Emporia State Breaks School Record at Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic

Five Emporia State athletes qualify for provisionals at annual track and field event

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Emporia State University track and field team had a strong showing at the annual Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic, with one school record broken and five athletes qualifying for provisional national marks.

Why it matters

The Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic is a major event for Emporia State's track and field program, drawing top talent from across the region. A strong performance at this meet can help propel athletes towards national qualification and set the tone for the rest of the indoor season.

The details

At the Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic, Emporia State junior Alicia Ramirez broke the school record in the women's 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:41.23. Additionally, five Emporia State athletes qualified for provisional national marks, including Ramirez in the 3,000m, Jamal Watkins in the men's 60-meter hurdles, Kylie Hays in the women's pole vault, Trent Sims in the men's weight throw, and the women's 4x400-meter relay team.

  • The Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic was held on February 14, 2026.

The players

Alicia Ramirez

A junior on the Emporia State track and field team who broke the school record in the women's 3,000-meter run.

Jamal Watkins

An Emporia State athlete who qualified for a provisional national mark in the men's 60-meter hurdles.

Kylie Hays

An Emporia State athlete who qualified for a provisional national mark in the women's pole vault.

Trent Sims

An Emporia State athlete who qualified for a provisional national mark in the men's weight throw.

Emporia State women's 4x400-meter relay team

The Emporia State women's 4x400-meter relay team qualified for a provisional national mark.

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What’s next

The Emporia State track and field team will look to build on their strong performance at the Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic as they prepare for the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in early March.

The takeaway

Emporia State's track and field program continues to demonstrate its competitiveness at the regional level, with several athletes qualifying for provisional national marks and one school record being broken at the annual Russ Jewett Gorilla Classic.