MCC Track & Field Set for NJCAA Nationals, Aiming to Continue Championship Tradition

The MCC Eagles track and field team poses together in a group portrait on the home straightaway, wearing green Meridian and black Eagles uniforms with arms crossed in a unified show of team pride.
The MCC Eagles track and field team poses together in a group portrait on the home straightaway, wearing green Meridian and black Eagles uniforms with arms crossed in a unified show of team pride.
Photos
March 3, 2026

MERIDIAN, Miss. — The stage is set once again for Meridian Community College Track & Field to compete among the nation's best.

The Eagles will travel to Topeka, Kansas, for the 2026 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, held March 6–7 at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility. The two-day national meet will feature elite junior college athletes from across the country competing on a 200-meter banked track.

For a program that has consistently brought national attention to Meridian, this year's championship appearance continues a strong tradition. Last season, MCC celebrated a national champion in long jump with Tafadzwa Chikomba, and the 2026 squad arrives ready to build on that legacy.

Head coach Chip Gayden is eager to see his athletes take the national stage once again.

"Our program has always taken pride in competing at the highest level," Gayden said. "This group has worked all year for this opportunity, and we're ready to represent MCC and Meridian with pride."

Men's Preview

The MCC men enter the national meet ranked No. 15 in the final USTFCCCA poll prior to Nationals and feature multiple athletes ranked among the best in the country.

Jamari Page and T.J. Autrey both head to Topeka ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA in their respective events.

Page will compete in the 60-meter hurdles and 60-meter dash. He set a new school record twice at the LSU Twilight, running 7.78 in the prelims before lowering it again to 7.74 in the finals to claim the top national ranking. He is also qualified in the 60m with a time of 6.82.

Autrey tied the school record in the high jump at the Samford Bulldog Open, clearing 2.16 meters (7'1") — the No. 1 mark in the NJCAA this season. He has cleared 2.09 meters or higher in four competitions this year, demonstrating remarkable consistency.

The Eagles also boast two nationally ranked triple jumpers in Kane Hill (4th, 15.08m) and Khiyon Lewis (5th, 15.04m). Lewis is also ranked 20th in the long jump with a mark of 7.25 meters.

Additional national qualifiers include:

Women's Preview

The MCC women will also showcase depth and determination on the national stage.

The 4x800m relay team of Serenity Singleton, De'Asia Cook, Iylan Hill, and Ayana Walker enters Nationals ranked 12th nationally.

Monique Proudlove will compete in the women's 60m, while Amaria Steele, ranked 18th nationally, will represent the Eagles in the high jump.

A Program with Impact

Track & Field has long been a cornerstone of MCC Athletics, bringing national recognition to the college and the Meridian community. From national champions to All-Americans and nationally ranked teams, the program continues to elevate its standard each season.

Now in 2026, the Eagles return to Nationals with multiple No. 1 rankings, school records, and top-five marks — a testament to the strength of the program and its continued growth.

The NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships will take place March 6–7 in Topeka, Kansas. The event can be streamed (paid access) at:
https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index

Follow MCC Athletics on X (@mcceaglessports), Instagram (@mcceaglesathletics_), and Facebook (Meridian Community College Athletics) for updates, results, photos, and more as the Eagles compete on the national stage.