COLUMBIA, S.C. — The opening bell has rung—and Allen University Track & Field didn't just show up to class at the 2026 Gamecock Opener. They rewrote the syllabus.
Competing inside the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex against a field packed with top Division I and II talent, both the Lady Yellow Jackets and Yellow Jackets delivered a powerful opening statement: this year's squad is here to break records, challenge the SIAC elite, and set a new academic year of dominance in motion.
WOMEN'S SIDE: LESSON 1 — LET'S REWRITE THE RECORD BOOKS
Led by a crew of new faces and rising stars, the Lady Jackets left Columbia with four school records shattered and multiple SIAC top-five rankings.
Keturah Walker kicked things off by breaking the school's 60m dash record, lowering it to 7.80 seconds, and advancing to the semifinals where she battled NCAA Division I standouts like USC's Tristen Harris. She now sits at No. 3 in the SIAC for the women's 60m.
Kierra Gordon followed suit in the High Jump, leaping to 1.50m (4-11) and setting another school record while placing 7th overall in the meet. She's now 2nd in the SIAC rankings for the event.
Kiara Moss delivered a dominant debut, obliterating the school's Weight Throw record with a mark of 12.11m (39-10.25) and placing 8th overall. Moss also finished 7th in Shot Put, climbing to 2nd all-time in Allen's record books and currently sits 4th in the SIAC in both throwing events.
Rounding out the record spree, Diosleydi Gutierrez jumped her way into Allen history with a 5.22m (17-01.50) mark in the Long Jump, earning No. 2 all-time in program history and currently 2nd in the SIAC standings.
Kyle Levester
MEN'S SIDE: LESSON 1 — VETS, JUMPERS & THE RISE OF A DEEP SQUAD
The men's team delivered a mix of experience and breakout performances across the board—particularly in jumps and hurdles.
Jhyrique Mangum, Allen's returning shot put king, placed 4th overall, staking his claim as the 2nd-ranked thrower in the SIAC.
Jamarri Norman, dubbed "Mr. Superman" for a reason, showed out in the 60m hurdles, making it through both prelims and semis before grabbing 3rd place overall in the finals. He now holds the top spot in the SIAC for men's 60H.
Kyle Levester continued Allen's high jump tradition, finishing 4th overall and currently ranked 2nd in the SIAC.
Sytrevion Dyer soared to 2nd overall in the Long Jump, matching his place on the SIAC leaderboard, while freshman Jaheim Speller (4th) and Christopher Joseph (5th) in the Triple Jump made a strong case for Allen being among the deepest jump units in the conference.
THE TAKEAWAY: A PROGRAM ON THE RISE
From four school records on the women's side to conference-leading marks on the men's, this wasn't just a meet—it was a message.
Coach Brandon Lowery called his team's offseason "purposeful and focused," and that investment was on full display in Columbia. Here is what he had to say about what he saw from the teams:
"The women said in the preseason that things would be different — and today they proved it. Keturah Walker and Kiara Moss set the tone with championship-level performances. We're proud, but far from satisfied. This is only the beginning."
"Our men took a real step forward today. The veterans are locked into the vision, and the newcomers have embraced the standard. We know what needs tightening, and we're attacking it. Our goal isn't just to compete in the SIAC — it's to win it."
Class is in session—and Allen Track & Field just passed its first major test of 2026.
Next up: more indoor battles as the Jackets prepare for conference challenges ahead.
