LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Track and Field program will have two representatives in the NCAA National Championships as J'Da Williams and Dedric Hicks were announced as participants on Tuesday.

The 2026 Outdoor NCAA Nationals Championships will take place on May 21-23 in Emporia, Kansas.

Williams and Hicks advance to the first NCAA Nationals of their respective careers after putting together tremendous individual seasons in 2026.

Williams is one of the top sprinters in the country, shining in the 100m and 200m events. The freshman won the 100m event at the GSC Championships with a time of  11.49 seconds, leading to a GSC Freshman of the Year selection. Williams will compete in the 100m at the NCAA Nationals after registering the seventh fastest time in the country this season. At the Ole Miss Classic in March, Williams set a new PR in the event with a blazing time of 11.34 seconds. That mark was good enough for an NCAA Provisional, leading to the freshman being named as a participant in the NCAA National Championships.

As for Hicks, he is the reigning GSC Shot Put Champion and the senior will compete in that event at the NCAA Nationals. Hicks claimed the GSC Title with a 16.05m but his best mark of the year came at the Falcon Classic in March. At the Falcon Classic, the senior launched a 17.46m throw which stands as his season-best and the 20th best mark in the country. Hicks placed first in four different meets this season and hopes to set a new PR in Emporia, Kansas later this month.