Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Wednesday, May 27
Fayetteville, Ark.
Southern Illinois University
vs
NCAA West Regional
Photo by: LISA REFF 480-0945(C)2026 CHANDLER IN
Select Track and Field Athletes Ready for NCAA Nationals Round One
05/26/2026 | 9:30:00 | Track and Field
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The road to the NCAA Championships begins in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this week as Southern Illinois is set to send five athletes and one relay team to the NCAA West Regional.
"I'm excited to bring this group of athletes to the NCAA first round," says Richard Jones, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. "They have definitely worked hard throughout the season and, for some, their careers here at SIU. They will represent Saluki Nation well this week as they compete against some of the nation's top teams."
Details
-What: NCAA West Regional
-Date: May 27-30
-Time: 9:30 a.m. (Wednesday/Thursday) | 1 p.m. (Friday/Saturday)
-Location: John McDonnell Field, Fayetteville, Arkansas
-Opponent: NCAA West Regional
-Live Results: https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2026/FirstRounds/West/index.htm
-Watch: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Participants and MVC Results
First up for SIU is Dallas Hodge in Wednesday's hammer throw event at 9:30 a.m. Hodge brought in valuable points for the Salukis at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Then comes Kwame Smith in the 400-meter dash. The MVC men's champion in the event will compete in the first round on Wednesday at roughly 7:25 p.m. Should he make it past the first round, he will go again on Friday at 6:50 p.m. The final first round event on Wednesday to feature Salukis will be the 400-meter hurdles, in which Shane Ashton, the MVC champion, and Jalen Dickerson, Ashton's runner-up, will compete in at 8:20 p.m. The quarterfinals for the event would then be on Friday at 7:25 p.m.
Moving to Thursday, Leah Thames will run in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash, both events that she took first in at the MVC Championships. The 400-meter dash is set for 7:25 p.m. before the 200-meter dash takes place at 8:45 p.m. Should she make it to the quarterfinals, the 400-meter dash will happen at 6:50 on Saturday with the 200-meter dash occurring at 7:50 p.m.
Finally, Southern's lone relay representative, the men's 4x400-meter team, while race at 8:45 on Friday in the event's quarterfinals.
Event Information
More information regarding the NCAA West Regionals can be found on the NCAA's page and the host Arkansas' website.
Follow the Salukis
For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on Twitter (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).
"I'm excited to bring this group of athletes to the NCAA first round," says Richard Jones, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. "They have definitely worked hard throughout the season and, for some, their careers here at SIU. They will represent Saluki Nation well this week as they compete against some of the nation's top teams."
Details
-What: NCAA West Regional
-Date: May 27-30
-Time: 9:30 a.m. (Wednesday/Thursday) | 1 p.m. (Friday/Saturday)
-Location: John McDonnell Field, Fayetteville, Arkansas
-Opponent: NCAA West Regional
-Live Results: https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2026/FirstRounds/West/index.htm
-Watch: Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Participants and MVC Results
First up for SIU is Dallas Hodge in Wednesday's hammer throw event at 9:30 a.m. Hodge brought in valuable points for the Salukis at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Then comes Kwame Smith in the 400-meter dash. The MVC men's champion in the event will compete in the first round on Wednesday at roughly 7:25 p.m. Should he make it past the first round, he will go again on Friday at 6:50 p.m. The final first round event on Wednesday to feature Salukis will be the 400-meter hurdles, in which Shane Ashton, the MVC champion, and Jalen Dickerson, Ashton's runner-up, will compete in at 8:20 p.m. The quarterfinals for the event would then be on Friday at 7:25 p.m.
Moving to Thursday, Leah Thames will run in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash, both events that she took first in at the MVC Championships. The 400-meter dash is set for 7:25 p.m. before the 200-meter dash takes place at 8:45 p.m. Should she make it to the quarterfinals, the 400-meter dash will happen at 6:50 on Saturday with the 200-meter dash occurring at 7:50 p.m.
Finally, Southern's lone relay representative, the men's 4x400-meter team, while race at 8:45 on Friday in the event's quarterfinals.
Event Information
More information regarding the NCAA West Regionals can be found on the NCAA's page and the host Arkansas' website.
Follow the Salukis
For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on Twitter (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldWednesday, June 17
Monday, June 15
Friday, June 12
Wednesday, June 10