EUGENE, Oregon — Lokesh Sathyanathan became the first in Tarleton State Track and Field history to compete in and earn All-American status at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Hayward Field.
Sathyanathan notched a fifth-place finish in the men’s long jump to earn First Team All-American honors for the first time in his career. He earned Second Team All-American honors earlier this season at the Indoor National Championships as well as in his first trip to the Outdoor National Championships in 2023.
“It was an outstanding day today,” said head coach Bobby Carter. “I’m so proud of this young man and all the hard work he has put in this entire year. For him to go out there and do what he did today was very impressive! He is bringing some hardware back to Stephenville!”
Sathyanathan posted the best finish among non-Power Four Conference jumpers. He was one of two non-power conference jumpers to place in the top eight and earn First Team All-American honors. The senior is the fifth WAC jumper to earn First Team All-American recognition in the men’s long jump since 2000. He tied for the third-best ranking since 200 by any WAC long jumper. His best leap of 7.83 meters is the second best by a WAC student-athlete at the NCAA Championships since 2000. He trails only TCU’s Darvis Patton who leaped 7.97 meters in 2001 to finish fourth overall.
The Texan senior is the first Indian-born student-athlete to earn All-American status in the men’s long jump. The Karnataka, India, native, is one of four Indian-born athletes at this year’s national championships, the most to ever qualify for the meet.
“I want to thank all of Texan nation for all your cheering and support,” said Sathyanathan after the awards ceremony. “It feels like home in Stephenville, training and working hard every day. Getting here to the National Championships and becoming an All-American is so rewarding and hard to believe. I want thank God, my family, Coach Carter, my athletic trainer Kiyo Shimosawa, and all of the staff at Tarleton State. This is just the beginning, we are going to be back. Let’s go Texans!”
Sathyanathan was the last jumper in the second flight to jump, making him the last person to jump in the first round among all 24 jumpers. His first leap of 7.57 meters ranked him tenth after the first round, a mark he knew he had to improve on if he wanted to make the finals. His best jump of the competition came next. The senior leapt 7.83 meters and jumped himself into the top six, presumably safe to be in the top nine to earn the final three jumps. On his third leap, he landed at 7.68 meters.
After the first three jumps, Sathyanathan was listed as sixth, but after a protest jumped up to fifth after an Oregon jumper’s leap was mismarked as him ranking fifth. So, after the clarification, Sathyanathan ranked fifth entering the final three leaps. Unfortunately, the Texan was unable to improve his best mark on either of the next three attempts, all resulting in fouls. Sathyanathan was disappointed he fouled on his sixth jump, but the disappointment was quickly erased with a smile after he realized he had finished in fifth place in the nation, earning his first First Team All-American honors of his career.
Florida senior, Malcom Clemons, took home the individual title with an 8.04-meter leap. Oklahoma State’s Blair Anderson earned runner-up status with the only other jump greater than eight meters at 8.02 meters. Arkansas’ Henry Kiner rounded out the top three with a best leap of 7.96 meters.
With Sathyanathan’s performance, he earns four points for the Texan men in the team standings. The Purple and White rank 24th in the nation with four points, the most by a WAC program after six scored events. Tarleton State is one of five non-Power Four conference programs to rank in the top 30 after the first day of completed events.
It will be the ladies’ turn at the track on Thursday. The women’s 4×100 meter relay will kick things off at 4:05 pm PT / 6:05 pm CT. Next, Victoria Cameron will look to punch herself a ticket to Saturday’s finals in the women’s 100 with the semifinals at 5:25 pm PT / 7:25 pm CT. Prestina Ochonogor will cap the day in the women’s long jump looking to add another First Team All-American recognition to her name. She will compete at 5:40 pm PT / 7:40 pm CT at Hayward Field.
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