COLUMBUS, Miss. – Four members of The W track and field programs – two men and two women – have been selected to the 2026 NCAA Division III All-South Region Team, it was announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The quartet of Owls includes: Noel Kellum (Puckett, Miss.), Malachi Morgan (Decatur, Ala.), Arie'Onna McCollum (Winfield, Ala.), and Ariella Jones (Winona, Miss.).

"I'm very proud of this young group of athletes," MUW Head Coach Dedrick Burnett said. "Three of the four athletes are just freshmen or sophomores. These honors say a lot about our program as we continue to build it up in the right direction. In the future, we hope to get more athletes to make this list and possibly qualify for the national championship meet."

Kellum, a sophomore "Swiss Army Knife"-type athlete for Burnett, was recognized for the grueling Decathlon. Kellum ranked seventh in the region with 4,781 points amassed at the University of Montevallo on March 13-14, 2026.

Morgan, a freshman, tied for the third-highest mark in the high jump, clearing 2.05 meters. Morgan hit his top effort at the Mississippi College Opener on March 7.

On the women's side, the junior McCollum posted the No. 8-best distance in the javelin. McCollum uncorked a throw of 35.96 meters on March 21 at the Belhaven Invitational.

Freshman Ariella Jones was fifth in the South Region for women's long jump, going 5.66 meters at Mississippi State on March 27. 

All four of the all-region worthy marks are also MUW school records, as well.

The top-8 individuals in each event from each region on the year-end Athletic.net Descending Order Lists earned USTFCCCA All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region's top-8 relay teams. The regions used for this award – Great Lakes, Metro, Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Midwest, Niagara, North, Northeast, South, and West – match those used during the cross country season.