FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On the first men's day of the 2026 NCAA West First Rounds, Tarleton State had three men post qualifying marks in their events on Wednesday for Friday's quarterfinals hosted by Arkansas at John McDonell Field.

Ca'terrin Cox, JayBrion Jones and David Mvundura each qualified for Friday's quarterfinals by posting top 24 marks in their first round on the track. Cox qualified automatically placing third in his heat and racing the ninth best overall time in the field while setting the school record. Mvundura also posted a top 10 overall time placing second in his heat in the 200 meters. Jones recorded the third-fastest time in his heat to receive the automatic bid as well as Cox and Mvundura and is ranked 13th in the field.

"It was so exciting to see our two sprinters and hurdler advance to the quarterfinals today," said head coach Bobby Carter. "At this time of the season, it's all about surviving and advancing, and our athletes did a great job competing with composure and executing when it mattered the most. We're confident in this group, and now the focus shifts to Friday  and being ready to deliver again."

Cox started off the week for the Texans in the second heat of the 110-meter hurdles. Starting five hours ahead of schedule after the start was bumped up due to expected inclement weather, Cox blazed to a third-place performance in his heat to claim an automatic bid to Friday's quarterfinals. The senior broke his own school record while setting a personal best of 13.50 seconds. Cox ranked ninth overall in the field of 48. With the top 24 advancing to Friday, he will now need to run a top 12 time on Friday to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships.

Jones was the next Texan to push himself into Friday. Jones placed third in his heat with the top two placing within the top eight. Jones clocked in at 10.22 seconds, the 13th best time in the field, earning a spot in Friday's quarterfinals. He will now need to run a top 12 time on Friday in the field of 24 to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships.

Mvundura punched a ticket to Friday as well in his second event of the day. The senior notched the 10th best time on the day in 20.65 seconds. With his new personal best, he improved his fourth-best time in program history. Mvundura placed second in his heat, behind Minnesota's Austin Charles who clocked in the second fastest time in the field. The Justin, Texas, native, placed 35th overall and sixth in his heat earlier in the day in the 100 meters in 10.38 seconds.

Sir Jonathan Sims and Jalen Cadet each placed in the top 25 in the men's long jump. Sims placed 19th in his fourth-straight NCAA West First Rounds appearance in the long jump. Sims best leap of 7.48 meters came on his third and final attempt. Cadet also recorded his best jump on his final attempt of 7.40 meters. The top 12 in the event punched their tickets to Oregon, with Kansas State's Tafadzwa Chikomba posting a new NCAA all-time all-conditions record with a leap of 8.75 meters.

It will be the women's turn to take to the track tomorrow afternoon. Tayler Wessely will start in the hammer throw at 9:30 am. She will compete in the third heat of four, with the top 12 throwers punching a ticket to the NCAA Championships. Then, the afternoon will switch to the track. Malak Rashwan kicks off the track events in the 110-meter hurdles at 6:30 pm. Lauren Roy, Victoria Cameron and Prestina Ochonogor start in the 100 meters at 7 p.m. Ochonogor is also competing in the fourth flight of women's long jump, approximately starting at 7:30 p.m. Emma Holmes begins her double event load in the 400 meters at 7:25 pm. She then returns to the track to compete with Roy in the 200 at 8:45 pm.

Follow the Texans at the NCAA West First Rounds as they continue their quest for Oregon on social media by following @tarletontrackxc on Instagram and X.