Pioneers Post Multiple AAC Qualifiers at River City Relays

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Spartanburg Methodist College men's track and field team competed at the 2026 Hampton Inn River City Relays, marking its second outdoor meet of the season.

Coming off an All-American performance during the indoor season, junior Romeo Brown delivered a standout showing in the 100 meters. Brown posted a time of 10.41 in the preliminaries—the fastest mark in the AAC and a NAIA "B" provisional standard—before winning the finals in 10.50 against a field that included NCAA Division I competitors and a professional runner. His prelim time of 10.41 was just 0.09 seconds shy of his own school record.

Brown was one of three Pioneers to secure AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship qualifying marks in the 200 meters. He led the group with a fourth-place finish in 21.36, followed by freshman Qya Clemons (14th, 22.27) and sophomore Javion Brannon (17th, 22.52). Brannon's mark set a new personal best.

The Pioneers added another qualifying performance in the 400-meter hurdles, where junior Parker Balog crossed the line in 1:00.13.

In relay action, the quartet of Brannon, Balog, Clemons, and Brown combined for a time of 41.82 in the 4x100-meter relay, finishing just 0.02 seconds shy of the program record.

On Friday, junior Ryan Hunter secured his spot at the AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters, clocking 14:37.88—just 0.87 seconds off the school record.

In the field events, freshman Chris Jennings continued his strong start by breaking his own school record in the shot put with a toss of 44-6 (13.56 meters), earning an AAC Championship qualifying mark.