Mercera Leads Collegiate Pentathlon, Chikomba Wins WA Bronze Long Jump

K-State Track and Field De Loss Dodds Invite, January 30, 2026.

(Photo: Gabriella Whisler/K-State Sports)

Mercera Leads Collegiate Pentathlon, Chikomba Wins WA Bronze Long Jump

Jan 30, 2026 | Track & Field

Multiple Wildcats had strong performances, including in the World Athletics Bronze events

MANHATTAN, Kan. – During a busy first day of the DeLoss Dodds Invitational on Friday (January 30), the K-State track and field teams had multiple Wildcats perform NCAA top marks at the Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track.

Senior Vanessa Mercera made headlines for a consecutive meet, this time in the women's pentathlon with her winning score of 4,429 points, recording personal bests in all five events. As of Friday night, Mercera currently holds the collegiate record in the event according to TFRRS, surpassing Lucie Kiensat at 4,337 points.

Mercera won two events, tying for 1^st in the high jump at 1.81m (5' 11.25") and cruising to the finish line 1^st in the 800 meters with a time of 2:09.93. Now the fourth best performance in K-State records, Mercera gave a 406 point improvement from her previous personal best from February 2024.

"Vanessa's number one in the NCAA," head coach Travis Geopfert said. "Coach Kip Janvrin, a mentor of mine, to have him on our staff, and his experience and his knowledge, and have these kids ready and just his demeanor with them… an unbelievable coach and great mentor for these kids, and they're thriving underneath him. And it wasn't just Vanessa, the rest of those [multi] athletes did an awesome job as well."

The meet also served as a World Athletics sanctioned meet in four events, the men's long and high jump and the women's high and pole vault. Six Wildcats competed in the three jumps events against Olympic medalists, World Athletic Champions and NCAA Champions.

Junior Tah Chikomba claimed the crown in the men's long jump at 8.09m (26' 6.5"), the no. 2 distance in the NCAA, and the K-State indoor records, while just half an inch short of his personal best. He also set a new meet record, surpassing Steve Fritz (7.64m) from 1993, and broke his own facility record. Also in the long jump was sophomore Uroy Ryan, a transfer from Arkansas, who competed for the Wildcats for the first time, finishing 4^th at 7.87m (25' 10"), a quarter of an inch shy of his best jump, for the no. 3 spot in the school records.

In the women's long jump, junior Maud Zeffou-Poaty had a career night in 3^rd place at 6.58m (21' 7.25"), almost a full foot farther than her best mark, now the no. 3 jump in the NCAA, and the K-State women's records. The event also featured junior Aaliyah Foster with a 6^th place finish at 6.17m (20' 3").

Finally, in the men's high jump, senior transfer from Kansas, and Howard, Kan., native, Devin Loudermilk claimed 3^rd place at a clearance of 2.22m (7' 3.25"), the no. 4 best height in the NCAA. After a breakout first meet, freshman Alan Hanna took 8^th place at 2.18m (7' 1.75").

Four more Wildcats finished first in the field events, in the women's high jump, senior Sharie Enoe at 1.86m (6' 1.25"), and in weight throw, seniors Gary Moore Jr. with a haul of 23.01m (75' 6"), just five inches short of his personal best, and Monique Hardy at 20.64m (67' 8.75"). Redshirt freshman Croix DaCunha won the men's long jump invite with a leap of 7.83m (25' 8.25"), which is no. 4 in the K-State record books.

"The Dark Horse, Croix DaCunha is a redshirt freshman that jumped 23 feet in high school, and he just jumped 25' 8"," Geopfert said. "His development, just another kid with a great attitude and a great effort. Super, super proud of him, what a huge breakthrough for that kid. That was awesome."

On the track, senior Oskars Bambals won the men's 800 meters in 1:48.90, now the no. 5 fastest K-State time.

After the first four events of the men's heptathlon, freshman Mattix DaCunha sits in 4^th place with 3,136 points while fellow freshman Dorian Charles is right behind him in 5^th place with 3,097 points. Both men claimed one win each, DaCunha in the 60-meter dash in 6.87 seconds, Charles in the shot put with a throw of 13.30m (43' 7.75").

The second day of the DeLoss Dodds Invitational starts at 10:30 a.m. with the men's heptathlon 60-meter hurdles. The field events will start with the women's long jump at 1:45 a.m., while on the track the women's 60-meter hurdle prelims begin at 2:05 p.m.

FROM THE TRACK
Head Coach Travis Geopfert
On the atmosphere at Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track…
"First and foremost, the atmosphere was awesome. We asked K-Staters to come out and support and they did. We had, I don't know how many people we had, a few 1,000 people here, an electric atmosphere, the compliments that we got from the other coaches and the pro athletes who were here said they hadn't been part of anything like this."

On the performance of Maud Zeffou-Poaty…
"Maud number three in the NCAA. You know that kid PR'd by a foot in the long jump tonight. I mean, it was absolutely incredible. And you know, she was struggling, struggling, struggling, but then through the competition, trying to get it right, was really coachable. And ah, just to see the smile on that kid's face, she's a great kid, and she deserves every bit of success she's having."

Vanessa Mercera: Women's Pentathlon
1. Overall, 4,429 points (PR)
2. 60 Meter Hurdles, 8.36 (PR)
T1. High Jump, 1.81m (5' 11.25") (PR)
7. Shot Put, 11.38m (37' 4") (PR)
7. Long Jump, 5.85m (19' 2.5") (PR)
1. 800 Meters, 2:09.93 (PR)

Zoey Brinker: Women's Pentathlon
4. Overall, 4,022 points
20. 60 Meter Hurdles, 9.06
T1. High Jump, 1.81m (5' 11.25")
12. Shot Put, 9.90m (32' 5.75")
8. Long Jump, 5.80m (19' 0.5")
5. 800 Meters, 2:20.08

Lalie Pouzancre-Hoyer: Women's Pentathlon
5. Overall, 4,015 points
12. 60 Meter Hurdles, 8.85
5. High Jump, 1.69m (5' 6.5")
11. Shot Put, 9.97m (32' 8.5")
2. Long Jump, 6.02m (19' 9")
4. 800 Meters, 2:18.14

Women's 800 Meters
3. Anna Pozdeeva, 2:09.97
5. Vienna Lahner, 2:10.19 (PR)
9. Angi Pondler, 2:11.92

Men's 800 Meters
1. Oskars Bambals, 1:48.90*
6. Dylan Plath, 1:50.65
12. Vance Krudwig, 1:51.83
13. Julian Avila, 1:52.75
14. Canyon Buehler, 1:53.38

Women's Weight Throw
1. Monique Hardy, 20.64m (67' 8.75")

Women's Long Jump (Invite)
2. Tesia Thomas, 6.18m (20' 3.5")
3. Chisom Nwafor, 6.04m (19' 9.75")

Women's High Jump
1. Sharie Enoe, 1.86m (6' 1.25")
2. Shanniqua Williams, 1.81m (5' 11.25")
6. Lindsey DeWitt, 1.66m (5' 5.25")

Women's Pole Vault
T10. Taegan Olson, 3.62m (11' 10.5")
Claire Bybee, NH

Men's Long Jump (Invite)
1. Croix DaCunha, 7.83m (25' 8.25")

Women's 3,000 Meters
8. Christine Jerono, 9:45.97 (PR)
12. Grace Meyer, 10:02.48
13. Bree Allen, 10:02.70
14. Hanna Keltner, 10:02.81
15. Paige Baker, 10:03.84 (PR)
16. Alexa Rios, 10:08.44 (PR)
19. Payton Fink, 10:20.30

Men's Weight Throw
1. Gary Moore Jr., 23.01m (75' 6")
2. Kade McCall, 22.63m (74' 3") (PR)
11. Ricardo Hayles, 17.63m (57' 10.25") (PR)
13. Riley Marx, 17.03m (55' 10.5")

Men's 3,000 Meters
9. Jackson Esquibel, 8:15.66 (PR)
12. Brock Olsen, 8:26.80 (PR)
13. Logan Beckman, 8:29.98

Men's Long Jump (WA Bronze)
1. Tah Chikomba, 8.09m (26' 6.5") (PR)**
4. Uroy Ryan, 7.87m (25' 10")

Women's Long Jump (WA Bronze)
3. Maud Zeffou-Poaty, 6.58m (21' 7.25")
6. Aaliyah Foster, 6.17m (20' 3")

Men's High Jump (WA Bronze)
3. Devin Loudermilk, 2.22m (7' 3.25")
8. Alan Hanna, 2.18m (7' 1.75")

Mattix DaCunha: Men's Heptathlon
1. 60 Meter Dash, 6.87
5. Long Jump, 7.14m (23' 5.25")
13. Shot Put, 11.63m (38' 2")
4. High Jump, 1.97m (6' 5.5")

Dorian Charles: Men's Heptathlon
6. 60 Meter Dash, 7.09
6. Long Jump, 6.99m (22' 11.25")
1. Shot Put, 13.30m (43' 7.75")
6. High Jump, 1.94m (6' 4.25")

Emil Uhlin: Men's Heptathlon
12. 60 Meter Dash, 7.25
11. Long Jump, 6.58m (21' 7.25")
5. Shot Put, 12.92m (42' 4.75")
T10. High Jump, 1.82m (5' 11.5")

-- k-statesports.com --

How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.