LPJ Sports Report
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High School closed out a standout 2026 track and field season with a strong showing at the Region 1-5A Championships, adding to a spring that featured multiple team titles, school records and state-leading performances.
At the regional meet, the Bearcats finished third overall and the Lady Bearcats placed fourth in a 23-team field, advancing several athletes to the LHSAA Class 5A State Championships.
Ruston’s season-long success was evident from the start.
The Lady Bearcats captured first-place finishes at the Benton Invitational, Neville Van Leigh Relays, WOHS Mac’s Fresh Market Relays and Quitman Invitational, while adding runner-up finishes at West Monroe and the District 2-5A Championships.
The Bearcats claimed titles at Neville, WOHS and Quitman, while finishing second at Benton, West Monroe and district, and third at Sterlington.
That consistency carried into regionals, where Ruston produced multiple event champions and state qualifiers.
The Lady Bearcats’ 4×800-meter relay team of Maddy Parkman, Madison Morris, Eden Dawsey and Hallie Hebert continued its dominant season with a first-place finish in 9 minutes, 38.46 seconds, after setting a school record and posting the state’s top time earlier this spring.
T’Avion Clark added a regional title in the girls 400-meter dash, winning in 55.57 seconds. Clark previously recorded the fastest time in Louisiana this season at 55.10 and was a key contributor across multiple sprint and relay events.
Ruston also saw several athletes secure state-qualifying finishes with top-three performances.
Joshua Daulton placed second in the boys 1,600 meters (4:30), while Hebert finished third in the girls 1,600 (5:29). Al-Amin “AJ” Wilson took third in the boys 3,200 (9:36).
In the field events, Ahmad Hudson finished third in the high jump (6-2) and added a third-place finish in discus (144-3). Journi Douglas placed second in discus (125-9) and third in shot put (35-3).
Ruston’s relay teams also delivered key performances. The girls 4×400 relay of Mattison Russell, Megan Modest, Clark and Dawsey placed second in 3:56.34, while the boys 4×800 relay of Wyatt Hancock, Taylor Roller, Cooper Slate and Preston Parker finished third in 8:10.
The regional success followed a season filled with elite performances across all event groups.
Earlier in the year, Ruston’s girls 4×800 relay set a school record (9:35.94) and established the top time in the state. The boys 4×200 (1:26.29) and 4×400 (3:18.00) relay teams also posted state-leading marks.
Individually, Kemondrick Hunter broke the school record in the boys 200 meters (21.30), while D’Joryen Jenkins captured the District 2-5A title in the same event and ran 10.65 in the 100.
Distance runners anchored the team’s depth, with Dawsey winning district titles in the 800 and 1,600, Daulton claiming the 1,600, and Wilson and Addie Brister sweeping the 3,200 titles.
Coach Dustin Cochran credited the group’s consistency.
“It’s been a great season for the distance group as a whole,” Cochran said. “We’ve been able to run fast individually and as a group. I feel like this group has really taken on the challenge of performing at their best week in and week out.”
In the throws, Douglas highlighted a consistent group that produced points throughout the season, including a school-record throw of 139 feet, 6 inches in discus. Hunter Warrick led the boys in javelin with a mark of 193-1.
Coach Tripp Marcus praised the unit’s contributions.
“The girls group has been especially consistent in scoring points for our team,” Marcus said. “All of these girls have qualified for regionals and will be pushing for a spot at the state meet.”
Ruston qualified 41 athletes to regionals, a reflection of the program’s depth.
“Our boys and girls sprint/hurdle/jump groups have been electric all year,” coach Trey Smith said. “When you’re talking about state-leading times, school records, and multiple district champions, that’s a testament to their work ethic and competitiveness.”
With momentum from regionals, Ruston now turns its attention to the Class 5A state meet, scheduled for May 9 at LSU.
“I feel like we are heading into the next round with confidence and momentum,” Smith said. “This group is fast, focused, and ready to compete.”
