SALEM, Va. – Randolph College men's track & field opened the ODAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in Salem, Virginia with several standout podium performances and point-scoring efforts for a fifth place team finish.

Jayden Watkins led the way with a runner-up finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.53 meters (14-10.25) to earn eight team points. Ja'mar Smith followed with a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash, clocking a 6.96 to score six points, and later added a sixth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 6.50 meters (21-4.00).

Xavier White earned a bronze medal in the weight throw, placing third with a mark of 15.61 meters (51-2.75) to collect six points for the WildCats.

Other 60m finalists included Jahlil Weekes (7.05) and Jeff Mendscole (6.99) who placed seventh and fifth, respectively, while James McLean (7.12), Kyle Kurtz (7.25), Leander Jackson (7.28), and Immanuel Williams (7.35) also competed.

The WildCats also competed in the 60-meter hurdles with Ethan Fisher (8.81), Mario Carter (8.95), and Johan Arends (8.97) representing Randolph in the prelims.

In the 200 meters, McLean added another scoring performance with a fourth-place finish in 22.74 to earn five points. L. Jackson placed eighth in 22.94 to score one point, while Kurtz (23.23) and Williams (24.04) rounded out the Randolph competitors.

The 400 meters saw Christian Humes finish eighth in 51.91 to earn a team point, while Emir Jackson (51.93) narrowly missed scoring in ninth place and Christopher Wills (53.37) also competed.

Middle-distance events featured Aiden Bartulis, who ran 2:11.85 in the 800 meters, and Edward Koroma, who clocked a 4:41.53 in the mile.

In the long jump, Randolph placed multiple athletes in the top 10 as Smith finished sixth and Kyron Gault placed seventh with a jump of 6.49 meters (21-3.50). Savion Thomas (6.18m), Xavier Calloway (6.16m), and Ashton Jackson (6.15m) also competed in the event.

Watkins' pole vault performance was supported by Peyton Jackson and A. Jackson, who both cleared 3.63 meters (11-10.75) to place 12th and 13th, respectively.

The throwing events saw White place 13th in the shot put with a throw of 12.20 meters (40-0.50), while Julio Alvarenga finished 21st at 10.29 meters (33-9.25).

In the triple jump, Thomas placed fifth with a jump of 13.45 meters (44-1.50), while senior Mario Carter followed in seventh at 13.29 meters (43-7.25). Xavier Calloway also competed and placed 10th with a mark of 12.70 meters (41-8.00).

Relay action closed out the championships for Randolph. The distance medley relay team of Bartulis, Jacob Johnson, Ariel Huseni, and Koroma finished eighth with a time of 11:45.44 to earn one point. The 4x400-meter relay squad of L. Jackson, Humes, Landon Petcher, and E. Jackson delivered a strong fourth-place finish in 3:26.41, adding five more points to the team total.

The 'Cats will now prepare for the outdoor season with the first meet on March 19-21 for the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C.