Dillard Men Deliver Strong Sprint and Distance Performances at Pelican Relays

BATON ROUGE, LA – April 10, 2026 — The Dillard University men's track & field team turned in a strong performance at the Pelican Relays hosted by Southern University, highlighted by a podium finish in the sprints and a 1-2 finish in the distance events.

Leading the way on the track, senior Jamaal Morris Jr. earned a third-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 21.57s, one of the top performances of the meet for the Bleu Devils. Senior Mark Emilien continued his impressive season, placing fifth in 21.64s, a season-best mark that earned him spots in both the NAIA (#46) and HBCU (#97) national rankings.

Additional depth in the 200 meters came from Denim Charles (22.44) and James Pennington III (22.45), showcasing Dillard's strength in the sprint group.

In the distance events, Dillard dominated the 5000 meters, claiming the top two finishes. Freshman Maurice Lyles won the event in 20:14.94, while teammate Elijah Williams followed closely in second place with a time of 20:25.99. Both athletes earned HBCU national rankings, marking a major step forward for the program's distance unit.

In the field events, Damion Hammond Jr. led the way in the hammer throw, placing 10th with a mark of 27.47m (90-01). Robert Jackson Jr. followed in 11th with a throw of 20.85m (68-05). In the javelin, Denim Charles recorded a mark of 24.15m (79-02) to earn an HBCU national ranking, while Robert Jackson Jr. added a throw of 18.99m (62-03).