HVCC Finishes With Program-Best Team Results at NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships
CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, May 9, 2026
Hudson Valley Community College turned in one of the strongest performances in program history at the NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, as the Vikings men's team placed second nationally while the women's team finished fourth overall after three days of competition hosted by Mohawk Valley Community College. The Vikings showcased depth across every discipline, scoring points in sprints, distance races, jumps, throws, relays, and multi-events to cap off a historic championship meet.
The women's team totaled 72 points behind a strong effort from sprinter and jumper Inara Bradford, who placed third in the 100 meters, fifth in the 200 meters, and fourth in the long jump. Qimora Johnson added a third-place finish in the 100 meters and seventh in the 200 meters, while Noddy Udeh earned points with an eighth-place finish in the 100 meters and fourth in the long jump.
Alana Dickson placed sixth in the 400 meters and helped lead the women's 4x100 relay team to a second-place national finish. Ava Dwyer contributed key distance points with a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters and a runner-up finish in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Emily Wilson placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles while also competing on the fourth-place 4x100 relay and eighth-place 4x800 relay teams. In distance events, Athena Seebald finished fifth in the 10,000 meters and seventh in the steeplechase, while Makayla Kudlack placed fifth in the pole vault.
The women also secured podium finishes in the relays, taking second in the 4x100 relay and third in the 4x400 relay.
On the men's side, the Vikings piled up 109 points led by a dominant championship performance from Makai Gordon. Gordon captured national titles in both the high jump and long jump, clearing 2.03 meters in the high jump and posting a mark of 6.84 meters in the long jump.
Parris Porter finished second nationally in the 800 meters and also helped the Vikings place second in the 4x800 relay and third in the 4x400 relay.
The sprint group delivered major points throughout the meet. Justice Affinito placed fourth in the 100 meters and third in the 200 meters while running on the third-place 4x100 relay team. Jair Oliva finished sixth in the 200 meters and contributed to the sixth-place 4x400 relay, while Darius Simmons placed seventh in the 200 meters and helped the 4x100 relay team earn bronze.
Nicholas Rushford scored in multiple events, placing fifth in the 400-meter hurdles and fifth in the 3000-meter steeplechase while also running on the third-place 4x100 relay team.
In the distance events, Alan Arnold earned runner-up honors in the 10,000 meters and finished third in the 5,000 meters, while Robert Wiltsie added a 10th-place finish in the 10,000 meters.
The Vikings also received valuable field event points from Tyler O'Donnell, who finished fourth in the pole vault, and Brody Wallas, who placed 10th in the event.
In the decathlon, Vincent Marks secured a third-place overall finish while contributing strong performances throughout the combined events competition.
The national championship meet brought together the top NJCAA Division III programs from across the country, and Hudson Valley's performances reflected both elite talent and exceptional depth as the Vikings closed the season among the nation's best programs on both the men's and women's sides.
Full meet results can be found at results.leonetiming.com/?mid=8930
