LYNCHBURG, Va. (Feb. 14, 2026) — The Morgan State men's track & field team closed out its regular-season indoor slate this weekend at the Darius Dixon Meet, hosted by Lynchburg University. The competition served as the Bears' final tune-up ahead of next week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Championships.
Morgan State delivered several strong performances across track and field events, highlighted by multiple personal-best marks and a relay victory, as the Bears build momentum ahead of this week's indoor conference championships.
"The men's and women's teams delivered several strong performances over the weekend," said head coach Neville Hodge. "This meet gave us a glimpse of what to expect as we head into the MEAC Indoor Championships, scheduled for February 21–22."
Darius Dixon Meet | Results
DAY 1 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Sophomore Samuel Skinner led the way for the Bears in the 800-meter open, finishing runner-up with a time of 1:50.02 — currently the top mark among HBCUs this season. Classmate Caleb Mincey followed closely behind, posting a season-best 1:50.57. In the 60-meter hurdles, junior Jadon Ra-Akbar clocked 8.37 in the preliminary heat to qualify for the semifinals, where he returned to record a season-best 8.24 and finish 11th overall. Sophomore Doyin Smith also advanced to the 60-meter semifinals, running 6.97 in the prelims to place 17th overall, then improved to 6.89 in the semifinals to finish 10th.
In the field events, freshman Derrick McCorkle Jr. delivered a strong showing in the long jump, clearing 6.99 meters to finish 10th overall. Freshman Demond Smith added a personal-best performance in the weight throw, recording a mark of 16.19 meters to place 18th and cap the Bears' Day 1 efforts.
Field Events:
Weight Throw
Freshman Demond Smith placed 18th in the weight throw, recording a personal-best mark of 16.19 meters.
Long Jump Upper
Freshman Derrick McCorkle Jr. cleared 6.99m to place 10th.
Long Jump Lower
Freshman Nicardo Grey-Clarke recorded a leap of 6.31 meters to place 16th, while sophomore KeSean-Jordan Rhooms added a mark of 6.16 meters to finish 20th.
Track Events:
60H Prelims
Junior Jadon Ra-Akbar clocked an 8.37 in heat two of the 60-meter hurdles to qualify for the semifinals. He returned to post a season-best time of 8.24, finishing 11th overall.
60m Prelims
Sophomore Doyin Smith qualified for the semifinals with a 6.97 in the prelims (17th overall) and improved to 6.89 to finish 10th on Friday.
800m Open
Freshman Kennan Frisby clocked a time of 1:56.56 and placed 7th.
800m Invite
Sophomore Samuel Skinner raced to a runner-up finish in the 800 meters, posting a personal-best time of 1:50.02 to rank No. 1 among HBCUs this season. He was followed by teammate Caleb Mincey, who turned in a season-best 1:50.57.
400m Invite
Sophomore Maxim Copeland recorded a time of 49.33 (15th), followed by senior Antonio Sims at 16th (49.64).
400m Open
Freshman Myles Dorsey posted a time of 49.39 in heat 3 and finished in 11th place.
DAY 2 | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Morgan State delivered a strong showing on the track during the final day of the Darius Dixon Invitational. Doyin Smith sprinted to a third-place finish in the 200m with a time of 21.85, while Kennan Frisby placed eighth in the 500m (1:05.30). The Bears' 4000m Distance Medley Relay team of Samuel Skinner, Cameron Stuckless, Kennan Frisby and Caleb Mincey captured first place with a new HBCU-best time of 10:03.39, edging Navy (10:03.76) at the line. The 4x400m relay squad (A. Sims, M. Copeland, D. Smith, M. Dorsey) also impressed, qualifying for IC4A with a seventh-place finish in 3:16.91.
In the field events, Jeryco Sheppard earned a runner-up finish in the pole vault after clearing a personal-best 4.51 meters, which ranks No. 5 among HBCUs. Isaac Rankin added a seventh-place finish in the high jump (1.96m), while KeSean-Jordan Rhooms recorded a ninth-place mark of 1.91m to round out the Bears' top-10 performances.
Field Events:
Pole Vault
Freshman Jeryco Sheppard earned a runner-up finish in the pole vault after clearing a personal-best 4.51 meters, which ranks No. 5 among HBCUs this season.
High Jump Invite
Junior Isaac Rankin posted a seventh-place finish with a leap of 1.96m, while sophomore KeSean-Jordan Rhooms placed ninth with a 1.91m.
Shot Put
Sophomore Demond Smith recorded a season-best mark of 14.19 meters in the shot put to finish 18th overall.
Triple Jump Upper
Nicardo Grey-Clarke registered a personal best clearance of 14.03m for 10th place, while David Douglas finished 12th with a 13.44m.
Track Events:
200m Open
Doyin Smith raced to a third-place finish in the 200 meters, turning in a time of 21.85. Antonio Sims and Myles Dorsey followed with 16th- and 17th-place finishes, posting times of 22.30 and 22.33, respectively.
500m
Freshman Kennan Frisby clocked in a personal best time of 1:05.30 to finish in eighth place.
300m
Junior Isaac Rankin placed 20th with a personal best time of 38.12.
200m Invite
Sophomore Maxim Copeland qualified for the IC4A, finishing in 11th place with a season-best time of 21.76.
4000m Distance Medley Relay
The Bears' quartet of Samuel Skinner, Cameron Stuckless, Kennan Frisby, and Caleb Mincey raced to a first-place finish in the 4000-meter Distance Medley Relay, clocking a new HBCU-best time of 10:03.39. Morgan State edged out Navy at the tape, as the Midshipmen finished just behind in 10:03.76.
4x400m Relay
The Morgan State 'A' Team — Antonio Sims, Maxim Copeland, Doyin Smith, and Myles Dorsey — qualified for the IC4A Championships after posting a season-best time of 3:16.91 to finish seventh overall.
NEXT UP:
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) will host the 2026 Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va., Sunday, February 22, and Monday, February 23.
Monday's action will be streamed live on ESPN+, beginning at 12 p.m.
Tickets are available for purchase online through the Virginia Beach Sports Center or on-site throughout the event. Please note that cash sales will not be accepted. Single-day tickets are $20 for Sunday and Monday, while weekend passes are available for $25.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
