LOS ANGELES — The Mississippi College Track and Field team left an indelible mark at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays and Bryan Clay Invitational, obliterating multiple school records and securing several NCAA Division II provisional standards in a display of unparalleled athletic prowess.
The indomitable Jan Lukas Becker spearheaded the team's efforts with a jaw-dropping time of 28:43.2 in the elite Men's 10,000-meter run, clinching fourth place and demolishing the Mississippi College school record. Becker's extraordinary performance catapulted him to the third rank in all of NCAA Division II.
In the Women's 5,000-meter run, Jazmin Hernandez and Lauren Wallace broke the school record with astonishing lifetime bests of 17:01.9 and 17:23.6, respectively. Hernandez's time not only earned her the NCAA Division II provisional standard but also cemented her position as the second-ranked runner in the Gulf South Conference (GSC). Wallace now ranks sixth in the GSC.
But Wallace didn't stop there, going on to make history in the Women's 1500-meter run by snatching the school record with a GSC-leading time of 4:29.0. This monumental achievement makes her the first-ever Lady Choctaw to break the 4:30 mark in the event, earning her the NCAA Division II provisional standard and the 22nd rank nationally.
Cole Benoit demonstrated his versatility with commanding performances in both the Men's 800-meter and 1500-meter runs. Benoit achieved a lifetime best of 1:51.5 in the 800m, earning him the second rank in the GSC. In the 1500m, Benoit ran a GSC-leading time of 3:46.7, meeting the NCAA Division II provisional standard and ranking 21st nationally.
Additional standout performances included Hunter Kurz in the Men's 1500-meter run, securing a season's best mark of 3:51.8 and ranking fifth in the GSC. Gabe Poulin also delivered a season's best in the Men's 10,000-meter run, clocking in at 30:42.1. Jazmin Hernandez ran another season's best, 4:35.3, now ranking sixth in the GSC.
In a remarkable testament to the team's collective talent, every athlete who made the trip to California now holds either first or second place in their specialty events in Mississippi College school record history. Cole Benoit and Hunter Kurz are the fastest-ever Choctaw performers in the Men's 1500-meter run; Jan Lukas Becker and Gabe Poulin hold the same distinction in the Men's 10,000-meter run; and Jazmin Hernandez and Lauren Wallace are the fastest-ever Lady Choctaw performers in every event from the Women's 800-meter run to the Women's 5,000-meter run in both indoor and outdoor track and field.
The Mississippi College Track and Field team's meteoric rise is undeniable, as they continue to achieve great things and make their mark in the world of collegiate athletics.
The Choctaws will now shift their focus to the 2023 Georgia Tech Track and Field Invitational, set to take place on April 21-22.
