Men's Track and Field | 5/19/2026 8:23:00 PM
May 19, 2026-Throughout the month of May Emporia State Athletics will take a look at the 21 events that make up the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. This will include a look at the reigning national champion, the top ranked competitor this season, the NCAA championships record, the Welch Stadium record and any Emporia State athletes that have provisionally qualified for the national meet. Today we will feature the 4x100m relay.
The prelims for the men's 4x100m relay are set for 4:50 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 with the final scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. The women will run the prelims at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 with the final set for 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.
As of May 12, West Texas A&M with three of the four runenrs that won the championship last season has the top time for the men at 39.20 at the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas while Tusculum ran 43.97 at the Aggie Invitational in Greensboro, N.C. to lead the women.
Men's 4x100m Relay Prelims Thursday, May 21 4:50 p.m. | Finals Saturday, May 23 3:30 p.m.
2025 National Champion: West Texas A&M (Jace Lynch, Jerry Jakpa, James Dadzie, Isaac Botsio) 39.43
2026 Top Ranked Competitor: West Texas A&M (Jace Lynch, James Dadzie, Kareem Smal, Isaac Botsio) 39.20
NCAA Championship Meet Record: Saint Augustine's (Ramaan Ansley, Taffawee Johnson, Burkhart Ellis Jr., Jermaine Jones) 38.70, 2023
Welch Stadium Record: West Texas A&M (Lynch, Jakpa, Lauzon, Botsio) 39.42, 2024 NCAA Championships
Best ESU National Finisher: Derwin Hall, Josh Schuler, Andrew Etheridge, Shjuan Richardson, 40.70, 2013 Third Place
ESU School Record: Derwin Hall, Josh Schuler, Kenton Lonberger, Sam Williams, 40.01, 2009 NCAA Championships
2026 ESU Provisional Qualifiers: Ezekiel Seamster,
Israel Domeh,
Tyus Wills,
Alden Mollerus 40.30, Pitt State Almost Last Chance Inv. Ranked 21st
Ezekiel Seamster,
Israel Domeh, Brayden Lipgens,
Alden Mollerus 40.40, MIAA Championships Ranked 34th
Women's 4x100m Relay Prelims Thursday, May 21 5:00 p.m. | Finals Saturday, May 23 3:40 p.m.
2025 National Champion: Fresno Pacific (Nydia Chance, Brianna Green, Sariyah Copeland, Shaniya Randolph) 43.85
2026 Top Ranked Competitor: Tusculum (Qitarah Castlin, Shanice Cox, Kori Moore, Jahzara Hart) 43.97
NCAA Championship Meet Record: Fresno Pacific (Nydia Chance, Brianna Green, Sariyah Copeland, Shaniya Randolph) 43.85
Welch Stadium Record: Abilene Christian (Hermin Joseph, Amara Ezem, Mary Tombiri-Shiri, REvoli Campbell) 44.17, 1995 NCAA Championships
Best ESU National Finisher: Courtney Bruna, Alicia Burns, Ashley Melichar, Shannon Butler, 46.39 2005 Sixth Place
ESU School Record: Jazmin Williams, Hannah Shield, Malacia Lee, Latiyera Yeargin 46.14, 2018 MIAA Championships
2026 ESU Provisional Qualifier:
Alexia Lewis,
Barbara Bentum,
Mackenzie Sauerwein,
Stella Agbokpah 46.16 MIAA Championships Ranked 37th
Derwin Hall, Josh Schuler, Andrew Etheridge and Shjuan Richardson have the top finish for the Emporia State men when they ran 40.70 third at the 2013 National Championships at CSU-Pueblo. Courtney Bruna, Alicia Burns, Ashley Melichar, and Shannon Butler placed sixth with a time of 46.39 at the 2005 National Championships at Abilene Christian.
Emporia State had two men's 4x100m relays hit the provisional mark and one women's team.
Ezekiel Seamster,
Israel Domeh,
Tyus Wills, and
Alden Mollerus ran 40.30 at the Pitt State Almost Last Chance meet and to give ESU the 21st ranked men's spot.
Braden Lipgens ran in place of Wills at the MIAA Championships when the Hornets ran 40.40 to rank 34
th in the nation. The women's team of
Alexia Lewis,
Barbara Bentum,
Mackenzie Sauerwein, and
Stella Agbokpah were clocked in 46.16 at the MIAA Championships and were ranked 37th nationally.
Emporia State's Welch Stadium and Zola Witten Track will host the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It will be the fifth time that Welch Stadium has played host to the national championships.
Welch Stadium previously served as the host site for the National Championships in 1995, 1999, 2006, and 2024 with the first meet in 1995 bringing 450 student-athletes to Emporia. The 2026 meet has 857 student-athletes entered with over 200 coaches representing 108 men's teams and 107 women's teams along with over 100 officials coming to the Flint Hills over the Memorial Day weekend.
The 2026 Championships are scheduled for May 21-23. During championship week, the NCAA Committee will come to Emporia on Monday with the first practice time available on Tuesday. Wednesday of championship week will see a variety of coaches and officials' meetings before the actual competition begins on Thursday. The meet will wrap up on Saturday evening.
After playing host to the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Emporia State was the site of the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships. It was the seventh time Welch Stadium has served as host of the conference championships since 1997. Welch Stadium and Witten Track are back on the schedule to host the 2027 MIAA Outdoor Championships as well.
