LOUISVILLE, KY — The buzz around Allen University track & field grew louder Thursday as the Yellow Jackets delivered a statement performance on Day 1 of the SIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, combining record-setting marks, podium finishes, and qualifying times to place the men's team second overall with 28 points, just two behind defending champion Morehouse College.
Leading the charge was Jhyrique Mangum (pictured above with medal), who dominated the men's weight throw with a first-place toss of 16.74 meters, earning First Team All-Conference honors while breaking his own school record and strengthening his standing as one of the top throwers among HBCUs, where he now ranks ninth.
In the long jump, Allen showcased elite depth. Jamarri Norman soared to a 7.50-meter leap, finishing second overall, earning First Team All-Conference recognition, breaking the school record, and climbing to No. 6 among HBCUs and No. 6 in NCAA Division II rankings. Teammate Sytrevion Dyer followed with a third-place finish (7.31m) and Second Team All-Conference honors, while Christopher Joseph added another podium-impact performance, placing fifth (6.84m) and also earning Second Team All-Conference distinction.
Allen's speed squad ensured the momentum carried onto the track. Norman doubled his impact by qualifying for the men's 60-meter hurdles final (8.59) alongside Jaheim Speller (8.53), while Joseph (6.90) and Nasiah Rhodes (6.98) both advanced to the finals of the men's 60-meter dash, setting up a strong medal opportunity heading into Day 2.
Beyond placements and times, the most telling stat of the day was the program's overall progress: Allen's combined men's and women's teams produced more medalists and All-Conference performers on Day 1 alone than they did across the entire indoor and outdoor seasons combined last year.
That leap signals more than a good meet — it signals a program on the rise, building depth, confidence, and championship belief.
With finals ahead and Allen sitting within striking distance of the team title, the Yellow Jackets enter Day 2 not just chasing medals — but hunting history.
