MILL SPRING, N.C. — CIU men's and women's track & field opened the 2026 indoor season Saturday at the UNCA Collegiate Opener at Tryon International, highlighted by numerous Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) and NCCAA qualifying performances across sprints, jumps and throws.
James Mayo led the Rams on the track, recording AAC and NCCAA qualifying times in both sprint events. Mayo finished fifth overall in the 200 meters with a time of 22.40 and also clocked a 7.09 in the 60 meters, qualifying for both postseason meets in each event. Dallas Turner added a 7.33 in the 60 and ran 23.83 in the 200, while Donavan Latimer posted a 7.38 in the 60.
In the 400 meters, Denim Jones turned in a time of 53.11, with Mark Zagata following in 54.89. CIU also competed in the 4×400 relay, as the "A" squad of Mayo, Latimer, Turner and Hunter McCaskill finished in 3:30.13.
The Rams produced several qualifying marks in the men's field events. Turner earned AAC and NCCAA qualifying status in the high jump with a fifth-place clearance of 1.93 meters (6-4). McCaskill added an AAC qualifying mark of 3.65 meters (11-11.75) in the pole vault. Elijah Seawright qualified for both the AAC and NCCAA in the long jump with a leap of 6.48 meters (21-3.25), while Latimer qualified for NCCAA's in the long jump at 6.26 meters (20-6.5) and qualified for both meets in the triple jump with a third-place mark of 13.64 meters (44-9).
In the throws, Cameron Montgomery delivered a strong opening meet, qualifying for both the AAC and NCCAA in the shot put and the weight throw. Montgomery placed third in the shot put with a mark of 15.25 meters (50-0.5) and followed with a third-place finish in the weight throw at 15.50 meters (50-10.25). Bryce Scarborough added marks of 10.52 meters in the shot put and 11.21 meters in the weight throw.
On the distance side for the men, Jacobo Garcia-Rivera led CIU in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:39.15, while Joey Canning crossed the line in 10:03.77.
On the women's side, Arion Jefferson led CIU with an AAC qualifying performance in the 400 meters, finishing third overall with a time of 1:03.97. In the 600 meters, Elizabeth Gustafson recorded a time of 1:51.49 to place 10th overall, while Jordan Wray followed in 1:58.01. Morgan Hartman represented the Rams in the 800 meters, finishing in 2:37.37.
Adelyn Swogger competed in the women's 60 meters, crossing the line in 8.97.
CIU also posted AAC qualifying marks in the women's field events, as Caroline Rimmer and Swogger both cleared 2.74 meters (8-11.75) in the pole vault to earn conference qualifying standards. Wray also competed in the event.
CIU returns to Tryon International on Jan. 16–17 for the Tryon Winter Classic and Combined Events 2026.
