CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men and women's outdoor track and field teams have a combined six student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Allendale, Mich., Thursday, May 26 through Saturday, May 28.
 
Tytavia Hardy represents the women's program while Cole Benoit along with the 4x400-relay squad carry the banner for the men's program.
 
The selection marks the third consecutive for Hardy, but the first in the 100-meter hurdles. She stands 18th nationally this season in the event with a time of 13.87 set at the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays on March 23. The Pensacola, Fla., native competed in the triple jump during the 2021 Championships, where she finished 11th. Her first appearance came during her freshman season in which she finished 13th in the long jump and 15th in the triple jump in 2019.
 
For the second straight season the men's 4x400-relay qualifies for Nationals. The foursome of Wesley Gibbs, Will Grames, Gabe Hodson, and Fabio Palmieri set the second fastest time in the relay at the Mike McMillan Twilight on April 28 as the unit clocked a 3:08.33. Jake Russell and Connor Stewart will travel with the quartet as alternates. The 2021 edition of the relay composed of former Choctaws Daviciea McCartney, Rakeem Wilson, Dalton Dempsey along with Palmieri finished eighth in nation last season.
 
Benoit grabs his first-ever nod in the 1,500 meters. The Carriere, Miss., native posted a time of 3:44.94 this past weekend in Cleveland, Tenn., at the Lee University Last Chance. His time stands 22nd in Division II.
 
The Choctaws hold six individual national titles in program history and seek their first since 1979. Former Choctaw Larry Myricks won the men's 200-meters and the men's long jump in 1979. Myricks is a five-time national champion (200-meter dash 1978-79; long jump 1976-78-79) while Joe Boyles won the 3,000-steeplechase in 1978.
 
Hardy will chase the first national title in program history for the Lady Choctaws. She joins former Lady Choctaws Andrea McDonald, Liz Laubenburg and Bridget Foreman as the only national qualifiers in program history.
 
The men's 1,500 preliminaries are Thursday, May 26 with the men's 4x400 relay and women's 100 hurdles prelims set for Friday, May 27. Finals for all three events are slated for Saturday, May 28.