K-State’s Record-Breaking Performances in NCAA West Preliminary

TF '26 Tah Chikomba record jump NCAA first round

K-State’s Record-Breaking Performances in NCAA West Preliminary

Jun 02, 2026 | Track & Field

Junior Tah Chikomba jumped an NCAA best, 14 men qualified for most in program history

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State track and field teams had multiple program highs at the NCAA West Preliminary on May 27-30, including the most men's NCAA Championship qualifiers and a collegiate best jump by junior Tah Chikomba.

On May 27, day one of men's competition in the first round, Chikomba, a native of Zimbabwe, won the long jump with a leap of 8.75m (28' 8.5") with a wind aide of 3.2. That jump is now the NCAA all-conditions best jump in history, the best jump in the world this season and the no. 8 best jump ever recorded.

"What he did was a special moment, to say the least," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "He jumped 8.75 meters, which is 28 feet, eight and a half inches. It was a performance that is the all-time best in NCAA history. It doesn't count as a collegiate record, because it was just over the allowable wind, but all conditions, all performances, it was the best that's ever been done in NCAA history. He is now ahead of legends like Erick Walder, like Carl Lewis. You know, that performance of 28, eight and a half is one of the best also in world history. It's a number eight performance all time in world history as well, with all conditions. So, I'm proud of him, I'm excited for him."

The previous collegiate record was 8.74m (28' 8.25") by Walder of Arkansas in 1994. The furthest jump recorded at the NCAA Championship is 8.53m by Walder in 1993.

In the last ten years, only one other jump has landed in the world all-time top-10; in 2019, Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba jumped 8.92m (3.3). The longest jump in history was by USA's Mike Powell in 1992 at 8.99m (29' 6"), a wind aide of 4.4.

Alongside Chikomba, K-State had 13 more men punch their tickets to nationals. Two decathletes; Dorian Charles and Emil Uhlin, two more long jumpers; Croix DaCunha and Uroy Ryan, three triple jumpers; Aaron Antoine, Apalos Edwards and Selva Prabhu, two throwers; Riley Marx and Gary Moore Jr. and the 4x400 relay team. Those six jumpers are the most by a team in an event group.

The 14 qualifiers, along with two alternate legs in the relay, are a school program high. Previously, the most Wildcats to compete at nationals was nine back in 2013, the last time the 4x100 relay has qualified.

Arkansas' men lead the NCAA with 18 qualifiers in 12 events, followed by 16 qualifiers from Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas Tech while Oregon has 15 qualifiers. With the second-most athletes in the conference, the Big 12 will have 55 more men compete at the national stage.

On the women's side, seven Wildcats will make the trip to Eugene. Three jumpers; Aaliyah Lindsay, Destini Smith and Daniela Wamokpego, senior Vanessa Mercera in the sprints, as well as the 4x400 relay team.

21 total K-State qualifiers are the most since at least 2000, previously 16 Wildcats qualified in 2022 as it was also the last season that both the men's and women's 4x400 relay teams raced at the NCAA Championship.

With a combined nine Cats set for the jumps events, K-State leads the NCAA in the category, along with Illinois who will compete six women and three men in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

The NCAA Championship will take place on June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., where teams will vie for a championship and athletes will compete for First and Second Team All-America status.

-- k-statesports.com --

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