MAGNOLIA, Ark. – A bow has been firmly placed on opening day action at the 2024 Great American Conference Men's Track & Field Championship from Southern Arkansas University's Mulerider Track & Field Complex. Highlighting the action for the Muleriders on Wednesday was sophomore Jeremy Jackson who, through five events in the Decathlon, leads the field entering Thursday morning's resuming of the ten-event competition and junior Ja'Kamron Zackery who earned a podium finish in the hammer event.

A native of Strong, Arkansas, Jackson delivered 3,261 points and leads the 11-athlete field by 38 points with the 100H, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin and 1500M awaiting the competition on Thursday. He won both the long jump (6.67m) and the 400M (51.94), placed second in the 100M with a personal-best effort (11.55) and third in the high jump (1.76m). His personal-best result of 9.62m in the shot put earned him a seventh-place finish.  

Graduate teammate Connor White is currently third behind a second-place result in the long jump (6.27m) and a fourth-place finish in the 400m (53.17).

Zackery's 161' 7" throw in the hammer earned the Muleriders six points on Wednesday and it gave the Magnolia native an All-GAC Second Team plaudit for his top six performance. Jason Patrick followed in seventh place at 147' 4" to grab two more points. Traveon Scott (141' 5"), Bo Rogers (139' 3") and Trevon Hill (139' 2") placed ninth, tenth and 11^th, respectively.

Isaac Gass placed ninth in the 3000m Steeplechase at 9:50.11 and Joseph Uc placed 13^th at 10:20.95.

Southern Arkansas enters day two with eight points; 28 off of Harding's lead and 18 back of third place. Tournament Central can be accessed at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.