Eagles Ranked 12th Nationally in First USTFCCCA Indoor Track & Field Poll
MERIDIAN, Miss. – The Meridian Community College men's indoor track & field team earned national recognition Tuesday as the Eagles were ranked 12th in the country in the first set of 2026 NJCAA indoor rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The ranking, listed as Checkpoint No. 1, marks a significant early-season achievement for the program and reflects the Eagles' strong performances against a mix of junior college and four-year competition throughout January.
Meridian opened the indoor season on January 10 at the UAB/Vulcan Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama, where the men's team captured three first-place finishes. Sophomore Jamari Page won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.02, sophomore T.J. Autrey claimed first in the high jump at 2.01 meters, and sophomore Khiyon Lewis took the top spot in the triple jump with a mark of 15.04 meters.
The Eagles continued to build momentum at the Purple Tiger Invitational in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 16, where Autrey earned another victory in the high jump, clearing 2.13 meters, while Page finished second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.89.
On January 17, Meridian competed at the Samford Open in Birmingham, where sophomore Kane Hill captured first place in the men's triple jump with a mark of 14.80 meters.
Strong results followed at the LSU Bayou Bengal Invitational on January 23 in Baton Rouge. Page placed third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.87, Autrey finished second in the high jump with a clearance of 2.14 meters, and Hill added a second-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 14.96 meters.
Head Coach Chip Gayden said the national ranking is a reflection of the team's consistency and effort early in the season.
"I'm proud of the work our guys have put in," Gayden said. "We've competed well against strong fields, and this ranking shows that we're moving in the right direction. It's a credit to their preparation and commitment."
The Eagles will return to competition on Saturday, February 7, when the men's track & field team travels to Birmingham, for the Green & Gold Invitational.
To view the complete USTFCCCA NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Rankings, including Checkpoint No. 1, visit:
https://www.ustfccca.org/team-rankings-polls-central/polls-rankings-hub?coll=17129
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