Mississippi College’s track and field teams posted record-breaking performances across three meets this weekend. The athletes competed at the Joe Walker Invitational hosted by Ole Miss, the Lee Fast Break Athletics Invitational at Lee University, and the Rhodes 7-Way Meet at Rhodes College.
At Ole Miss, Gabe Hodson set a school record in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:47.60, finishing second overall. The mark ranks third in NCAA Division II and first in the Gulf South Conference. Schyler Chambers won the triple jump with a lifetime-best 15.49 meters (50 feet, 10 inches), ranking fifth nationally and first in the GSC. Matthew Coleman took the men’s javelin title with a throw of 62.79 meters (206 feet, 0 inches). Garrett Ross finished first in the decathlon, recording personal bests in eight of ten events and improving his overall score by 300 points, making him the conference leader in the event.
On the women’s side, Mallory Dial finished second in the high jump, clearing 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches), which ranks first in the GSC and ties her for third all-time at Mississippi College. Christian Balcer posted personal bests in the 800 meters, finishing in 1:50.76 and 1:50.94, moving into the program’s top six. Matias Vasquez ran a season-best 52.40 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, an NCAA provisional mark that ranks 15th nationally and first in the conference.
At the Lee Invitational, the women’s distance runners delivered historic performances. Lauren Wallace set a school record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:38.54, an NCAA provisional mark that ranks eighth nationally. Taylor Benoit followed with a personal-best 16:47.15, ranking 12th nationally. Kinley Harris set a school record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 37:01.10, leading the GSC. In the men’s 10,000 meters, Cooper Parker finished with a time of 30:26.78, ranking second in the GSC and fourth all-time at Mississippi College.
At the Rhodes 7-Way Meet, the Choctaws continued their success with multiple wins and personal bests. Aubrey Simpson won the women’s javelin with a season-best 33.02 meters (108 feet, 4 inches). Hayden Simmons captured the men’s javelin with a personal-best 53.96 meters (177 feet, 0 inches), ranking sixth in the GSC. On the track, Shana Sellers won the women’s 1,500 meters in 4:51.69, a personal best. Megan McDonough finished second in the women’s javelin with 31.42 meters (103 feet, 1 inch). Whitt Kilgore placed third in the men’s 1,500 meters with a personal-best 4:00.23. Additional personal bests included Dorian Hurd in the 400-meter hurdles (57.90 seconds), Hayden Simmons in discus (33.19 meters), and Catherine Wallace in the 800 meters (2:17.83).
Mississippi College will continue its outdoor season next weekend at the UAH Rocket City Invitational in Alabama, according to school officials.
