Mississippi College Sends Seven Athletes to NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships
Clinton, Mississippi — Mississippi College will send seven student-athletes to compete at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, scheduled for May 21-23 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas. The team includes five men and two women, competing over three days.
On the men’s side, freshman Brodie Roberts will race in the 100 meters after posting a school-record 10.29 seconds at the MC Spring Classic on March 7. Roberts, from Denham Springs, Louisiana, is the No. 19 seed and the fourth-ranked freshman in the event. This marks his first appearance at the national championships.
Freshman Schyler Chambers qualified in the triple jump after a mark of 15.49 meters at the Joe Walker Invitational on April 10. The Canton, Mississippi, native is seeded eighth nationally and ranked second among freshmen in Division II. Chambers previously competed at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, finishing 15th in the triple jump. He is also the Gulf South Conference indoor champion and holds the conference indoor record in the event.
Senior Gabe Hodson will compete in the 800 meters after breaking his own school record with a time of 1:47.60 at the Joe Walker Invitational. The Raceland, Louisiana, native is the No. 7 seed and is the reigning Gulf South Conference champion. Hodson earned indoor All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships and is named the 2026 Gulf South Conference Track Athlete of the Year.
Senior Christian Balcer earned his first national championship bid in the 1,500 meters after running 3:45.02 at the Joe Walker Invitational. The Hurley, Mississippi, native is seeded 21st. Freshman Jake McMillian qualified for the decathlon with a school- and GSC-record 6,974 points at the conference meet. The Madison, Mississippi, native is the No. 14 seed nationally and the fifth-ranked freshman, having been named the Gulf South Conference Field Athlete of the Year.
For the Lady Choctaws, senior Lauren Wallace returns to the national stage in the 1,500 meters. The Hoover, Alabama, native posted a time of 4:21.92 to earn the No. 11 seed. Wallace is an indoor All-American in the mile and has previously earned second-team All-America honors in the 1,500 meters. She owns school records in the outdoor 800, 1,500 and 5,000 meters. This is her sixth NCAA appearance across cross country and track and field.
Senior Bre Bell will make her first appearance at the championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Lexington, Mississippi, native clocked a school-record 10:30.14 and is seeded No. 15. Bell was the runner-up at the Gulf South Conference Championships. The top eight finishers in each event earn first-team All-America honors, while places nine through 12 receive second-team recognition.
Source: Original Article
