LEXINGTON, KY — Following a standout performance at the SWAC Outdoor Championships, Michael Carter is set to represent the Wildcats at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Round in Lexington, Kentucky. Carter will compete in the men's long jump after putting together a strong outdoor campaign for the Wildcats. Earning a place among the East Region's top qualifiers, Carter will look to continue his momentum against a highly competitive field on one of collegiate track & field's biggest stages.

Bethune-Cookman closed out a historic showing at the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships as the Wildcat men placed third overall with 104.5 points while the women finished eighth with 54.5 points. The third-place finish marks the highest finish for the B-CU men since joining the SWAC.

The Wildcats were powered by a dominant performance from distance runner Andrew Kiplagat, who captured three individual conference championships. Kiplagat won the men's 10,000 meters in 31:15.05 before adding titles in the 5,000 meters (15:09.16) and the 1,500 meters (4:00.97) to score a massive point haul for the Maroon and Gold.

Bethune-Cookman also claimed conference titles in the men's long jump and 4x400-meter relay. Michael Carter earned gold in the long jump with a leap of 7.89 meters, while the men's 4x400-meter relay team closed the meet atop the podium. Shanard Walker added a bronze-medal finish in the men's 200 meters with a time of 20.83 after qualifying through prelims, while Jancent Wallace placed fourth in the 400 meters in 47.01.

In the field events, Nehemiah Armstrong secured bronze in the javelin throw with a mark of 60.48 meters, while Farai Hhende placed sixth in the triple jump at 15.17 meters. Michael Carter also added points in the triple jump with a seventh-place finish. William Rothmiller finished seventh in the discus throw and ninth in the shot put.

Christian Dozier turned in an impressive performance in the decathlon, winning the 100 meters and 400 meters while placing among the top finishers in several events, including second in the discus throw, shot put and 1,500 meters. Carlos Moore also contributed points in the multi-events competition.

On the women's side, Kasie Ugeh led the Wildcats with a first-place finish in the javelin throw after recording a toss of 40.05 meters. Ugeh also earned runner-up honors in the shot put and placed fourth in the discus throw to cap a strong all-around weekend.

Zion Harvey earned silver in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.16 meters, while Selena Rutland finished fourth in the triple jump. Valencia Butler added a fourth-place finish in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Soukaina Davis placed sixth in the high jump.

The women's relay teams also contributed key points, with both the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays earning fourth-place finishes. Kavay Johnson reached the finals of the 400-meter hurdles and placed eighth overall after qualifying through preliminaries.

Hosted at the University of Kentucky Track & Field Complex, the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round will run from May 27-30 and feature many of the top athletes in the eastern half of the country competing for a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to nationals.

Opened in 2012, the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility is regarded as one of the premier collegiate track venues in the country. The state-of-the-art complex previously hosted the 2014 SEC Outdoor Championships and the 2017 NCAA East Preliminary Championships, welcoming thousands of fans and some of the nation's top student-athletes.

The facility features a nine-lane blue synthetic polyurethane track, dual-directional jump runways, and dedicated areas for throwing and jumping events. With seating for nearly 3,000 spectators, a video scoreboard, and a meet administration building, the complex provides an elite championship atmosphere for competitors and fans alike.

The men's long jump competition is scheduled for Wednesday evening in Lexington, with athletes aiming to secure a top-12 finish and punch their ticket to the NCAA Championships. The event will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Cross Country/Track & Field on Twitter/X and Instagram (@BCUXCTF) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter/X (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) TikTok (@BCUAthletics) and www.bcuathletics.com.