SWEETNAM, MAKALO LEAD DRAGON MEN AT TIGER OPEN

Sprinter Kebba Makalo earned two national qualifications in winning the 200 meters and running the anchor led of the Blue Dragon 4x100 relay on Saturday at the Mark A Phillips Open in Arkansas City.
March 28, 2026

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

ARKANSAS CITY – The defending Region 6 outdoor champion Hutchinson Community College men's track and field team won five individual events and one relay in its 2026 outdoor season opener at the Mark A Phillips Tiger Open on Saturday at the Cowley Track and Field Track Complex.

In addition to the six event titles, the Blue Dragons also had six performances eclipse 2026 NJCAA national qualifying standards.

Sophomore thrower Joshua Sweetnam was a double-event winner on Saturday. Sweetnam won the Phillips' shot put with a mark of 54 feet 1.25 inches (16.72 meters). That mark is the fifth-best shot put in Blue Dragon outdoor men's history.

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Sweetnam also won the discus with a distance of 159 feet, 8 inches (48.67 meters). That mark ranks 10th in the discus in Blue Dragon men's outdoor history.

Sprinter Kebba Makalo won the 200 meters on Saturday with a time of 20.69. Sophomore Da'Shawn Lester was fifth in a time of 21.53.

Makalo and Lester then teamed up with Lushane Blake and Giavonni Jones to win the 4x100 meters with a national qualifying time of 40.40 seconds. That time is the third-fastest 4x100 relay time in team history.

Ricards Peders won the 110-meter hurdles, winning with a time of 14.36 seconds. That time is ninth-fastest in team history. Aidan Anderson was second in the 110 hurdles in a time of 15.12 seconds.

Hutchinson's other national qualifier on Saturday. Freshman Tristen Sanderson the triple jump with a mark of 44-9.5 inches (13.65).

The Blue Dragons earned three more event runner-up finishes.

Freshman Wesley Gill was second in the javelin with a throw of 163-8 (49.90 meters). Alex King was third in the event at 146-10 (44.75 meters) and Colby Moler was fifth at 145-9 (44.43).

Freshman Miguel Gaisha Essuman was second in the long jump at 23-6.75 (7.18 meters). Sanders was fourth at 22-7 (6.88 meters).

The Blue Dragons next compete at the Friends University Spring Invitational on Thursday through Saturday in Wichita.