Rain Wanes as Jacks Heat Up on Thursday at Carl Kight Invitational

Thursday, April 2

Nacogdoches, TX

Stephen F. Austin

Carl Kight Invite and Multi

Dec. Shot Put at Carl Kight Invitational

Photo by: Elisabeth Thornquist

Rain Wanes as Jacks Heat Up on Thursday at Carl Kight Invitational

4/2/2026 11:05:00 PM | Track & Field

Thursday Results

SFA wins five events in first day action at home meet

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin opened Thursday action at the Carl Kight Invitational with five event wins as the rain impacted throws briefly before pushing out to give Thursday's distance carnival competitors a fine canvas to work on from inside Homer Bryce Stadium. Evaline Chepkoech (W 1500m), Valentine Jemutai (W 5000m), Bryson Williams (M LJ), Paul Kiprotich (M 5000m) and Japhet Kimei (M 10000m) all won events on Thursday.

THURSDAY RESULTS

Chepkoech was victorious in her first event of the outdoor season with a time of 4:21.73 to best the field in the 1500m. Trude Lamb joined her on the podium with a third-place time of 4:29.25.

The SFA women controlled the 5000m occupying the first, second and fourth place spots. Jemutai won with a time of 16:27.90, Mercy Kipchumba was less than a second back at a personal-best effort of 16:28.22 and Sharon Boyani finished fourth at 17:22.55.

In the women's steeplechase, Garance Dubray's time of 10:51.37 earned her a new personal best effort in the event and a second-place finish.

Alana Rouquette heads into Friday morning in third place in the heptathlon after recording four top six finishes on Thursday highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the 200m (26.20) which propelled her into a top three spot after day one.

In the women's hammer, a pair of Jacks earned top eight placements. Tynslee Richards finished fourth with a mark of 46.68m (153-01), while Kiyah Rawl's personal best toss of 145-03 placed her eighth.

Two Jacks placed in the top eight of the pole vault with Christine Schick notching 3.66m (12) to place fourth, while Reis Johnson finished seventh after completing 3.51m (11-6 ¼).

One of the region's top jumpers, Williams bested the field to win the long jump by nearly a full foot at 7.40m (24-3.5).

Robert Fulle hit a new personal best in the 1500m with a fourth-place result in 3:46.67. Zachary McPhee placed fourth in the steeplechase at 9:23.53.

SFA dominated the 5000m placing runners first through fifth with a sixth runner inside the top eight. Kiprotich flew to the event win at 14:00.30 as he nearly became just the third runner in program history to hit sub-14 minutes in the race. Ryan Binskin, Sam Golla, Devon Judelson and Lathan Lewter placed second through fifth with Pablo Lesarri eighth.

Brayden Hill claimed a podium spot with a third-place finish in the pole vault at 4.87m (15-11.75). Samuel Pavan placed fifth (4.72m; 15-5.75) and Payton Bragg (4.57m; 15) seventh.

The Jacks 2-3-4 in the men's hammer as Victor Ramos led the trio at 57.53 (188-9), Kason Reed followed with 56.83 (186-05) and James Williams logged 55.74 (182-10). Jackson Grantham placed fifth in the discus (47.32; 155-3) and Julian Tijerina (46.34; 152) followed a spot back.

In the decathlon, Ayden Colbert placed second in the high jump at 1.79m and is seventh overall entering Friday. Samuel Pavan finished second in both the long jump (7.00m) and shot put (13.10m) before withdrawing.

The night's action concluded with Kimei winning the ever lengthy 10000m run by 13 seconds.

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