Dillard Brings Home 8 All-Americans from NAIA Outdoor Championship

ASHEVILLE, NC–– At the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Dillard University delivered a standout set of relay performances across both the men's and women's 4x100-meter events, closing out the meet with top-10 national finishes and multiple season-ranking marks.

On the men's side, the 4x100 meter relay squad of Jamaal Morris Jr, Mark Emilien, Surprise Babalola, and Denim Charles secured a 6th-place overall finish in the finals, crossing the line in 40.80 seconds. The group had earlier produced an even faster preliminary performance, clocking 40.14 seconds to record the 5th-best qualifying time entering the final round.

The women's 4x100 meter relay team also made a strong national statement. The quartet of T-Anna Dawkins, Laila Johnson, Tatiana Clay, and Tori Burton finished 5th overall in the finals with a time of 46.19 seconds. In the preliminary round, the team ran 45.82 seconds, a mark that earned them 6th place in prelim standings and secured qualification for the championship final.

Their prelim performance also carried broader statistical significance. The 45.82-second effort placed the women's squad on the NAIA Top 100 list, ranking as the 6th-fastest time recorded in the 2026 season. Additionally, that same mark earned them recognition among HBCU programs, landing at No. 15 on the all-time seasonal performance list.

Together, both relay teams highlighted Dillard's growing competitiveness on the national stage, combining depth, speed, and consistency across preliminary and final rounds at one of collegiate track and field's premier championship events.

-Bleu Devils-