Jackson State Claims SWAC Men’s Outdoor Track and Field title
BATON ROUGE, La. – Jackson State claimed the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship with 142 total points. Texas Southern finished second with 110 points while Bethune-Cookman placed third with 104.5 points.
The title marks Jackson State’s first championship in Men’s Outdoor Track and Field since 1990.
During the meet, Jackson State claimed a pair of gold medals with multiple student-athletes scoring points. Collins Kibet claimed the gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:41.74, while Kaiden Berry – the co-Most Outstanding Field Performer – claimed gold in the shot put with a throw of 17.13 meters (56-02.50).
Jackson State’s championship effort was also highlighted by Sedgwrick Pitts Jr.’s fourth-place finish in the men’s 200-meter dash and key performances in the decathlon from Connor Cooper, who finished fifth overall with 5,046 points.
Alcorn State’s Derrick Williams delivered one of the fastest performances of the championship meet by winning the men’s 200-meter dash in 20.49. Texas Southern’s Joshua Brown placed second while Bethune-Cookman’s Shanard Walker finished third.
Florida A&M’s Tyon Reed claimed the men’s 400-meter hurdles title with a winning mark of 51.43. Prairie View A&M’s Ronzell Woods and Alabama A&M’s Nathan Anderson finished second and third respectively. In the men’s 800-meter run, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Kewarny Fletcher captured the conference title with a winning time of 1:50.00 while Southern’s Marcus Delcy finished second in 1:51.07.
Texas Southern’s Donovan Brooks secured the men’s decathlon championship with 6,152 total points. Brooks posted event victories in the javelin throw, shot put and 1,500-meter run during the competition.
Florida A&M Claims SWAC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field title
BATON ROUGE, La. – Florida A&M captured the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship title with 145.50 total points, edging Alabama State (132). Southern placed third with 95.50 points while Alabama A&M finished fourth with 93 points.
Florida A&M was led by a dominant performance from Diandrenique Gaines, who won both the 100- and 200-meter dash. Gaines set a championship-record time of 11.15 in the 100 meters before claiming the 200-meter title in 22.72. Teammates Kiersten Clark and Janaree Kinchen also delivered strong performances for the Lady Rattlers in the sprint events.
Alabama A&M excelled in the 400-meter dash as Alisha Wilson and Laila Gaynor finished first and second respectively in the event finals. Wilson posted a winning time of 53.26 while Gaynor crossed the line just behind her at 53.27.
Alabama State’s distance runners also played a major role in the team standings. Aliyah Williams swept both the women’s 800-meter run and 1500-meter run, while teammate Shone Walters finished runner-up in both races.
In the women’s long-distance events, Alabama A&M’s Laura Avila claimed the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter titles. Avila won the 5,000 meters in 18:20.40 before returning to take the 10,000-meter crown as well.
Southern’s Tashina Alase delivered one of the top hurdle performances of the meet, running a time of 12.84 in the preliminaries of the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
Norfolk State claims fifth straight MEAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field title
NORFOLK, Va. – For the fifth consecutive season, the Norfolk State captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship, finishing with 183 points while defending their home track.
Spartan Kristopher Stephens earned Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet honors. Stephens claimed gold in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 15.64 meters. Kendrick Winfield led the charge on championship Saturday, claiming gold in the 400-meter run with a time of 46.09 before winning the 200-meter final in 20.55.
Standout weekend performances from Christopher Baskings (sprints), Daniel Mathenge (distances), and Landon Walker (pole vault) were key in helping the Spartans total 183 points and secure their fifth straight MEAC crown.
Norfolk State head coach Kenneth Giles was named Outstanding Coach of the Meet.
North Carolina Central rookie Aaron Alukunyang earned Outstanding Runner of the Meet honors.
The championship concluded with a statement performance in the men’s 4×400-meter relay, where the Spartans held off Coppin State and North Carolina Central to secure gold in 3:07.92.
Howard wins fifth straight MEAC women’s Track & Field title
NORFOLK, Va. – For the fifth straight season, the Howard Lady Bison claimed the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
Following last year’s record-breaking performance of 292 points, Howard finished this year’s meet with 235 points, further solidifying its program as a powerhouse in HBCU track and field.
Howard head coach David Oliver was named Outstanding Coach of the Meet, while Nihijah Darden and Yahnari Lyons earned Co-Outstanding Runner of the Meet honors.
Lyons capped off a dominant season by winning the 200 meters in 22.94, and the Howard team had time to soak it all in as emotions flowed during the final women’s event of the evening. The Bison raced to victory in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:35.30, finishing 8.07 seconds ahead of the competition.
The Bison collected their first gold medal of championship Saturday in the 4×100-meter relay, setting the tone for the rest of the evening as they went on to win eight additional gold medals.
Marcia Sey claimed the women’s 100-meter hurdles crown in 12.96, while teammate Zoe Turner captured the 400-meter title in 53.15. In the women’s 800 meters, Tiffany Mugubai clocked in at 2:05.19, while Cenaiya Billups won the 400-meter hurdles title in 56.86.
Morgan State senior Brylan Carter claimed Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet honors.
Spring Hill eliminated in NCAA Div. II Softball South Regional
SAINT LEO, Fla. — The Spring Hill softball team’s 2026 season came to an end in the NCAA Regional as the Badgers lost to fifth-seeded University of Tampa, 14-2, in Friday afternoon’s elimination game.
The Badgers fell 1-0 to No. 1 Saint Leo after being one-hit in the opening game Thursday of the 2026 NCAA Division II South Regional.
The Badgers finish the 2026 season with a 34-25 overall record after securing their third consecutive SIAC Tournament championship.
Claflin shutout in NCAA Div. II Atlantic Softball Regional
CIAA champion Claflin was held to three hits in a 8-0 shutout loss to Shippensburg Thursday and could only master two more hits in a 13-0 shutout elimination loss to Glenville State Friday in NCAA Div. II Atlantic Regional. CIAA MVP Aniyah Jackson had one hit in each game.
The Panthers finished at 31-14 on the season.
Edward Waters bows out in NCAA Div. II South Baseball Regional
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – SIAC baseball champion Edward Waters fell to No. 1 seed West Florida 16-6 Thursday and dropped a close 3-2 decision to No. 4 seed Delta State Friday to be eliminated from the NCAA Div. II South Baseball Regional in Pensacola, Florida.
The Tigers fell behind 10-0 thru five innings vs. West Florida before scoring six runs over the final four innings. Designated hitter Calvin Scott had a solo home run and first baseman Scott Torres had a two-run single to lead EWU. Left fielder Jordan Smith scored two runs.
Delta State scored all three of its runs in the third inning Friday. Edward Waters answered with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and cut the deficit to one in the seventh on an RBI single by Joseph Di Cesare, but Delta State’s bullpen shut the door late.
