Six Wildcats Earn First Team All-America Honors Day One of NCAA Championship
Mar 13, 2026 | Track & Field
All four long jumpers collected First Team accolades
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Six Wildcats earned First Team All-America honors after day one of the NCAA Indoor Championship on Friday (March 13) at the Randal Tyson Track Center. After five events, the men's team has 11 points in 5th place, the women's team with seven points in 9th place.
"Really proud of the team today, everybody competed great," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "We had six First Team All-Americans, and out of those six First Team All-Americans, five of them it was their first time to the show, first time to the NCAA Championship. So you know, to come here, this track meet is an absolute meat grinder and to come in here and perform the way they did, I'm just so proud of them."
K-State had four Cats in the long jump, two men and two women, all earning First Team accolades. Junior Tah Chikomba secured a bronze medal in the men's event after a personal best distance by two inches at 8.15m (26' 9"). Chikomba still holds the no. 2 best jump in K-State indoor records but ends his season just three-quarters of an inch from the school record at 8.17m (26' 9.75") set by Kenny Harrison in 1986.
Sophomore Uroy Ryan finished not far behind in 5th place with a leap of 8.04m (26' 4.5"), his farthest jump by five inches. Ryan adds to his trophy case after finishing 5th last season as well.
During the women's event, two Wildcats secured their spots on the podium with similar jumps. Junior Maud Zeffou-Poaty jumped 6.37m (20' 10.75") in her final attempt for 6th place, while freshman Chisom Nwafor jumped the exact same at 6.37m (20' 10.75") to finish 7th, the first freshman on the team to be named an All-American this weekend.
Senior Vanessa Mercera was named a First Team All-American after finishing 7th in the women's pentathlon with a score of 4,310 points. In the fifth and final event she won the 800 meters with a time of 2:11.31. Her second-best performance was the high jump, finishing 6th at a height of 1.75m (5' 8.75").
Senior Kade McCall earned First Team All-America honors in his final collegiate meet, placing 8th in the men's weight throw. Throwing his best at 22.70m (74' 5.75"), over two inches further than his previous, he collected his first NCAA postseason accolade during his five-year career.
Also in the weight throw, seniors Gary Moore Jr. and Monique Hardy both earned Second Team All-America accolades. For Moore Jr., he earned the first NCAA honor of his career with a 16th place finish at a distance of 20.63m (67' 8.25"). Hardy collected her second, Second Team accolade, in 14th place with a throw of 20.30m (66' 7.25").
Day two of the Indoor Championship continues on Saturday (March 14), first with the men's heptathlon final three events starting at 11 a.m. CT, with 60-meter hurdles. The men's shot put will start the field events at 1 p.m., the women's mile final starting at 4:10 p.m.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the performance of seniors Kade McCall and Monique Hardy…
"I'm really proud of Kade McCall, First Team All-American. He's a senior, it was his last meet in a K-State uniform, and he does not have outdoor eligibility, and he comes out of here with his first ever All-American honor. And just so proud of him, and thankful for him and Mo Hardy, another senior. Unbelievable careers for those two and just appreciate them being K-Stater's and really accepting our coaching staff and helping us with the transition, just true leadership by those seniors so, absolutely thankful for them."
On the efforts from the entire staff…
"And with those four long jumpers, I got to give you know, hats off to coach Clive Pullen. In the long jump we have four First Team All-Americans. So super, super appreciative of the efforts he's put in, and our entire staff, this is a team effort. You know, you look at the strength training they've done with coach Mat Clark and just our entire coaching staff here, what a fun day."
NCAA Indoor Championship
Randal Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Women's Pentathlon- Vanessa Mercera
7. Overall, 4,310 points
7. 60 Meter Hurdles, 8.46
6. High Jump, 1.75m (5' 8.75")
12. Shot Put, 11.34m (37' 2.5")
13. Long Jump, 5.85m (19' 2.5")
1. 800 Meters, 2:11.31
Men's Weight Throw
8. Kade McCall, 22.70m (74' 5.75") (PR)
16. Gary Moore Jr., 20.63m (67' 8.25")
Women's Long Jump
6. Maud Zeffou-Poaty, 6.37m (20' 10.75")
7. Chisom Nwafor, 6.37m (20' 10.75")
Women's Weight Throw
14. Monique Hardy, 20.30m (66' 7.25")
Men's Long Jump
3. Tah Chikomba, 8.15m (26' 9") (PR)
5. Uroy Ryan, 8.04m (26' 4.5") (PR)
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
"Really proud of the team today, everybody competed great," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "We had six First Team All-Americans, and out of those six First Team All-Americans, five of them it was their first time to the show, first time to the NCAA Championship. So you know, to come here, this track meet is an absolute meat grinder and to come in here and perform the way they did, I'm just so proud of them."
K-State had four Cats in the long jump, two men and two women, all earning First Team accolades. Junior Tah Chikomba secured a bronze medal in the men's event after a personal best distance by two inches at 8.15m (26' 9"). Chikomba still holds the no. 2 best jump in K-State indoor records but ends his season just three-quarters of an inch from the school record at 8.17m (26' 9.75") set by Kenny Harrison in 1986.
Sophomore Uroy Ryan finished not far behind in 5th place with a leap of 8.04m (26' 4.5"), his farthest jump by five inches. Ryan adds to his trophy case after finishing 5th last season as well.
During the women's event, two Wildcats secured their spots on the podium with similar jumps. Junior Maud Zeffou-Poaty jumped 6.37m (20' 10.75") in her final attempt for 6th place, while freshman Chisom Nwafor jumped the exact same at 6.37m (20' 10.75") to finish 7th, the first freshman on the team to be named an All-American this weekend.
Senior Vanessa Mercera was named a First Team All-American after finishing 7th in the women's pentathlon with a score of 4,310 points. In the fifth and final event she won the 800 meters with a time of 2:11.31. Her second-best performance was the high jump, finishing 6th at a height of 1.75m (5' 8.75").
Senior Kade McCall earned First Team All-America honors in his final collegiate meet, placing 8th in the men's weight throw. Throwing his best at 22.70m (74' 5.75"), over two inches further than his previous, he collected his first NCAA postseason accolade during his five-year career.
Also in the weight throw, seniors Gary Moore Jr. and Monique Hardy both earned Second Team All-America accolades. For Moore Jr., he earned the first NCAA honor of his career with a 16th place finish at a distance of 20.63m (67' 8.25"). Hardy collected her second, Second Team accolade, in 14th place with a throw of 20.30m (66' 7.25").
Day two of the Indoor Championship continues on Saturday (March 14), first with the men's heptathlon final three events starting at 11 a.m. CT, with 60-meter hurdles. The men's shot put will start the field events at 1 p.m., the women's mile final starting at 4:10 p.m.
FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the performance of seniors Kade McCall and Monique Hardy…
"I'm really proud of Kade McCall, First Team All-American. He's a senior, it was his last meet in a K-State uniform, and he does not have outdoor eligibility, and he comes out of here with his first ever All-American honor. And just so proud of him, and thankful for him and Mo Hardy, another senior. Unbelievable careers for those two and just appreciate them being K-Stater's and really accepting our coaching staff and helping us with the transition, just true leadership by those seniors so, absolutely thankful for them."
On the efforts from the entire staff…
"And with those four long jumpers, I got to give you know, hats off to coach Clive Pullen. In the long jump we have four First Team All-Americans. So super, super appreciative of the efforts he's put in, and our entire staff, this is a team effort. You know, you look at the strength training they've done with coach Mat Clark and just our entire coaching staff here, what a fun day."
NCAA Indoor Championship
Randal Tyson Track Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Women's Pentathlon- Vanessa Mercera
7. Overall, 4,310 points
7. 60 Meter Hurdles, 8.46
6. High Jump, 1.75m (5' 8.75")
12. Shot Put, 11.34m (37' 2.5")
13. Long Jump, 5.85m (19' 2.5")
1. 800 Meters, 2:11.31
Men's Weight Throw
8. Kade McCall, 22.70m (74' 5.75") (PR)
16. Gary Moore Jr., 20.63m (67' 8.25")
Women's Long Jump
6. Maud Zeffou-Poaty, 6.37m (20' 10.75")
7. Chisom Nwafor, 6.37m (20' 10.75")
Women's Weight Throw
14. Monique Hardy, 20.30m (66' 7.25")
Men's Long Jump
3. Tah Chikomba, 8.15m (26' 9") (PR)
5. Uroy Ryan, 8.04m (26' 4.5") (PR)
-- k-statesports.com --
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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