PITTSBURG, Kan. – Missouri Southern turned in a strong opening day at the Outdoor Track & Field MIAA Championships Friday, highlighted by a championship win, multiple All-MIAA finishes, and several NCAA qualifying marks.
Through day one, the MSSU men sit first with 39 points, while the women are second with 23 points, behind Pittsburg State (37).
The Lions dominated the men's long jump, sweeping the podium as Donovyn Fowler claimed the title (7.66m), followed by Ayden Walton (2nd - 7.61m) and Chase Querry (3rd - 7.53m). In the men's hammer throw, Gabe Ford (2nd) and Tyson Williams (3rd) led three scoring performances.
On the women's side, Briar Gillum broke the program record in the hammer throw (61.96m) to place second, while Dailynn VanDeren finished third. Lilah Genel added a third-place finish in the 10,000m.
In prelims, Phillip Jefferson posted the top time in the 400m hurdles to advance to finals, while Morgan Pork qualified in the 400m dash.
Missouri Southern heads into Saturday with strong momentum and multiple scoring opportunities remaining.
Team Scores
MSSU Men - 1st - 39 Points
MSSU Women - 2nd - 23 Points (PSU is first with 37 points)
Field Events
Men's Hammer Throw
Gabe Ford - 65.02m - Second, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, Fourth in MSSU program history, 8 points for MSSU
Tyson Williams - 61.67m - Third, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, Seventh in MSSU program history, 6 points for MSSU
Isaiah Waller - 58.02m - Eighth, NCAA Qualifying Marks, 1 point for MSSU
Erick Marchan - 54.42m - 16th
Men's Long Jump
Donovyn Fowler - 7.66m - Champion, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, Third in MSSU program history, 10 points for MSSU
Ayden Walton - 7.61m - Second, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, Fourth in MSSU program history, 8 points for MSSU
Chase Querry - 7.53m - Third, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, 6 points for MSSU
Drew Beachler - 7.22m - Ninth
Women's Hammer Throw
Briar Gillum - 61.96m - Second, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, MSSU Program Record, 8 points for MSSU
Dailynn VanDeren - 61.70m - Third, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, Second in MSSU program history, 6 points for MSSU
Alexis Noble - 53.54m - Seventh, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, 2 points for MSSU
Aubrey Skinner - 49.94m - 11th, PR
Track Events
Women's 10k Run
Lilah Genel - 35:39.24 - Third, 2026 All-MIAA, NCAA Qualifying Marks, PR, Third in MSSU program history, 6 points for MSSU
Hailey Nelson - 36:27.42 - Eighth - 1 point for MSSU
Zoe Nelson - 36:51.75 - 11th
Men's 400m Dash Prelims
Rylan Wilson - 48.75 seconds - 13th
Women's 400m Dash Prelims
Morgan Pork - 56.54 seconds - Seventh - Qualified for Finals
Men's 100m Dash Prelims
Cody Grant - 10.65 seconds - 10th
Men's 400m Hurdles Prelims
Phillip Jefferson - 51.73 seconds - First, Qualified for Finals, NCAA Qualifying Marks
Ryan Jackson - 54.38 seconds - 11th
Darian Abbott - 54.79 seconds - 12th
Multis
Heptathlon
Claire Cole – 2,539 points through four events for ninth
100m Hurdles - 9th – 15.61 second – 763 points
High Jump - 8th – 1.54 meters – 666 points
Shot Put - 11th – 8.58 meters – 437 points
200m Dash - 11th – 27.47 seconds – 673 points
