RedTail Track & Field Posts Strong Performances at NJCAA Indoor Championships

RedTail Track & Field Posts Strong Performances at NJCAA Indoor Championships
March 12, 2026

The RedTails wrapped up the NJCAA Indoor Championships in Topeka, Kansas, on March 6-7. With several standout efforts across mid‑distance and throws, highlighted by a top‑10 finish in the women's weight throw and a complete heptathlon performance on the men's side.

Women's Results

800 Meters – Preliminaries

  • Mallori Jones placed 11th overall with a time of 2:18.61, closing her sophomore indoor season with a competitive showing in a deep national field.

Shot Put

  • Kailan McEwen finished 13th with a mark of 12.17m (39' 11.25"), landing her best throw on her first attempt.

Weight Throw

  • Riley Goddard delivered one of Hawkeye's top finishes of the weekend, placing sixth with a throw of 17.12m (56' 2"). Her series included multiple throws over 16 meters, showing impressive consistency for a freshman.

  • Kailan McEwen added a second scoring appearance, placing 21st with a mark of 13.41m (44' 0").

Men's Results

Heptathlon

  • Ryan Leonard completed all seven events to finish 14th with 3,925 points, capping off a strong multi‑event performance on the national stage.

Coach Dae'trell Gordon started by commenting on the overall performance at nationals, "I'm extremely proud of the way our athletes represented our program at the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Freshman Riley Goddard had an incredible performance in the women's weight throw, finishing sixth with a personal best of 17.12 meters (56-2). That mark also set a new school record, beating the previous record by nearly two feet. Riley has worked incredibly hard all season and continues to rise to the occasion when it matters most."

Following up with some specific shoutouts saying, "I'm also proud of the way our other national qualifiers competed. Sophomore Mallori Jones put together a strong race in the 800 meters, Ryan Leonard battled through a demanding heptathlon, and Kailan McEwen stepped up to compete in both the weight throw and shot put. Having four athletes compete on the national stage says a lot about the direction our program is heading."