BETHANY, W.Va. - The Bethany College track and field team led by second-year head coach Jordan Johnson is set for another record-setting season in 2025-26.
Coach Johnson enters his second year as head coach of the Bison men's and women's track and field teams, and returns 16 letterwinners including one national qualifier, one U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region selection, and four Academic All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honorees from last year's squad.
On the men's side, the Bison will be led by junior sprinter Caliyph McClinton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Neighborhood Academy). McClinton comes off a PAC Championship after taking home the gold in the 200-meter dash in the 2025 Outdoor PAC Championships. His performance earned him a spot in the NCAA Division III Track and Field Outdoor Championships where he finished 17th overall. However, going into 2025-26, McClinton hopes to build on his second-place finish in the 60-meter dash and his third-place finish in the 200-meter dash from last year's indoor season.
"I'm feeling really good going into the indoor season," says McClinton. "Being able to train every day with this team and our coaches has been a blessing. Feels like we're building something special this year."
Junior distance runner Mary Tracey (Clarksburg, W.Va./Liberty) will also return as a veteran presence to lead the Green and White in 2025-26. Also, a member of the Bison cross country team, Tracey is gearing up for another big season after competing in the mile and 3000-meter run during the indoor season, and the 1500-meter and 5000-meter outdoor long-distance events on her way to an Academic All-PAC selection.
"I am really excited for indoor this season," says Tracey. "I feel so much better coming into this season than last year. I'm hoping to get a few PRs."
Leading the field events for Bethany this year will be seniors Makenna Philson (Greenville, Pa.) and Ohio Valley native Koda Moore (Proctor, W.Va./John Marshall). Philson will be the team's leading returner as she finished ninth in the weight throw and 11th in the shotput at last year's PAC Indoor Championships. Moore returns for one more season after finishing within the Top 20 in both the weight throw and the men's shotput at the PAC Championships. He will continue to be the team's vocal leader this season.
The Bison have even more experience in throwers Jalen Britton (Fort Lee, Va./Prince George) and Amelia Ferguson (Bakersfield, Calif./Highland). Britton placed in the PAC's Top 5 in the discus throw last season while Ferguson also cracked the Top 20 in the weight throw.
Also returning for the men's track team are sprinters Daryes'e Fleming (Joppa, Md./Joppatowne) and Shavel Lesley (Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling), as well as long jumper Dave Rene (Boynton Beach, Fla.).
On the women's side, Madison Donelson (Lanham, Md./Annapolis Christian) and Cierra Toland (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) all have plenty of experience to lead the Green and White on their quest for a PAC title.
"I'm genuinely grateful for this group," says Coach Johnson. "We've brought in a talented class, but what stands out most is how connected they've already become. Watching their growth every day has been a blessing, and it's pushed me to be more present as a coach. This team is special, and I'm just excited to support them and see all their hard work come to life this season."
The Bison open the 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, December 6 as they travel to Springfield, Ohio to compete in the Wittenberg Tiger Opener hosted by Wittenberg (Ohio) University at 11 a.m.
