BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —Mississippi College closed out two days of competition at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships with both the Choctaws and Lady Choctaws securing third-place finishes in the final team standings. The weekend was highlighted by nine event titles, seven on the men's side and two on the women's side, along with four GSC Indoor Championship records and multiple school records.

Jake McMillan headlined the meet, earning both the GSC Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Freshman Performer awards after a dominant all-around performance.

MEN'S RECAP

The Choctaws delivered a championship-caliber showing across multiple event groups, capturing 7 event titles and setting multiple records.

McMillan Leads the Way

Freshman Jake McMillan's heptathlon competition began on Day One and concluded on Day Two, where he secured the conference title with 5,058 points. His performance not only earned him the gold medal but also set a new Mississippi College school record. During the heptathlon, McMillan also set a GSC Indoor Championship record in the 60-meter hurdles portion of the event, clocking 8.24s. Another key highlight of his seven-event performance came in the pole vault, where he recorded a personal best of 4.10 meters (13-5¼) a significant improvement from his previous best of 3.75 meters (12-3½). Beyond the heptathlon, McMillan continued to contribute valuable team points, placing third in the Open 60-meter hurdles (8.30s), fifth in the high jump (1.95m / 6-4¾), and fifth in the long jump (6.41m / 21-0½).

Record-Breaking Performances

Mississippi College produced several historic performances on the men's side.

Schyler Chambers claimed the conference title in the triple jump with a leap of 14.93 meters (48-11¾), breaking the GSC Indoor Championship record. Chambers also added a fourth-place finish in the long jump (6.72m / 22-0¾).

In the men's weight throw, James Miller won the conference crown with a mark of 18.61 meters (61-0¾), setting a new Mississippi College school record. Jacob Keesee placed second (17.68m / 58-0¼), while Bryan Puckett finished fifth (16.65m / 54-7½) to give the Choctaws three scorers in the event.

On the track, Tristan Jusino-Lansing captured the 60-meter hurdles title in a school-record time of 7.96s (PR) which places him 18th in the NCAA Division II. Brodie Roberts followed with a victory in the 60 meters, running 6.81s, a personal best that ranks third in program history.

Gabe Hodson delivered one of the most impressive races of the championship, winning the 800 meters in 1:49.86s. His time broke the GSC Indoor Championship record and set a new Mississippi College school record.

The Choctaws closed the meet in dominant fashion in the 4x400 relay. Matias Vasquez, Samuel Hodson, Evan Wrights, and Gabe Hodson combined for a winning time of 3:13.51s, breaking another GSC Indoor Championship record and posting the fifth-fastest time in school history.

Additional Scoring Performances

Bryan Puckett secured a runner-up finish in the shot put (16.07m / 52-8¾), while Steven Conrad placed seventh (15.01m / 49-3).

The men's distance medley relay team of Christian Balcer, Samuel Hodson, Evan Wrights, and Sidney Stegall finished third in 9:59.09s, the seventh-fastest time in Mississippi College history.

Liam Wilkerson added points in the 400 meters with an eighth-place finish (49.66s).

WOMEN'S RECAP

The Lady Choctaws showcased depth and consistency throughout the championship, highlighted by a relay title, a field event victory, and strong distance performances that powered the team to a third-place finish.

Championship Performances

The women's distance medley relay team of Bre Bell, Anna Tucker, Taylor Benoit, and Lauren Wallace captured the conference title in 11:39.65s, setting the tone for a strong distance weekend.

Mallory Dial earned the conference crown in the high jump with a clearance of 1.63 meters (5-4¼).

Distance Dominance

Mississippi College's distance group played a major role in the team standings.

In the 3,000 meters, Taylor Benoit finished second in 9:49.83s, breaking the GSC Indoor Championship record. Bre Bell followed closely with a third-place finish in 9:57.29s.

Lauren Wallace posted two runner-up finishes, placing second in both the mile (4:56.13s) and the 800 meters (2:13.66s). Catherine Wallace (5:03.56s PR) and Audrey Mayatte (5:13.19s PR) added fourth- and sixth-place finishes in the mile.

Lilly Jensen contributed with a personal-best 2:21.42s to place seventh in the 800 meters.

Field & Sprint Contributions

Kennedy Thompson earned a second-place finish in the weight throw (16.31m / 53-6¼) and placed sixth in the shot put (11.96m / 39-3). Keva Thomas (15.76m / 51-8½ PR) and Rebekah Zweerink (14.69m / 48-2½ PR) also scored in the weight throw.

Alana Green added valuable points on the track, finishing fourth in the 60 meters (7.70s) and fifth in the 200 meters (24.89s). She also helped the 4x400 relay team alongside Ann Cobb, Anna Tucker, and Haylei Mason to a podium finish.

Isabella Magyar placed fifth in the pole vault (3.05m / 10-0), while Madison Flugence finished sixth in the long jump (5.39m / 17-8¼) and recorded a personal-best 8.80s in the 60-meter hurdles.

Personal Best Performances

Several Choctaws and Lady Choctaws recorded personal-best marks during the championship, including:

* Brett Tyler (13.74m / 45-1 weight throw; 12.58m / 41-3¼ shot put)
* Samuel Evans (50.14 – 400m)
* Elyse Dorris (7.89s – 60m)
* Rayvious Williams (22.65s – 200m prelims)
* Emily Taylor (5.02m / 16-5¾ – long jump)
* Jane-Matthew Reed (1:00.62s – 400m)
 

With multiple conference titles, championship records, school records, and depth across event groups, Mississippi College demonstrated its strength on both the men's and women's sides in Birmingham, finishing third overall in the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships.