FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Trojan men gave it their all in Fayetteville as the Little Rock outdoor season wrapped up Thursday at the NCAA West First Round.
All four Trojans competed hard against some of the nation's top athletes but were unfortunately unable to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
Due to expected inclement weather later in the day, the meet schedule was adjusted to begin at 1 p.m.
Junior
Matthew Tyeskie placed 34th overall in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.03. Senior
Falon Short recorded a mark of 7.08 meters in the long jump to place 37th overall.
"Honestly, it was an unforgettable experience that I was honored to compete in. Finishing conference, I didn't think my jump would qualify, but God's timing said otherwise, and I'm so grateful. God guided me here and highlighted my love for track, constantly teaching me lessons through the blessings. I couldn't have asked for a better final meet as a Trojan," said Short.
Sophomore
Braeden Bell finished 44th overall in the 100 meters with a time of 10.58, while freshman
Jeremiah Patton placed 43rd overall in the 200 meters after clocking a 21.33.
"Even though the meet didn't go exactly how I wanted, I'm still grateful to have had the opportunity to compete at this level as a freshman," said Patton. "This experience gave me a lot of motivation going into next year. I'm excited to keep improving, work even harder, and come back stronger."
Bell shared the same attitude as Patton.
"This year meant a lot to me because of how I started the indoor season. I was getting a little nervous and discouraged because I wasn't competing to my full potential," said Bell. "Going into conference, I was ranked 5th, but I finished in 2nd place and carried that momentum throughout the rest of the season. I really began to see my potential at Prairie View, running 10.40, then coming back to run 10.25 at conference to win it all. I also hit major PRs in all three events and earned the chance to compete at NCAA Regionals. There's no doubt I'll be back stronger, faster, and ready to compete."
Full results for Day One of the NCAA West First Round can be viewed
here.
"Not how we wanted to end the season but I'm proud of these guys for getting this far," said head coach
J.P. Behnke. "With three of the four being underclassmen it was valuable experience and the standard being that they will make it back next year."'
The meet closes out the 2026 outdoor season for the Trojans, capping off a year filled with growth, accomplishments, and momentum for the future. Little Rock will return a strong core heading into next season as the program heads into the United Athletic Conference.
For the latest information on Little Rock Cross Country/Track and Field, check out LRTrojans.com. You can also follow the team on social media at @LittleRockTFXC on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Get the latest Trojan news, including the weekly Trojan Report, delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for Little Rock Trojan E-News
here.
#LittleRocksTeam | #RockSolid
