Blue Raiders Shine, Tigers Impress: Highlights from the Dean Hayes Indoor Classic

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Dean Hayes Indoor Classic, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), was a thrilling showcase of track and field. Teams from Tennessee State University (TSU), Fisk, Belmont, Sewanee, MTSU and others competed fiercely for team and individual honors.

The day opened with strong performances in the field events. In the women’s long jump, MTSU’s Xarya Udoumana won with a leap of 5.72 meters. Teammate Viktoria Rusnakova finished second at 5.60 meters, giving the Blue Raiders an early boost heading into the track events.

On the track, MTSU’s Evan Tomlinson stood out in the men’s sprints. He won the 55-meter final in 6.37 seconds and later added the 200-meter title in 21.93 seconds.

The women’s sprints also featured impressive MTSU performances. Laila Rudolph took the women’s 55-meter title in 7.14 seconds, and Agu Chidinma won the women’s 200 meters in 24.56 seconds.

Tennessee State University showed depth across multiple events. Bryce Sparks captured the men’s 55-meter hurdles in 7.80 seconds, and Devin Jones won the men’s 400 meters in 49.22 seconds. TSU’s Carolyn McRee set a personal best in the women’s shot put with a mark of 12.50 meters. TSU finished with four event victories overall, underscoring their strong showing.

The meet concluded with relay action: MTSU’s men’s 4x400-meter relay finished strongly in 3:22.61 to cap the day. With personal bests and breakout performances on display, both MTSU and TSU appear poised for a strong postseason. The Dean Hayes Indoor Classic proved an important chapter in this year’s indoor season.