Kent State sent four athletes from the track and field program to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships in Arkansas this weekend; three of those four athletes who qualified competed on Friday.

Junior Matthias Tayala competed in the weight throw and finished sixth out of 16 total competitors. Tayala threw a mark of 21.78 meters.

“Tayala had a great year, and it was very good to see him come away with a strong performance in the Indoor Championships,” said Bill Lawson, director of track and field and cross-country.

Dior Delophont, a junior and the Mid-American Conference high jump champion, finished eighth in her event with a distance of 1.84 meters.

“Dior had a great performance and has really stepped her game up from the beginning of the season,” Lawson said. “We are proud of her accomplishments as well.”

Meanwhile, junior William Barnes managed 15th out of 16 competitors in the 60-meter hurdle preliminaries Friday. Barnes completed his time in 7.95 seconds.

Junior Danniel Thomas scored seventh in shot put on Saturday with a throw of 17.19 meters and earned First Team All-American Honors to accompany her performance at the event.

“I was really happy with everyone’s performance,” Lawson said. “Danniel performed really consistent all weekend, Matthias did great as did Barnes and Delophont.”

Lawson said he is optimistic about the outdoor season to begin.

“We’re going to take some time off and then get ready for the outdoor season,” Lawson said. “I think our guys and girls will be ready to compete and I’m excited to see what everyone can do.”

The outdoor season will begin March 27 as Kent State heads to the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Contact Andrew Bugel at [email protected].