MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Graduate student Ryan Hunter defended his conference crown in the men's javelin, and four Patriots reached the podium on Saturday at the 2026 Conference Carolinas Outdoor Track & Field Championships, as Francis Marion University secured a program-best fifth-place finish in the women's team standings while the men's squad placed 10th at the Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

The FMU women's program scored a program record 54.33 points after scoring in six events, including two conference champions and four all-conference selections. The Patriot men's team scored 29 points over three events while featuring one individual champion and a pair of all-conference selections. As a team, the Patriots also achieved one meet record and three new school records.

Hunter, a native of Blythewood, S.C., defended his men's javelin title and set a new Conference Carolinas meet record with a toss of 66.61 meters on his final throw. He claimed consecutive golds in the outdoor event and earned first-team all-conference status. Hunter still holds the 15th-best mark in NCAA Division II at 67.04 meters, which he set at the FMU Invitational.

In the women's shot put, junior Catherine Green, sophomore Jazmine McDonald-Craft, and freshman Skyy Ruben delivered an impressive 17 points to the team standings after the trio all placed inside the top six. McDonald-Craft achieved a new FMU record with a personal-best toss of 13.06 meters to finish as the runner-up and secure second-team all-conference. Green placed fourth with a mark of 12.45 meters while Ruben hit a new personal record with a distance of 11.83 meters to finish sixth overall.

Sophomore Rashawn Byrd reached the podium for the first time in his career after securing third place in the men's triple jump. He set a new FMU school record with a stellar leap of 14.75 meters, while also earning third-team all-conference status.

In the men's 400-meter final, the sophomore duo of Alex Lance and Davin Staley combined to score 12 points toward the men's team standings for the Patriots. Lance finished as the runner-up with an FMU record time of 48.00 seconds and claimed second-team all-conference. Staley finished fifth overall with a personal-record time of 48.53 seconds.

Additionally in the men's javelin, freshman Blake Hamilton earned his first point at the outdoor championships after placing eighth with a personal-best toss of 51.28 meters.

Sophomore Meya McKinney also secured a point in the women's triple jump after finishing eighth with a mark of 9.99 meters.