Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Posted: Mar 08, 2026

TRACK & FIELD EARNS INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL TITLE, 17 ALL-AMERICAN HONORS AT INDOOR NATIONALS

Results

Mesa Community College Track & Field capped off a strong showing at the 2026 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships with 17 All-American performances, two school records, and a national champion, as both the men's and women's teams finished 12th overall in the nation.

Competing primarily against NJCAA Division I programs, Mesa's men totaled 21 team points while the women scored 19 points, with both teams placing inside the national top 15.

The men matched their No. 12 pre-meet ranking and finished as the highest placing Division II program in the nation, outperforming all other ACCAC schools in the field. The women entered the meet ranked No. 16 nationally and improved four spots to finish 12th overall, tying Pima in the team standings while finishing ahead of the remaining Arizona programs. Among Division II teams nationally, the women placed second behind Cowley College.

Mesa head coach Daniel Pescador credited the team's preparation and ability to perform against elite competition.

"Cannot express how proud and happy I am for the student athletes and the coaching staff," Pescador said. "We knew there was going to be great competition across the board in all events, and our groups rose to the occasion."

Highlighting the meet for Mesa was Maleah Tucker, who captured the national championship in the women's weight throw with a school-record mark of 18.49 meters. The throw broke her own program record and secured the top spot on the national podium.

Tucker's performance also earned her NJCAA West Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year honors, recognizing her dominant indoor season.

Pescador praised Tucker's composure in the championship setting.

"I am very happy and proud of Maleah to control the expectations and nerves," Pescador said. "She executed and delivered when it counted. She smashed her school record and is going home as the national champion. I am happy for Maleah, Coach Estes and Coach Hanrahan."

Mesa also added another All-American in the event as Keian Evans placed 6th with a throw of 17.61 meters.

Mesa's relay teams also delivered key performances at the national meet.

The women's 4x800 relay team of Kinley Jackson, Evalyn Perez, Marley Peay, and Katie Munoz earned All-American honors with a 3rd-place finish in 9:28.48.

The women's distance medley relay team of Jackson, Perez, Munoz, and Lucy Melzer placed 6th in a school-record time of 12:03.98.

Pescador noted the determination shown by the relay group.

"The women's 4x800 had a tremendous day as well," Pescador said. "They fought the entire way, narrowly missing a school record to finish top three."

On the men's side, Josef Iker, Caden Hardison, Dean Haller, and Benett Kaup placed 7th in the 4x800 relay with a time of 7:37.90, adding another All-American finish for the Thunderbirds.

One of Mesa's most impressive performances came in the men's pole vault, where three Thunderbirds finished among the top seven.

The trio's performance showcased the depth of Mesa's vault program."The men's team had plenty of clutch performances highlighted by the vault group," Pescador said. "To put three in the top seven is amazing and shows the depth and talent of our athletes and coach Jacob Flores."

Mesa added several more All-American finishes across the meet.

Corbin Pyle placed 7th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.25, while Michael Valenzuela finished 8th in the 600 meters in 1:19.42.

In the field events, DeAndre Gatlin cleared 2.04 meters to finish 8th in the high jump, earning his second career NJCAA All-American honor in the event.

Evans' performance in the weight throw also stood out to the coaching staff.

"Keian competed and performed outstanding," Pescador said. "We always talk about rankings not mattering. It comes down to the meet, and Keian delivered his best series all year."

Despite competing as a Division II program at the Division I national meet, Mesa finished with two top-15 team placements, 17 All-American honors, and a national championship performance.

Pescador said the results validated the team's belief throughout the season."I am extremely proud of our efforts and the teams, to come into the NJCAA Division I meet as a Division II school and leave with two top-15 placings, 17 All Americans, two school records, and a national champion," Pescador said, "we have been overlooked throughout the season with rankings, but it didn't bother us. We knew that we could rise to the occasion, and it was on display. To be top 15 and the best out of all our ACCAC conference schools is something we're proud of."

With the indoor season complete, Mesa now shifts its focus toward the upcoming outdoor campaign.