SAN MARCOS, Texas— Senior high jumper Aiden Hayes earned Sun Belt Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors following his standout performance at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight.

Hayes cleared a season best and conference leading 2.24 meters (7 feet, 4.25 inches) to win the high jump title in Houston, marking the top clearance in the Sun Belt this season by a wide margin. His winning mark surpassed the next best conference height of 2.16 meters.

With the clearance, Hayes moved into a tie for No. 2 in the nation alongside Georgia's Kimani Jack, trailing only Arkansas' Scottie Vines, who has cleared 2.26 meters this season. 

The mark also ranks among the top performances in the NCAA South Central Region and strengthens Hayes' position heading into the postseason.

The honor marks Hayes' first outdoor award of the season and adds to his strong 2025–26 campaign. 

During the indoor season, Hayes captured a share of the Sun Belt title in the high jump with a meet record clearance and went on to earn All America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

A consistent national contender, Hayes continues to build momentum in his final outdoor campaign after finishing tied for second at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships alongside fellow Bobcat Kaison O'Riley. 

He has now recorded multiple clearances over 2.20 meters this season and remains one of the top high jumpers in the country.

Texas State will continue its outdoor season this week in Austin as the Bobcats prepare for the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships, where Hayes will look to defend his position among the league's elite and push toward another national championship appearance.

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