Women's Track & Field Make NAIA Qualifying Marks and Career-Best Performances

NEW ORLEANS (January 9, 2026)– The women's track and field team turned in a strong showing highlighted by an NAIA Championship qualifier, event victories, and multiple career-best performances across sprints, hurdles, and distance events.

Senior Tori Burton led the way in the sprints, putting on an impressive performance in the 60 meters. Burton clocked a season-best time of 7.62, officially qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Championships in March. Ta'niya Flowers followed with a fourth-place finish in the 60 meters, posting a time of 7.72, and also competed in the 200 meters, where she ran 25.90. Ta'nijal Matthews opened her season with a solid 7.90 in the 60 meters.

In the quarter-mile, Desire Robinson opened her season strong, finishing second in the 400 meters with a time of 1:02.74. Senior distance runner Kennedy Timmons competed in both the mile and the 3,000 meters, running 7:35.92 in the mile and 13:50.73 in the 3,000.

The hurdles group delivered standout performances, highlighted by Trinity Marshall, who ran a career-best 9.01 in the 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Laila Johnson continued her breakout season by winning the 200 meters in 25.80 and setting a career best in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.43. Freshman Raniyah Gross opened her season in the hurdles with a time of 10.04.

Middle-distance action saw Caitlin Gordon compete in the 800 meters, posting a time of 3:05.77.

The freshmen made their presence known throughout the meet. Mackenzie Cannon ran a collegiate-best time of 7.79 in the 60 meters, a mark that ranks her No. 12 among freshmen nationally. Nhaydia Flowers delivered a strong distance performance, winning the mile in 6:43.71 and finishing fourth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 13:32.04.

-Bleu Devils-