January 11, 2026
Four National Leading Marks Highlight Track & Field Season Opener
Fresh off a successful cross-country season, the Reivers opened up the 2026 season at two competitions. At the Doane University Ward Haylett Invitational in Crete, NE, Lovely Hibbert finished 2nd in the shot put with a nation-leading toss of 13.35m, 6th in school history.
Arthur Leandro De Sousa won the shot put in his first collegiate competition with a national qualifying toss of 16.78m, good for 2nd in the nation and 5th on the top 8 school record charts. Rajay Hemmings finished 3rd in 15.95m. Hemmings also threw 15.97m in the weight throw to punch a ticket to nationals and 3rd in the nation, 8th in school history. Koen Zandvliet threw 15.85m in the weight to also punch his ticket. Natasha Lynch threw 14.49m in the weight throw, good for 4th in the 9th in school history.
At the University of Missouri Alexis Jarrett Invitational in Columbia, MO, Lebon Attoungbre set the national leading mark in the triple jump in 15.49m. Kahdijah Bailey jumped 11.96m to finish as the top collegian and second overall in the triple jump, to also post the top mark in the nation and 4th in school history. Mary Laha won the 200m in 25.07 in her collegiate debut. She also ran 8.95 to finish 6th in the 60m hurdles and hit a national qualifying mark. Shantay Augustine placed 3rd in the 60m hurdles in 8.63 and Maya Bergstroom Weekes 7th in 8.96.
Taeja Bartee posted the 2nd best mark in the country, finishing 2nd in the long jump in a personal best of 5.69m. Jacob Smetzer finished 2nd in the long jump in a collegiate best of 7.27m.
Next up, January 16 and 17 will be the University of Nebraska Graduate Classic. Stay up to date with the latest news on Instagram and X/Twitter by following @Reiver_trackxc.