Eight Southern Miss athletes have qualified for nine entries in the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East First Round, which will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, according to a May 22 announcement. The competition is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 27, and run through Saturday, May 30.
The NCAA selects the top 48 athletes in each men’s and women’s event from the east region to compete in this round. Representing Southern Miss are Ryan DeBarber, Javel Fullerton, Tyler Hughes, Conner Mozee, Tyler Nichols, Valentino Rudolph and De’Aundre Ward for the men’s team; Alana Simon is representing the women’s team.
DeBarber will start off competition for Southern Miss in the men’s javelin throw. He enters ranked 42nd overall with a season-best mark of 212-11 (64.89m) set at the Southern Miss Invitational. This marks his third appearance at an NCAA Outdoor First Round but his first as a Golden Eagle after previously qualifying with UNCW.
In men’s long jump, Nichols and Ward hold down the No.1 and No.2 seeds respectively from their performances at the Sun Belt Championships earlier this year. Nichols achieved a personal best of 26-10½ (8.19m), while Ward recorded a mark of 26-8½ (8.14m). Nichols is making his first appearance in this event at NCAAs but has competed twice before in high jump; Ward finished second overall last season at East First Rounds and was national championship finalist one year ago.
Other qualifiers include Fullerton (men’s 400-meter hurdles), Rudolph (men’s 200 meters), Mozee (men’s discus throw), Nichols again (men’s high jump), and Simon (women’s high jump). Several of these athletes are making repeat appearances or have set new personal bests this season during conference championships.
Advancement to quarterfinals depends on finishing among top three per heat or having one of next fastest times; ultimately top twelve finishers move on to Eugene for national championships later this summer.
