Men’s 4x400 Earns Electric Win to Close Out SBC Indoor Championships

Monday, February 23

Birmingham, AL

Southern Miss

Sun Belt Indoor Championships

Men’s 4x400 Earns Electric Win to Close Out SBC Indoor Championships

2/24/2026 7:31:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southern Miss men's 4x400-meter relay team delivered an electric finish to win the event and set a school record on the final day of the Sun Belt Indoor Championships. Javel Fullerton, Jacoby Tanner, Isaiah Thomas and Valentino Rudolph crossed the line in 3:11.48 to secure the title and establish the new program mark.

In addition to the win during the meet's final event, Rudolph won the 200 in 20.76 to break his own meet record, previously set yesterday during the preliminary race. The Golden Eagles also received event victories from DeAundre Ward in the long jump (7.67m), Piers Cameron in the shot put (18.23m) and Conner Mozee in the weight throw (19.59m).

On the women's side, Emme Bates recorded two top-four finishes, placing second in the mile with a time of 4:43.78 and fourth in the 3,000 meters at 9:48.54. The 4x400-meter relay team of Jaellene Burgess, Kennedi Sanders, Valencia Watson and Addison McLaurin finished second in 3:40.47. Alana Simon cleared 1.74 meters to place fourth in the high jump, while Maria Kaylor added a seventh-place finish in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:09.11.

For the men, Nikoby Johnson placed second in the 60 meters with a time of 6.69, while Rudolph finished fourth in 6.85. Tyler Nichols recorded a pair of top-four finishes, placing third in the long jump at 7.60 meters and fourth in the high jump with a clearance of 2.13 meters. Saxon Brown finished fourth in the 800 meters in 1:53.81, and Fullerton took fifth in the 400 meters at 47.96. Markeith Thompson placed seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (8.27), Justin Johnson finished seventh in the triple jump (14.61m), and Tyler Hughes cleared 2.05 meters to place eighth in the high jump.

The Golden Eagles finished the meet with the men earning fifth place with 89.5 points, while the women finished seventh with 50 points. Each podium finish places the athlete on first, second, or third team-all conference.

Top 8 Finishes - Finals

Women

Mile | 2nd - Emme Bates (4:43.78)

3000m | 4th – Emme Bates (9:48.54)

5000m | 7th – Maria Kaylor (17:09.11)

High Jump | 4th – Alana Simon (1.74m)

4x400m | 2nd – J. Burgess, K. Sanders, V. Watson, A. McLaurin (3:40.47)

Men

60m | 2nd – Nikoby Johnson (6.69m), 4th – Valentino Rudolph (6.85)

60m Hurdles | 7th – Markeith Thompson (8.27)

200m | 1st – Valentino Rudolph (20.76, Meet Record)

400m | 5th – Javel Fullerton (47.96)

800m | 4th – Saxon Brown (1:53.81)