NEW ORLEANS, La. – Five Sun Belt student-athletes competed at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship over the weekend in Arkansas with all five earning All-America honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Monday.
Southern Miss earned three of the honors as Texas State sent a pair of high jumpers to the championship. The Golden Eagles were represented by Piers Cameron, Tyler Nichols and De’Aundre Ward on the men’s side. 2026 Men’s High Jump Co-Champions Tshephang Dankuru and Aiden Hayes represented the Bobcats.
Athletes who finished in the top-8 of their respective individual events and relays took home First-Team All-America honors, while those who placed ninth through 16
th individually and as part of a relay earned Second-Team All-America.
De’Aundre Ward delivered a historic performance in the long jump Friday night at the NCAA Indoor Championships, finishing second and breaking the Sun Belt Conference and Southern Miss school record with a jump of 8.20m/26-11. Ward's performance earned him a First Team All-America accolade. Tyler Nichols placed ninth in the long jump as well after making the finals on his second jump of 7.85m/26-9/25 to earn Second Team All-America honors. Piers Cameron was the final Golden Eagle to compete at the championship and earned Second Team All-America honors with a mark of 18.63m/61-1.5.
Senior Aiden Hayes and freshman Tshephang Dankuru represented the Bobcats at the national meet. Dankuru led the way with a sixth-place finish after clearing 2.18m/7-1.75, earning three team points for Texas State and a podium finish for First Team All-America honors. Hayes finished 12th after clearing 2.15m/7-0.5. The appearance marked Hayes' second consecutive trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships after also qualifying last season, where he finished 12
th to earn Second Team All-America honors. Dankuru's sixth-place finish made program history, becoming just the second Bobcat to score points in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Indoor Track & Field USTFCCCA All-America
Piers Cameron, Southern Miss, Second-Team All-America, Shot Put
Tyler Nichols, Southern Miss, Second-Team All-America, Long Jump
De’Aundre Ward, Southern Miss, First-Team All-America, Long Jump
Tshephang Dankuru, Texas State, First-Team All-America, High Jump
Aiden Hayes, Texas State, Second-Team All-America, High Jump