Eagles Open Outdoor Season with Strong Showing at Belhaven Invitational
CLINTON, Miss. — The Meridian Community College men's and women's track & field teams kicked off the 2026 outdoor season Saturday with an impressive performance at the Belhaven Invitational, hosted at Mississippi College.
Competing against a mix of junior colleges and four-year programs, the Eagles recorded numerous top-five finishes to open the outdoor campaign on a high note.
Head Coach Chip Gayden was pleased with the team's effort in their first outdoor meet of the season.
"It was great to get the outdoor season started with good weather and strong competition," Gayden said. "We had a lot of top-five finishes and competed well against a mix of schools. It's a great starting point for our team."
Top 5 Finishers – Belhaven Invitational
Men's Performances
- Antoine Spillman — 1st Place, 200m (21.07)
- Jaden King — 2nd Place, 200m (21.13)
- J'Karius Gilbert — 2nd Place, 110m Hurdles (14.34)
- Jamir Haskin — 3rd Place, 800m (1:56.83)
- Jaylon Blackmon — 4th Place, Triple Jump (13.08m)
- Kevonte Hutchinson — 5th Place, Long Jump (6.92m)
Women's Performances
- Kyndell Christian — 3rd Place, 200m (25.31)
- Amaria Steele — 3rd Place, High Jump (1.55m)
- Amirah Nock — 3rd Place, Long Jump (5.24m)
Relay Performances
- Women's 4x100m Relay — 1st Place (47.55)
- Men's 4x100m Relay — 2nd Place (40.29)
- Women's 4x100m Relay (B Team) — 2nd Place (49.70)
In addition to the strong finishes, several Eagles secured national qualifying marks during the meet. Both the men's and women's 4x100m relay teams qualified for nationals, while Spillman and King earned qualification in the 200m. Gilbert also punched his ticket to nationals in the 110m hurdles.
Meridian will return to action Saturday, March 28, when the Eagles travel to Starkville, Miss., to compete in the Mississippi State Bulldogs Relay.
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