07.50). Jared Lockhart finished fourth in the javelin with a throw of 59.19 meters (194-02). In the shot put, Salhab was second, and Blige was seventh. Conner Cooper finished fifth in the decathlon with 5,046 points.
On the women’s side, Jackson State finished seventh. Malayna Mallory earned meet Most Outstanding Field Athlete honors with a first-place discus throw of 50.00 meters (164.00). She also finished second in the hammer throw and sixth in javelin. Madyson McGill was fourth in pole vault, clearing 3.06 meters (10-00.50), while Nedgine Morancy finished fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 12.36 meters (40-06.75).
Jackson State’s relay teams also competed, with both the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays finishing eighth overall. Other notable performances included Kaylin Jackson, who finished fourth in the 800 meters, and Joan Koech, who was seventh in the 1,500 meters and seventh in the 10,000 meters. Lorine Jelagat finished fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Jackson State’s athletic director and coaching staff celebrated the team’s achievements. The program’s next steps will be to prepare for upcoming meets as they build on this historic title, according to university officials.
