THIS WAS MEANT TO BE a rematch of last year’s title bout between Ralford Mullings and Mykolas Alekna. That one ended with Mullings delivering a 227-4 (69.31) haymaker in round 6 that the World Record-holder was unable to answer.
Unfortunately, after taking his talents from Cal to Oregon, Alekna suffered a torn pec muscle that has him on the shelf until later this summer.
That left Mullings looking like a lead-pipe cinch going into the ’26 campaign, a mantle that can weigh heavy as Alekna discovered at the ’23 and ’25 NCAA finals where he struggled to come within 20 feet of his PR.
It was likely to Mullings’ benefit when Texas Tanner of Air Force, an amiable young man with a gunfighter’s name traveled to the windy plains of Ramona, Oklahoma, in April and bagged a 228-2 (69.56) PR that knocked Mullings from the No. 2 all-time collegiate spot. Tanner, who has the kind of physique that would make the dudes in the Top Gun beach volleyball scene want to keep their shirts on, had no qualms about sharing top billing going into Eugene, acknowledging that he was “shooting for the number one spot.”
Unfortunately, he misfired on his opener which landed outside the sector and allowed Mullings to assume an early lead with a casual 207-11 (63.39) toss. Tanner responded in round 2, with a 209-2 (63.75) effort that put him on top of the field.
USC’s Vincent Ugwoke (7th here in ’26 while representing South Florida) snatched the lead with a 209-7 (63.89) PR in round 4, before Mullings swiped it back by tossing 215-11 (65.81) later in the frame.
Tanner, clearly feeling the need… the need for speed, could not find the rhythm necessary to jump back in front, and was instead passed by Ugwoke’s teammate Racquil Broderick who delivered his own PR – 210-5 (64.15) in round 6.
That was the final challenge to Mullings, who came away as repeat champion with his steady — if unspectacular — showing, part of what he termed an “up-and-down year.”
“I think,” he said afterward. “My floor is just so much higher that I was able to get the job done.”
That was it for Mullings and Tanner in terms of NCAA eligibility, though both plan to continue throwing, Tanner as part of the military’s WCAP program. He will also compete professionally in the hammer, another event where he sits second on the all time collegiate list.
Oregon, meanwhile, has filed paperwork requesting another year of eligibility for Alekna. Stay tuned.
MEN’S DISCUS RESULTS
FINAL (June 12)
1. Ralford Mullings’ (Ok-Jam) 215-11 (65.81)
(207-11, f, 207-3, 215-11, f, 204-10) (63.39, f, 63.16, 65.81, f, 62.44);
2. *Racquil Broderick’ (USC-Jam) 210-5 (64.15) PR
(198-9, 201-6, 205-5, 207-4, 205-6, 210-5) (60.59, 61.42, 62.63, 63.21, 62.64, 64.15);
3. Vincent Ugwoke’ (USC-Ngr) 209-7 (63.89) PR
(207-11, 205-5, 201-9, 209-7, 201-1, f) (63.37, 62.63, 61.49, 63.89, 61.29, f);
4. Texas Tanner (AF) 209-2 (63.75)
(f, 209-2, 194-4, 201-9, 207-4, 201-8) (f, 63.75, 59.25, 61.50, 63.20, 61.46);
5. Christopher Young’ (Al-Jam) 204-5 (62.30) PR
(198-0, 204-5, 203-4, 202-11, 197-6, f) (60.37, 62.30, 61.99, 61.85, 60.21, f);
6. *Shamar Reid’ (FlSt-Jam) 204-5 (62.30)
(204-5, f, 199-8, 198-9, f, 198-11) (62.30, f, 60.87, 60.58, f, 60.63);
7. Christopher Crawford’ (Al-Tri) 203-3 (61.96) NR
(191-11, 203-3, 194-6, f, f, f) (58.50, 61.96, 59.28, f, f, f);
8. ***Mico Lampinen’ (USC-Fin) 203-0 (61.89) PR
(183-11, 196-6, 203-0, 194-7, f, f) (56.07, 59.91, 61.89, 59.30, f, f);
9. Kevin Grubbs (MsSt) 202-5 (61.71) PR; 10. Christian Hicks (Lib) 197-1 (60.09) PR; 11. **Olu Williams (NTx) 196-6 (59.90); 12. Axel Tirado-Sanchez (IdSt) 194-3 (59.21); 13. ***Jarno Van Daalen’ (Fl-Neth) 193-3 (58.91); 14. Trevor Gunzell’ (Al-Jam) 193-3 (58.90); 15. Seth Allen (Aub) 193-0 (58.83); 16. *Sam Hala’Ufia (Az) 192-4 (58.62) PR; 17. *Aron Alvarez Aranda’ (Tn-SA) 191-6 (58.36); 18. Iosif Papa’ (UMBC-Cyp) 191-2 (58.28); 19. **Cort Gebbers (EnWa) 188-8 (57.52); 20. Kyriaun Davis (CSUN) 187-10 (57.26); 21. **Bryce Ruland (Ia) 187-9 (57.22); 22. ***Ben Smith (Or) 184-3 (56.17); 23. **Kai Twaddle-Dunham (Aub) 182-0 (55.48); 24. **Chad Hendricks’ (LSU-Jam) 181-9 (55.40).
