The McNeese Cowboys distance medley relay team set a new school record and secured a silver medal with a time of 9:55.63 on the opening day of the 2026 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. The relay team consisted of Gregory Martin, Samuel Serrano Borrego, Nicholas Moron, and Omer El-Fadl.
Lawson Fritsch became the first freshman in McNeese history to win an indoor pole vault medal after finishing third with a height of 16-02.72. He tied for second place with UIW’s Jonah Ulbright but was awarded bronze based on tiebreaker rules.
On the women’s side, Jaslyn Russell earned second place in the weight throw event with a mark of 58-06.
In qualifying rounds, Gregory Martin advanced to the men’s mile finals by placing fourth in preliminaries with a time of 4:16.82. Jeny Barcenas qualified for the women’s mile final after running 4:53.22 and finishing fifth in her preliminary heat.
The women’s distance medley relay team—composed of Uxue Castro-Martin, Fancy Jelagat, Keelei Dorsey, and Jeny Barcenas—finished fourth overall with a time of 11:57.15.
After the first day of competition, Stephen F. Austin leads both men’s and women’s team standings. The McNeese men are tied for sixth place with HCU at 14 points each; the women are eighth with 13 points.
The championships will conclude Thursday.
