Ware Breaks Program Record On Day One Of Charlie Thomas Invite

Friday, February 7

College Station, TX

Mississippi State

Charlie Thomas Invitational

Ware Breaks Program Record On Day One Of Charlie Thomas Invite

February 07, 2025 | Track & Field

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By: Jhordyn Stallworth, Fellow/Communications

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Mississippi State track and field completed the first day of the Charlie Thomas Invitational, highlighted by Jaitlyn Ware breaking the indoor 200m program record.

The multis opened their seasons in their combined events in the morning, with Lewis Barber and Peyton Bair in the heptathlon, and Kennedy Jackson in the pentathlon. Bair finished first in all but three events on day one, earning new personal bests in the long jump, shot put and high jump. Bair leads the competition at the conclusion of day one, with 3,448 points. Barber threw a new personal best in the shot put, finishing the day in eighth with 2,880 points. Competition will resume Saturday morning in the 60m hurdles, followed by the pole vault and 1000m to conclude the heptathlon.

Kennedy Jackson had a big showing in her first pentathlon of the season. Jackson racked up three personal bests in the events, as well as a new overall best score. After improving on her 60m hurdle and 800m times, as well as her high jump mark, she finished the day with 4,021 points and a fourth overall finish. This new lifetime best places her at the No. 5 spot on the MSU all-time list in the event.

The field events saw consistent performances from the Bulldogs. The day was started by Tafada Wright in the women's weight, where she finished sixth with an 18.32m throw. Kennedy Stringfellow jumped 7.65m in the long jump to finish as the top collegian, third overall.

The sprints squad put up massive performances to close out the evening. In the women's 60m, Kyndall Sessom, Rickyla Fagan and Jaden Billings all ran personal bests and advanced to the semifinals in the event. Sessom also improved on her MSU top five time, breaking the tie formerly held by alumni Rosealee Cooper and herself, now sitting alone in the No. 5 spot. Nicholas Fakorede led the field in the men's 60m, qualifying to the semifinals alongside William Aguessy, Mike Gizzi and Danarrion Ard. Jaden Billings and Zaniyah Jones earned personal bests in the 60m hurdles and qualified to the semifinals alongside Jessicka Woods.

The day was closed on the track in the 200m, with four bulldogs competing in each event. Jaitlyn Ware ran the second fastest time overall, earning a new personal best of 23.44. This performance moves her from the No. 2 overall spot to now being the program record holder in the event. Zaniyah Jones also earned a personal best of 24.85 in the event. Kennedy Stringfellow earned his third straight personal best in the event, running 21.15.
Cooper Rodgers earned the last personal best of the day with a time of 21.78.

The Bulldogs will be back in action Saturday morning, with the field events starting with the men's weight throw, and track events starting with the heptathlon 60m hurdles.

Day One Results:
Pentathlon:
Overall:
4. Kennedy Jackson – 4,021 points (PB, No. 5 in program history)
60m Hurdles:
2. Kennedy Jackson – 8.41 (PB)
High Jump:
9. Kennedy Jackson – 1.66m (PB)
Shot Put:
12. Kennedy Jackson – 10.28m
Long Jump:
3. Kennedy Jackson – 5.96m
800m:
7. Kennedy Jackson – 2:22.25 (PB)

Heptathlon:
Overall after Day One:
1. Peyton Bair – 3,448 points
8. Lewis Barber – 2,880 points
60m:
1. Peyton Bair – 6.81
12. Lewis Barber – 7.28
Long Jump:
1. Peyton Bair – 7.50m (PB)
8. Lewis Barber – 6.81m
Shot Put:
1. Peyton Bair – 14.34m (PB)
7. Lewis Barber – 12.67m (PB)
High Jump:
3. Peyton Bair – 2.04m (PB)
12. Lewis Barber – 1.86m

W. Weight Throw:
6. Tafada Wright – 18.32m

M. Shot Put:
12. Tyler Mason – 14.71m

M. Long Jump:
3. Kennedy Stringfellow – 7.65m
13. Marquise Washington – 6.74m

W. Long Jump:
18. Manie Mevo – 5.43m

W. 60m Prelims:
8. Kyndall Sessom – 7.46Q (PB, No. 5 in program history)
12. Rickyla Fagan – 7.52q (PB)
19. Jaden Billings – 7.65q (PB)

M. 60m Prelims:
1. Nicholas Fakorede – 6.64Q
13. William Aguessy – 6.85q
16. Mike Gizzi – 6.86q
19. Danarrion Ard – 6.88q

W. 60m Hurdles Prelims:
3. Jaden Billings – 8.44Q (PB)
4. Jessicka Woods – 8.44Q
11. Zaniyah Jones – 8.73q (PB)

W. 200m:
2. Jaitlyn Ware – 23.44 (PB, School Record)
28. Zaniyah Jones – 24.85 (PB)
30. Tamiia Fuller – 24.87
33. Chanice Spicer – 24.96

M. 200m:
5. Kennedy Stringfellow -21.15 (PB)
10. Nicholas Fakorede – 21.28
14. Mike Gizzi – 21.52
22. Cooper Rodgers – 21.78 (PB)

For more information on the Mississippi State track and field program, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.