Kyle Landon, NCAA All American High Jumper, will be inducted October 16 on 2026 Saluki Homecoming Weekend
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Tuesday June 30, 2026 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, announced its 2026-2027 Sports Hall of Fame inductee candidates. This year’s class of honorees includes six former Saluki athletes, one of which is former Chester High School athletic standout, Kyle Landon.
Landon, a Saluki Track and Field High Jumper, joins five other distinguished fellow former athletes, including Volleyball player Andrea Estrada, Football player Byron Honore, Basketball player, Kevin Koski, Football player, Dave Smith, and Swimming & Diving standout, Kaixuan “Sherry” Zhang.
Jeff Wilson, SIU Sports Information Director, said, “SIU Athletics will welcome six distinguished former student-athletes into the Saluki Hall of Fame as part of the 2026-27 class, honoring individuals whose accomplishments helped shape the legacy of Saluki Athletics across multiple programs.”
The Saluki Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be Friday October 16, at the Tedrick Welcome Center at SIU. SIU’s 2026 Homecoming weekend is Friday, Saturday and Sunday October 16, 17, and 18.
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony always takes place on Homecoming weekend when the campus is filled with alumni. Besides the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday October 16, the six inductees will take part in Homecoming activities on Saturday October 17.
All six inductees will be featured in the 2026 Homecoming Parade Saturday morning, and at halftime of the 2026 Homecoming Football game. The Salukis host the 2026 NCAA Football Champion Subdivision (FCS) Champions, the Illinois State Redbirds, at Saluki Stadium that afternoon.
Chester’s Kyle Landon is one of the most decorated student-athletes in SIU Track and Field history. Kyle was a 5-time “First Team NCAA All American” in the High Jump. He further earned nine Missouri Valley Conference “High Jump Titles”. Landon was the “Most Outstanding Field Athlete” in the Missouri Valley Conference four times in his career at SIU and he earned the “Most Valuable Athlete” (overall) designation in the conference twice. For his athletic achievements, Kyle earned 13 “All-Missouri Valley” honors.
Besides his outstanding athletic achievements, Landon was a most outstanding student academically. The College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA), which is now called the College Sports Committee, presents student-athletes with high-honor awards for outstanding academic achievements.
The “Academic All-American Program” honors collegiate student-athletes who perform at an elite level, both in the classroom and in their chosen sport. These prestigious awards recognize not only high levels of performance in sports, but academically.
During his collegiate career, Landon earned three such high honors. He earned three “CoSIDA Academic All-American” honors, one in 2015, one in 2016 and the third in 2017. His first was a 3rd Team Award in 2055. His second was a 2nd Team award in 2016, and his third was a 1st Team award in 2017.
Kyle Landon certainly set the bar high, both figuratively and literally, in his athletic and academic career achievements at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. During his collegiate career Kyle Landon earned 13 MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week” awards. He also won the Male Field Athlete of the Week” award 11 times. In addition, Landon was a 3-time winner of the “COSIDA Academic All-District Award” and he was a 5-time winner of the “NCAA West Regional”. In 2017 Landon was “runner-up” (2ndbest in the country) at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in high jump.
Finally, Mr. Landon had a successful Olympic experience. He won a Silver Medal at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon.
On Monday July 18, 2016 the Chester City Council honored Kyle for his 2nd Place finish out of 24 competitors at the Olympic High Jump Trials in Eugene, Oregon. For his efforts, Landon earned a Silver Medal with his jump of 7 feet and 5 inches. He just missed qualifying for the Olympics by one inch!
Mayor Tom Page, at the time, honored Landon at the Council Meeting for his significant achievements and presented him with a Key to the City. Mayor Page said, “We appreciate all that you have done for this city and wish to honor you tonight for your recent accomplishments. This key will not actually open any physical doors in Chester, however it may be a symbol of the key that opens many doors for Kyle in all of his future endeavors”.
Mayor Page then read a formal City of Chester Proclamation honoring Landon’s accomplishments and highlighted how, as a whole, the community benefitted from Kyle’s dignified and proud representation of the entire City of Chester.
Jeff Wilson, SIU Sports Information Director, said, “After earning a Silver Medal at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Kyle solidified his status among the nation’s elite athletes! From record-setters to All Americans, the 2026-27 group of SIU Hall of Fame athletes represents the very best of what it means to be a Saluki, including excellence, toughness, and lasting impact across generations.”
“This next season will be my second year as SIU’s Sports Information Director, and I must say, I have had numerous outstanding experiences in my inaugural season. Most likely my favorite, however, was getting to call our 2026-27 Hall of Fame honorees and inform them of their selection to this outstanding group of athletes”.
Landon graduated from SIU-Carbondale in May of 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He now lives in Carterville, Illinois with Wife, Meagan, and his three sons Karson (8), Kolton (7), a newest addition Cooper (2 months). Landon is a Business Solutions Analyst for Cencora. He is also the “Jumps Coach” for the Marion, Illinois High School Wildcats Track and Field Team.
When asked to comment regarding his being selected for this prestigious honor, Kyle Landon said, “I am honored to receive this recognition. Go Dawgs!”
“There are some chapters in life that never end. They become a part of who you are. Representing the Salukis was one of the greatest honors of my life. Every competition, every practice, every classroom, and every challenge helped me shape into the person I am today!”
“Wearing those colors meant competing with pride, pursuing excellence in academics, and being part of something much bigger than myself. If I could have one more ride with that team, one more chance to represent the Salukis, I’d do it in a heartbeat!”
“Those memories, friendships and lessons are something I’ll carry with me forever! Forever grateful! Forever proud! Once a Saluki, always a Saluki!”
Kyle Landon, former CHS Track and Field star and SIU-Carbondale All-American high jumper, has been selected to be inducted into the 2026-27 SIU Sports Hall of Fame. Landon will be inducted Friday October 16 at the Saluki Induction Ceremony at the Tedrick Center on the Campus of SIU. Photo courtesy of SIU Sports information
Saluki All American high jumper Kyle Landon jumps March 26, 2016, at an early Southern Illinois University Track and Field Meet hosted by the Salukis. Landon won that event in spite of cold, damp conditions. Jim Beers Photo
Kyle Landon celebrates at the MVC Championship Meet hosted at the University of Northern Iowa in spring of 2017. He had just been recognized as the 2017 MVC High Jump Champion. It was just one of many such championships won by Landon during his prestigious career as an NCAA Division I high jumper. Photo courtesy of MVC Sports Information