BATON ROUGE, La. — Sophomore Josiah Gaynor launched a career-best 7.75 meters (25-05.25) in the long jump to finish second and score eight points, while a wave of Rattlers advanced through the prelims across both the men's and women's rosters as Florida A&M positioned itself for a major Day 3 push at the 2026 SWAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Southern University on Saturday.

Gaynor's leap vaulted him to No. 2 on the HBCU performance list and No. 19 nationally in NCAA Division I this season. The performance anchored a day in which the FAMU men sit fifth in the team standings with 21 points through seven of 21 scored events — and a projected 89.5 points across the remaining finals suggest the Rattlers are primed to climb.

On the women's side, FAMU holds eighth place with 14.5 points, but a conference-high 145.25 projected points — the largest projection in the field — signals that the Rattlers have an abundance of scorers still waiting for their events. Jackson State leads the men's standings at 74 points, while Southern tops the women's at 53.5.

MEN'S HIGHLIGHTS

Junior Myles Copeland-Naughty posted a personal-best 20.87 seconds in the 200-meter prelims to earn the second-fastest qualifying time in the field, a mark that now ranks No. 16 on the HBCU performance list this season. He advances to Sunday's final as a serious contender for the conference title.

In the 800 meters, seniors William Shelton (1:52.45, third overall) and Kirk Dawkins (1:52.59, fourth overall) both earned automatic qualifying bids to Sunday's final. Dawkins also punched his ticket in the 1500 meters, qualifying in ninth at 4:13.02 to give FAMU a double-distance threat. Freshman Aydan Myers narrowly missed advancing in the 800 with a time of 1:52.88, finishing 10th overall.

Freshman Tyon Reed advanced in the 400-meter hurdles with a time-qualifier of 53.84 seconds, earning a spot in Sunday's final. Sophomore Bryce Webb added three points with a sixth-place finish in the shot put at 14.99 meters (49-02.25).

WOMEN'S HIGHLIGHTS

The FAMU women loaded the sprint finals with four qualifiers across the 200 and 400 meters. Senior Diandrenique Gaines blazed a 23.06-second 200-meter prelim to claim the fastest time in the field, a season-best that now ranks No. 1 among all HBCU performers and No. 50 in NCAA Division I this season. Sophomore Arayana Ladson set a personal best of 23.60 to qualify second, while freshman Janaree Kinchen (23.64, third) and senior Kiersten Clark (23.79, eighth via time qualifier) also advanced.

In the 400 meters, sophomore Kirah Copeland qualified third overall at 54.69 seconds, and junior Amani Kirnon earned a time-qualifying berth in sixth at 55.13.

The hurdles and middle distances were equally productive. Junior Katelynn Smith posted the fastest 400-meter hurdle prelim in the field at 59.54 seconds, and freshman Kiyah Boyd earned an automatic qualifier with a personal-best 1:00.33, a mark that ranks No. 14 on the HBCU list this season. Freshmen Lauren Thomas (1:01.84, personal best) and junior Mania Tidwell (1:02.79) also competed in the event.

Senior Tara Bert will be a factor in two finals after qualifying in both the 800 meters (2:13.20, third overall) and 1500 meters (4:58.52, fourth). Freshman Leandra Ferrell joined her in both events, advancing via time qualifier in the 800 (2:14.34, sixth) and the 1500 (4:59.33, eighth). Sophomore Rose Muturi also qualified in the 1500 with a time of 4:57.91, giving the Rattlers three entrants in Sunday's final.

Junior Niya Coleman scored two points with a seventh-place finish in the 3000-meter steeplechase in 12:01.74, a season best that ranks No. 11 on the HBCU list.

LOOKING AHEAD

Day 3 on Sunday figures to be a defining session for the Rattlers. With the vast majority of scored events still ahead and qualifiers loaded across the sprints, hurdles, and distances, FAMU's projected-point totals — the highest among any women's team in the field and among the top men's projections — point to a program poised to make significant moves in the team standings. Finals begin Tuesday morning at Southern University in Baton Rouge.