JACKSON, Miss. - History has a new chapter, and it belongs to the Scots.
In just its fourth season of existence, the Maryville College men's track and field program captured its first-ever Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Championship, turning in a complete team performance at the 2026 CCS Championships hosted by Belhaven in Jackson, Mississippi. Behind event victories from Clarence McLean and Lukas Yackley, along with a wave of school records and personal bests, the Scots delivered a breakthrough moment years in the making.
Head coach Kunle Lawson reflected on the milestone with a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
"We set out from the beginning to build a championship program within four years," Lawson said. "Starting from ground zero, facing the challenges we did, and now seeing this group achieve that goal—it's a significant accomplishment for our program."
Sprinting to the Top
Clarence McLean led the charge on the track, blazing to a conference title in the 100 meters (10.76) while also taking third in the 200 meters (21.75). His performance set the tone early and energized the Scots' title push.
Zedrick Drew added valuable points with a third-place finish in the 100 meters (11.17), giving Maryville two podium finishers in one of the meet's marquee events.
Distance Depth Delivers
Maryville's distance group proved instrumental in the championship effort.
Adyn Elliott claimed gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:17.43), setting a school record, while teammate Steven Cope followed with a runner-up finish (10:31.93) to give the Scots a dominant 1-2 showing.
James LeNeve continued his record-setting weekend, placing third in the 1500 meters (4:11.16) while also breaking the school record in the 800 meters. Elliott added a fourth-place finish in the 800 (2:01.83), with LeNeve finishing sixth.
Field Events Fuel the Fire
The Scots' success extended into the field, where Lukas Yackley delivered a championship performance in the shot put (14.48m). He also contributed in the javelin while setting personal records across multiple throwing events.
Sky Pleasant added another victory in the discus (44.35m) and placed second in the shot put, while Cameron Robinson and Ashton Camp contributed key points with strong finishes and personal bests.
In the jumps, Austin Umberger secured third in the high jump (1.87m) and added another podium finish in the long jump. Jacob Faulkner cleared 4.15m in the pole vault to earn second place and set a new school record.
Total Team Effort
Maryville's championship was not defined by one event group—it was built on contributions across the roster.
The 4x100 relay team placed second (42.27), while the 4x400 relay squad of Elliott, LeNeve, Darion Lister, and McLean set a school record, showcasing the team's depth and versatility.
Additional highlights included:
Lawson emphasized that the title was a true team accomplishment.
"We may not have the biggest roster, but every athlete played a role," Lawson said. "That's what I'm most proud of—seeing each individual step up, perform under pressure, and contribute to something bigger than themselves."
A Program on the Rise
Lawson described his coaching philosophy as similar to leading a musical ensemble—one where the athletes take center stage.
"As coaches, we're like conductors," he said. "The athletes are the ones making the music. Our job is to help bring it all together so it's something special—and this weekend, they created something incredible."
"This season has been one of tremendous growth for the entire program," Assistant Coach Carringer-Adams said. "On the men's side 14 school records and 16 podium finishes at conference this season with previous conference bests were 3rd place and 143 points. This year earned 1st as a team with 200.5 points!"
"With the combination of a great recruiting class, continued growth of our upperclassmen, and a growing roster size, the program was able to take large leaps this year and ended in a great way to pay tribute for the athletes hard work!"
Assistant Coach Sam Greenspan said:Â
"It's the perfect ending to an amazing season. The hard work and hours of preparation and dedication by all Scots Track & Field athletes lead to this amazing accomplishment. I couldn't be more proud of this group."
What's Next
The Scots will take a brief pause before turning their focus toward the postseason, with eyes set on national qualification.
Maryville returns to action at the Centre Last Chance and Multis on May 8 in Danville, Kentucky, as the program looks to build on its historic breakthrough.
"We're going to enjoy this," Lawson said, "but we're not done yet. The goal now is to keep improving and get as many athletes as we can to the national stage."
