Bates and Brown Sweep 800 Meter Races on Final Day of Bulldog Alumni Relays

Thursday, March 26

Starkville, MS

Southern Miss

Bulldog Alumni Relays

Bates and Brown Sweep 800 Meter Races on Final Day of Bulldog Alumni Relays

3/28/2026 9:46:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Distance runners Emme Bates and Saxon Brown each earned a win in their respective 800-meter races to close out the final day of the Bulldog Alumni Relays Saturday in Starkville. On the women's side, Bates led the way with a first-place finish, clocking a time of 2:07.05. For the men, Brown secured his first-place finish crossing the line in 1:52.20.

Joining Bates in the 800m, Olivia Smith added a seventh-place finish in the event (2:13.71). Sierra Edwards earned a podium finish in the 100m hurdles, placing third with a time of 14.01. The 4x100m relay team of Valencia Watson, Tacherria Lawson, Kennedi Sanders and Addison McLaurin recorded a fourth-place finish with a time of 46.17.

In addition to Brown's win, Nikoby Johnson led Southern Miss in the 100m with a fifth-place finish (10.41), while Valentino Rudolph placed eighth (10.57) and later added a seventh-place finish in the 400m (48.04). In the field events, Isaiah Lowrey placed eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 14.44 meters, while Ryan DeBarber recorded a sixth-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 61.64 meters.

Top 8 Finishes - Finals
Women

4x100m Relay | 4th – V. Watson, T. Lawson, K. Sanders, A. McLaurin (46.17)

100m Hurdles | 3rd – Sierra Edwards (14.01)

800m | 1st – Emme Bates (2:07.05), 7th – Olivia Smith (2:13.71)

Men

100m | 5th – Nikoby Johnson (10.41), 8th – Valentino Rudolph (10.57)

400m | 7th – Valentino Rudolph (48.04)

800m | 1st – Saxon Brown (1:52.20)

Triple Jump | 8th – Isaiah Lowrey (14.44m)

Javelin | 6th – Ryan DeBarber (61.64m)

The Golden Eagles will return to the oval to host their sole home meet beginning Friday, April 3rd in Hattiesburg.

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