Middle Tennessee Opens Outdoor Season with Solid Results at Yellow Jacket Invitational

Friday, March 20

Atlanta, Ga.

Middle Tennessee

Yellow Jacket Invitational

3/20/2026 10:12:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country

By: Edly Termilien / MTSU Athletic Communications

ATLANTA, Ga. — Middle Tennessee concluded the first day of the Yellow Jacket Invitational with several personal records and secured a second-place finish.

Freshman Solomon Sayo led the Blue Raiders with a second place finish in the men's 5000m, achieving a personal best of 14:24.27.

In the field events, junior Joel Iheakolam recorded a team-best of 6.90m in the men's long jump, followed by sophomore Jason Smallwood at 6.70m and sophomore DeVaun Butler at 6.22m. On the women's side, junior Viktoria Rusnakova achieved a personal best of 5.54m, placing fifth.

On the track, freshman Ella Miller set a personal best of 14.92 seconds in the 100m hurdles, while fellow freshman Emerson Brinkmeier recorded a personal record of 17.81 seconds. Senior Desiree Cameron Wilson achieved a personal best of 12.44 seconds in the 100m, junior Laila Rudolph finished with a time of 12.28 seconds, and freshman Jonathan Harris posted a personal record of 10.76 seconds in the men's event.

The Blue Raiders maintained their momentum in the 1500m, with freshman Viviana Salonia winning her heat and setting a personal best of 4:47.73. Sophomore Lily Storey recorded a time of 4:38.32, junior Juan Lucas De La Fuente finished at 3:51.17, and freshman Gabe Allen achieved a time of 3:54.78, each marking personal record performances. Senior Abraham Valenzuela finished with a time of 4:02.84, and junior Eleanor Towe completed the race in 4:44.03.

UP NEXT:
Middle Tennessee returns to action Saturday, March 21, at the Yellow Jacket Invitational.

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