Marshall Track & Field Excels Early on in Outdoor Season

 By Ben Anderson

    The arrival of spring brought the return of Marshall Track & Field for the 2026 outdoor season, aiming to build on the success from the indoor campaign. 


    The Thundering Herd have continued to carry on that success behind the trio of men’s long jumpers – OT Omot, Cam Hamby, and TreShaun Smith – who have each taken turns at cracking the programs’ outdoor long jump record. Director of Track & Field Keith Roberts said that the trio has developed into leaders of the program.


    “What it really boils down to is their work ethic, their communication with me, their communication with each other, their competitive spirit,” Roberts said in an interview with First and Ben. “They’re crazy competitors. They just want to be great at everything they do. They won’t back down from anybody. So, it’s been fun to see that, and it spread out through the team.”


    The women’s long-distance group returns a key piece for the outdoor season in sophomore Destiny Berryman after missing the entirety of the indoor season. Cross Country head coach Caleb Bowen said Berryman has progressively picked up the pace since her return. 


    “If you looked at her race in Jacksonville and then compare it to Raleigh. You could definitely tell that first race was a rust buster. Getting back into the race feel, getting those feelings again,” Bowen said in an interview with First and Ben. “But she needed that. Her confidence level is a lot better now after Raleigh than it was after Jacksonville, because she wasn’t so sure she was ready, but now I think she believes in it.”


    Roberts said that the point of emphasis moving forward is just bringing the Thundering Herd spirit to every competition.


    “One thing that we talked about going into the outdoor season is not slowing up at the finish line, busting through the finish line, finishing all your throws, finishing all your jumps, just being competitors.”


    The Thundering Herd is off this week to heal, regroup, and celebrate the Easter holiday before returning to action next weekend in good old Rocky Top at the Tennessee Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee.


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