TRACK & FIELD SENDS DEEP ROSTER TO NJCAA INDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mesa Community College Track & Field heads into the NJCAA Indoor National Championships with a strong contingent of qualifiers across track and field events. The Thunderbirds will be represented in distance races, sprints, hurdles, relays, field events, and multi-events as both the men's and women's teams compete on the national stage.

Several Mesa athletes enter the championships ranked among the top 10 qualifying marks in the nation, positioning the Thunderbirds as strong contenders in multiple events.

Leading the way is Maleah Tucker, who holds the No. 1 qualifying mark nationally in the weight throw. Mesa also features several other athletes ranked inside the top five, including Michael Mickelson (No. 4 – Pole Vault) and DeAndre Gatlin (No. 5 – High Jump).

Mesa's relay squads also rank among the national leaders. The men's 4x800 relay composite of Corbin Pyle, Caden Hardison, Deng Majak, and Michael Valenzuela enters the championships ranked No. 7 nationally, while the women's 4x800 relay composite of Lucy Melzer, Katie Munoz, Evalyn Perez, and Olivia Baker also sits No. 7 in the country. The women's Distance Medley Relay team of Kinley Jackson, Evalyn Perez, Katie Munoz, and Lucy Melzer enters nationals ranked No. 8 nationally.

Additional top-10 qualifiers include Paige Hanchett (No. 9 – Pole Vault), Connor Wilson (No. 10 – Pole Vault), and Lucy Melzer (No. 10 – Mile).

Women's Qualifiers

• Paige Hanchett — Pole Vault

• Maleah Tucker — Weight Throw, Shot Put

• Olivia Baker — 5000m, 3000m

• Lucy Melzer — Distance Medley Relay, 800m, 1000m, Mile

• Evalyn Perez — Distance Medley Relay, 800m, 4x800 Relay

• Alexis Dvorak — Pole Vault

• Kinley Jackson — Distance Medley Relay, 4x800 Relay, 3000m

• Katelyn Munoz — Distance Medley Relay, 800m, 4x800 Relay

• Marley Peay — Pentathlon, 4x800 Relay

• Jacey Blair — 60m Hurdles

Men's Qualifiers

• Michael Mickelson — Pole Vault

• Conner Weems — Pole Vault

• Jaden Laffitte — 400m, 4x400 Relay

• Jaiden Meriwether — 400m, 4x400 Relay

• Deng Majak — 800m, 4x800 Relay

• Corbin Pyle — 800m, 1000m

• Davin Pearson — Weight Throw

• Dean Haller — Distance Medley Relay, 4x800 Relay

• Brayden Faris — 60m

• Calvin Schnepf — Distance Medley Relay

• Connor Wilson — Pole Vault

• James Klauba — Heptathlon

• DeAndre Gatlin — High Jump

• Michael Valenzuela — 600m, 4x400 Relay

• Josef Iker — Distance Medley Relay, 4x800 Relay

• Caden Hardison — 800m, 4x800 Relay

• Keian Evans — Weight Throw

• Benett Kaup — 1000m, 4x800 Relay

• Jonathan Korolsky — 60m Hurdles

• Clarence Stuart V — Distance Medley Relay

• Maddox Davis — 4x400 Relay

With multiple athletes ranked among the nation's top performers and strong relay squads entering with top-10 qualifying marks, Mesa will have numerous scoring opportunities as the Thunderbirds compete for national honors.