ROME, Ga. – It was a thrilling opening day for the Millsaps College men's and women's track and field programs, competing in Day One of the 2026 Southern Athletic Association Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Sophomore
Greer Hernandez provided an electric kick to triumph in the men's 10,000 meters inside Valhalla Stadium on Friday.
Hernandez ran a blistering, school-record time of 32 minutes, 7.12 seconds after unleashing a killer close in the final 150 meters. It was a trio of racers leading the field into the final lap, before it became a race between Hernandez and
Zachary Benner of Oglethorpe in the closing stretch.
Benner went for broke with 250 meters to go, but Hernandez gradually reeled in his competitor on the last straightaway. Benner leaned at the line, while Hernandez kept a steady, quick and upright form, edging Benner by .02 seconds at the finish.
Hernandez became the 11th conference champion from the men's team in program history following the epic finish. The Majors totaled three conference crowns in the SCAC era, and now have eight since competing in the SAA since 2013. A first-place accolade also earned Hernandez a spot on the All-SAA First Team.
Junior
Fiona Selders had a terrific showing as she qualified for two Finals slated for Saturday. Selders placed fourth in the 100-meter prelims with a wind-aided time of 12.04 seconds. She also became the second-fastest runner in program history in the 200-meter prelims. Selders clocked 25.09 seconds to secure seventh and spot in Saturday's Final.
Sophomore
Suzanna Busbee competed in both the 100 meters (13.73, 15th) and 200 meters (28.53, 17th) as well.
In the men's sprints, freshman
Nick Price became the third-swiftest runner in program history in the 100 meters by finishing 11th with an impressive time of 11.06. Additionally, Price is now the fifth-quickest runner in the 200 meters, securing a mark of 22.47 and 14th place.
Sophomore
Aidan Brice posted a pair of personal bests in the same 100 meters (11.25, 16th) and 200 meters (18th, 23.18). Freshman
Wyatt Wheeler concluded his prelims in 23rd (11.59) and 22nd (24.16), respectively.
Wheeler's classmate
Frederick Fluker Jr. earned himself a spot in the Final of the men's 110-meter hurdles. He placed eighth in a time of 17.03.
Freshman
Dallas Stricker closed the 3000-meter steeplecase Final in ninth with a personal-best time of 10:22.63. He improved upon his own time of 10:25.27 and bettered his standing as the Majors' fourth-best runner in the event.
The Majors had a nice showing in the field event Finals on Friday also. Sophomore
Molly Northam posted the highest placing in ninth with a personal-best toss of 28.26 meters in the women's javelin. Classmate
Laken Day was 13th in the same competition (21.42 meters).
Competing in the women's hammer throw were junior
Amelia Bohl, junior
Reese Brasseaux, and senior
Amari Jackson-Wright. Bohl was 14th (37.32 meters), Brasseaux was 20th (28.22 meters), and Jackson-Wright was 21st (personal-best 26.44 meters).
On the men's side of the field events, Wheeler and sophomore
W.H Carver each sailed in the men's long jump Final. Wheeler earned 13th (6.09 meters), while Carver secured 19th (5.73 meters). Both Carver and Hernandez competed in their respective events for the first time ever at the collegiate level.
Also competing for the Majors was junior
Carter Davis. Davis tallied a 17th-place showing in the men's javelin Final (27.41 meters).
Millsaps will return to action in Day Two of the 2026 SAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on Saturday. Live video and results will be provided at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College men's and women's track and field programs follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
