2026 Outdoor Track and Field Season Opener

Central, S.C. – The King University team competed in its first Outdoor Track and Field invitational of the 2026 season. With many personal bests after an incredible Indoor season and multiple top-eight places at the SWU Gotta Run Invitational.

Men's Track and Field Team:
 
The Men's Track and Field team finished the SWU Gotta Run Invite with a top performance from Freshman Jude Dukes, with his win in the Long Jump, clearing a mark of 6.86 meters (22'6" ft) and finishing second in the Triple Jump with a leap of 14.02 meters (46'0" ft).
 
On the track, Lance Hatcher picked right up where he left off last outdoor season by running 4:17.44 in the 1500-meter race. In the sprints, Thomas Grant ran a personal best in the 200-meter with a 22.03 seconds, finishing second overall.
 
In the throwing pits, King had multiple athletes place in the top eight. Noah Gilliam with a personal best in the hammer throw with a mark of 43.20 meters (141'9" ft), finishing fifth overall, with his teammate Jesse Owens finishing eighth with a mark of 41.86 meters (137'4" ft).
 
Kenyan Booker finished third overall in long jump with a best jump of 6.60 meters (21'7.75" ft) and also finished fifth overall in high jump by clearing on his first attempt from the opening height of 1.65 meters all the way up to 1.85 meters (6'0.75" ft) but was unable to clear at 1.90 meters. 
 
Zach Stroin finished in seventh place in the javelin with a personal best toss of 48.86 meters (160'4" ft).
 
Women's Track and Field Team:
 
The Women's Track and Field team was also able to get a champion at the SWU Gotta Run in the triple jump from the Freshman Keeyanah Foote with a mark of 10.20 meters (33'5.5" ft)
 
Going to then throwing pits saw Rylee Durrence place sixth with her first ever hammer throw with a toss of 33.81 meters (110'11" ft). Durrence was also able to compete in the discus with a second overall finish and a throw of 33.96 meters (111'5" ft).
 
Samaya Armstead was able to win the long jump with a long leap of 5.26 meters (17'3" ft), as well as a collegiate best in the 200 meters of 26.78 seconds.
 
With the distance representative from Emily Ward able to finish in 5:09.52 in the 1500 meters with a fourth overall finish and a new personal best.  
 
Live Results SWU Gotta Run
 
Up Next: The Tornado will be back on the track and field at the Montreat Open next weekend on Friday and Saturday, March 20^th and 21^st.