Central State Women Finish Runner-Up at 2026 HBCU Indoor Championships
The women of Central State University delivered a determined and balanced performance at the HBCU National Indoor Track and Field Championships, earning a second-place team finish after two days of competition on March 6–7 at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in Louisville.
With contributions from sprinters, jumpers, and throwers, the Marauders consistently scored throughout the meet to secure the runner-up spot behind Howard University.
Batchelor Leads the Sprint Charge
Freshman standout JayDeen Batchelor emerged as one of the team's top performers on the track. Batchelor placed fifth in the 60 meters, crossing the line in 7.65 seconds to score valuable points for Central State. Teammate Favour Oladapo also reached the final and finished seventh in 7.90.
Batchelor returned later in the meet to compete in the 200 meters, delivering another strong performance. The freshman clocked 24.84 seconds to finish fourth overall, adding five more points to the Marauders' team total.
Quarter-Milers Add Key Points
In the 400 meters, Central State placed two athletes in the championship final. Junior Ciara Valentine led the team with a sixth-place finish in 59.80, while teammate Deja Curry-Brown followed with seventh place in 1:02.80. The duo combined for five team points, helping Central State remain competitive in the team standings.
Relay Team Delivers Silver Medal
One of the most exciting races for the Marauders came in the 4×200 meter relay. The team of Oladapo, Tania Miles, Valentine, and Batchelor battled down the banked track to finish second overall in 1:42.78, earning eight points and a silver medal performance for Central State.
Strong Performances in the Field Events
Central State's field athletes made a major impact throughout the championship.
In the long jump, freshman Ramiya Taylor placed fourth with a mark of 4.77 meters, while teammate Anyah Stevenson finished fifth at 4.71 meters.
Stevenson followed that performance with an even bigger result in the triple jump, soaring to second place with a jump of 10.49 meters, giving the Marauders eight critical team points.
The throwing squad also played a key role in the team finish. Senior Aleah Otabor led Central State with fifth-place finishes in both the shot put (12.45m) PR and the weight throw (13.46m) PR. Teammates Kayla Robinson weight throw (11.27m PR) and shot put (11.89m PR)Â and Janihya Campbell also scored in the shot put, finishing sixth and seventh, while Campbell added another sixth-place finish in the weight throw.
Depth Across the Roster
Additional points came from freshman hurdler Alexandria Carrington, who placed seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (9.55), and middle-distance runner Kaitylnn Jones, who finished seventh in the 800 meters.
A Complete Team Effort
Across sprints, relays, jumps, and throws, Central State's women showed impressive depth and resilience throughout the championship meet. With scoring performances in nearly every discipline, the Marauders compiled enough points to secure second place overall, highlighting the strength and balance of the program.
The runner-up finish caps a successful indoor season and provides strong momentum as Central State prepares to transition into the outdoor track and field
