Mississippi State Track and Field Opens 2026 Indoor Season at Samford Invite
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Mississippi State Bulldogs track and field team launches its 2026 indoor campaign this Friday at the Samford Invite, hosted by Samford University. The competition will take place at the state-of-the-art Birmingham CrossPlex, a renowned indoor track facility.
A Competitive Field Awaits the Bulldogs
Mississippi State will be facing a strong regional field, including athletes from South Alabama, Kennesaw State, Arkansas State, samford, and UAB. This early-season meet provides a valuable possibility for the Bulldogs to gauge their fitness and performance levels against a diverse range of competitors.
Meet Schedule and Key Events
The Samford Invite kicks off at 10:00 a.m. CT with the women’s weight throw. Running events begin at noon CT with the women’s 60m preliminary races, followed shortly by the men’s equivalent. A full schedule of events can be found on the meet website.
New Faces and Veteran Leadership
A total of 54 Mississippi State athletes are slated to compete across 26 different events. Notably,21 Bulldogs will be making their official MSU debut,injecting fresh energy and talent into the program. Alongside thes newcomers, the team will rely on the experience and leadership of returning All-americans.
all-American Presence
Three First-Team All-Americans from the previous indoor season will be competing for the Bulldogs: Sherman Hawkins, Christion Barker, and nicholas Fakorede. Fakorede, a standout sprinter, will be competing in the 60m, aiming to improve upon his already notable personal best of 6.56 seconds, the second-fastest time in program history .
women’s Team Highlights
On the women’s side, Kyndall Sessom will be looking to build on her success in the 60m, hoping to extend the program record she set last season. In the field, tafada Wright will compete in both the shot put and weight throw, events where she already holds prominent positions on the Mississippi State all-time performance lists .
Looking Ahead
The Samford Invite marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting indoor season for Mississippi State track and field. The team will use this meet as a foundation for continued growth and progress as they prepare for upcoming competitions. Fans can follow the team’s progress throughout the season by visiting HailState.com and following “HailStateTF” on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
Published: 2026/01/21 12:51:11
