Nichols Advances to National Championship, Two Other Golden Eagles Qualify for Quarterfinals

Wednesday, May 27

Lexington, Ky. / Track & Field Complex

Southern Miss

NCAA East First Round (Day One)

Tyler Nichols Qualifies for the National Championship at the NCAA East First Rounds in Lexington, Ky.

Nichols Advances to National Championship, Two Other Golden Eagles Qualify for Quarterfinals

5/27/2026 9:50:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country

Day One Results

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tyler Nichols posted a 26-4½ (8.04m, +0.2 m/s) mark to finish second overall in men's long jump to punch his ticket to the long jump national championship on day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Region First Rounds at the UK Track & Field Complex.

Additionally, Javel Fullerton and Valentino Rudolph both qualified for their respective men's 400 meter hurdles and men's 200 meters quarterfinals on Friday.

Ryan DeBarber opened the day with the men's javelin throw where he threw second in the first heat. DeBarber heaved a 209-11 (63.99m) that saw him finish second in his heat and 23rd overall amongst the 48-man field. The top 12 finishers in the event all advanced to Eugene, Oregon, with the cut mark held by Monmouth's Evan Niedrowski who posted a 217-1 (66.18m) on his second attempt.

Nichols, jumping in heat four, opened with a 25-8¾ (7.83m, +0.4 m/s) on his first attempt, placing him sixth in the field. On his second attempt, however, he reached a mark of 26-4 ½ (8.04m, +0.2 m/s) to climb to second overall and seal his spot in Eugene. De'Aundre Ward also jumped out of heat four in the event, reaching 24-5½ (7.45m, -0.5 m/s) on his first attempt before scratching on his second go. Ward recorded a 25-½ (7.63m, +1.3 m/s) to move to 14th on the final list, missing a spot in Eugene by an inch and a half.

Fullerton ran the first track event of the day for Southern Miss as one of eight athletes in the first heat of the 400 hurdles. He clocked a season-best 50.48-second time to finish third in his heat, guaranteeing him a spot in the quarterfinals as the top three finishers in each heat plus the next six fastest times all advance. His 50.48 seconds finished the day as the 17th fastest overall time in the event.

Valentino Rudolph ended the evening in the men's 200 meters. He ran in the fourth heat where he finished fourth with a time of 20.72 seconds. While he did not automatically qualify for the quarterfinals, his time was the 22nd fastest of the day, clinching him a spot in Friday's 200 quarterfinals.

Southern Miss does not compete tomorrow but returns to action on Friday, May 29, with four total events. For more information, visit SouthernMiss.com.

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