Five Wildcats Punch NCAA Tickets on Day One of West Preliminary
May 28, 2026 | Track & Field
Chikomba won the long jump, Marx broke the javelin school record
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The K-State track and field teams found success during the first day of the NCAA West Preliminary on Wednesday (May 27) at John McDonnell Field as five men in the field events punched their tickets to the NCAA Championship. Notable performances included Tah Chikomba winning the long jump and a new school record from junior Riley Marx in the javelin.
Chikomba, a junior from Zimbabwe, leaped to 8.75m (28' 8.5") in his first attempt to secure the no. 1 spot in the West. With a wind aide of 3.2, it negates his jump from breaking the collegiate record of 8.74m set by Erick Walder of Arkansas in 1994. Accounting for the wind, Chikomba has the best jump in the world this season and is no. 8 on the all-time historical list, according to World Athletics.
Marx, a native of Andale, Kan., broke his own school record in the javelin with a launch of 75.52m (247' 9"), a new personal best by over four feet, for a 3rd place finish. This will mark a consecutive trip to NCAA Championship for Marx after earning Second Team honors in 2025. Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi from Texas A&M won the event at 79.41m.
Alongside Chikomba, two more Wildcats gave qualifying performances in the long jump, sophomore Uroy Ryan and freshman Croix DaCunha, as well as senior Gary Moore Jr. in the hammer throw.
Ryan finished 3rd overall in the event as he cleared eight meters for the first time this season at 8.01m (26' 3.5"), the best outdoor jump of his career and the no. 3 farthest jump in K-State history.
DaCunha matched his personal best with a distance of 7.83m (25' 8.25") as he finished in 6th place, now the no. 9 best jump in the K-State outdoor top-10. He is one of just two freshmen in the West to advance to the NCAA Championship in the long jump.
In his first throw of the day, Moore Jr. gave his second-best performance of the season for a 9th place throw of 66.62m (218' 7"). This will be the first outdoor nationals for Moore Jr. in the hammer throw. Air Force's Texas Tanner led the hammer throw in this meet with a distance of 74.49m.
Two sprinters ran qualifying times in their respective first round races to advance to the quarterfinal rounds on Friday (May 29). Junior Tavon Underwood ran the 400 meters in 45.46 seconds, winning the second heat and finishing 5th overall. Sophomore Thomas Canivet finished 14th in the 400-meter hurdles in 50.66 seconds. The 400 meters quarterfinals will start at 6:50 p.m. CT, with the 400 hurdles at 7:25 p.m.
The women will start competition on Thursday (May 28) with the first event set for 9 a.m. CT. Eight Wildcats will compete in three events, starting with the long jump at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 400 meters at 7:25 p.m. and the 400-meter hurdles at 8:20 p.m.
NCAA West Preliminary
John McDonnell Field
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Hammer Throw
9. Gary Moore Jr., 66.62m (218' 7")*
Men's 400 Meters (First Round)
5. Tavon Underwood, 45.46 (Q)
36. Bongumusa Nkosi, 46.77
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles (First Round)
14. Thomas Canivet, 50.66 (Q)
Men's Long Jump
1. Tah Chikomba, 8.75m (28' 8.5")(3.2)(PR)*
3. Uroy Ryan, 8.01m (26' 3.5")(1.5)*
6. Croix DaCunha, 7.83m (25' 8.25")(0.4)*
Men's Javelin
3. Riley Marx, 75.52m (247' 9")(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.
Chikomba, a junior from Zimbabwe, leaped to 8.75m (28' 8.5") in his first attempt to secure the no. 1 spot in the West. With a wind aide of 3.2, it negates his jump from breaking the collegiate record of 8.74m set by Erick Walder of Arkansas in 1994. Accounting for the wind, Chikomba has the best jump in the world this season and is no. 8 on the all-time historical list, according to World Athletics.
Marx, a native of Andale, Kan., broke his own school record in the javelin with a launch of 75.52m (247' 9"), a new personal best by over four feet, for a 3rd place finish. This will mark a consecutive trip to NCAA Championship for Marx after earning Second Team honors in 2025. Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi from Texas A&M won the event at 79.41m.
Alongside Chikomba, two more Wildcats gave qualifying performances in the long jump, sophomore Uroy Ryan and freshman Croix DaCunha, as well as senior Gary Moore Jr. in the hammer throw.
Ryan finished 3rd overall in the event as he cleared eight meters for the first time this season at 8.01m (26' 3.5"), the best outdoor jump of his career and the no. 3 farthest jump in K-State history.
DaCunha matched his personal best with a distance of 7.83m (25' 8.25") as he finished in 6th place, now the no. 9 best jump in the K-State outdoor top-10. He is one of just two freshmen in the West to advance to the NCAA Championship in the long jump.
In his first throw of the day, Moore Jr. gave his second-best performance of the season for a 9th place throw of 66.62m (218' 7"). This will be the first outdoor nationals for Moore Jr. in the hammer throw. Air Force's Texas Tanner led the hammer throw in this meet with a distance of 74.49m.
Two sprinters ran qualifying times in their respective first round races to advance to the quarterfinal rounds on Friday (May 29). Junior Tavon Underwood ran the 400 meters in 45.46 seconds, winning the second heat and finishing 5th overall. Sophomore Thomas Canivet finished 14th in the 400-meter hurdles in 50.66 seconds. The 400 meters quarterfinals will start at 6:50 p.m. CT, with the 400 hurdles at 7:25 p.m.
The women will start competition on Thursday (May 28) with the first event set for 9 a.m. CT. Eight Wildcats will compete in three events, starting with the long jump at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 400 meters at 7:25 p.m. and the 400-meter hurdles at 8:20 p.m.
NCAA West Preliminary
John McDonnell Field
Fayetteville, Ark.
Men's Hammer Throw
9. Gary Moore Jr., 66.62m (218' 7")*
Men's 400 Meters (First Round)
5. Tavon Underwood, 45.46 (Q)
36. Bongumusa Nkosi, 46.77
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles (First Round)
14. Thomas Canivet, 50.66 (Q)
Men's Long Jump
1. Tah Chikomba, 8.75m (28' 8.5")(3.2)(PR)*
3. Uroy Ryan, 8.01m (26' 3.5")(1.5)*
6. Croix DaCunha, 7.83m (25' 8.25")(0.4)*
Men's Javelin
3. Riley Marx, 75.52m (247' 9")(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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