BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships return to the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, Feb. 27–28. The 2026 championship will air live on ESPN+, with Noah Frary and Kelly Burke on the call and Maria Trivelpiece serving as the reporter.
 
AMERICAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO THE BIRMINGHAM CROSSPLEX
The American Indoor Track & Field Championships will return to the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. for a tenth straight championship. The American Indoor Track & Field Championships have been held at the CrossPlex for each season dating back to 2016. It was held in New York in 2014 and 2015, while 2020 was canceled. 2025 NCAA competitors expected in the 2026 American championship field are East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama (women’s 60m - 11^th place; women’s 200m – 8^th place), UTSA’s Ida Breigan (women’s long jump – 10^th place) and Mia Lien (women’s pentathlon – 14^th place).
 
SOUTH FLORIDA MEN; TULANE WOMEN LOOK TO REPEAT
The South Florida men’s team enters the championship seeking a third straight conference title after running away with last season’s championship, scoring 167.5 points. The Bulls were unanimously selected as the preseason favorite in the American Coaches’ Poll.
 
On the women’s side, Tulane captured its first American Indoor Track & Field Championship last season, edging UTSA by two points. The Green Wave were picked to defend their title in the preseason poll, earning eight first-place votes.
 
AMERICAN CONFERENCE RECORDS BROKEN
Two American athletes have already broken conference records this season and will look to improve those marks at the championships.
 
East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama set the American record in the women’s 60 meters at the Rod McCravy Memorial, posting a time of 7.14 seconds to break the previous record set by SMU’s Chelsea Francis in 2020. Ufodiama now owns the fastest times in conference history in both the 60-meter and 200-meter events.
 
In the women’s 400 meters, Rice’s Barbora Malikova broke the American record at the Tyson Invitational, running 51.84 seconds to surpass the mark previously set by UCF’s Latasha Smith in 2022.
 
AMERICAN ATHLETES IN THE NCAA DIVISION I RANKINGS
Numerous American athletes appear among the nation’s best in the latest NCAA Division I indoor performance lists entering conference championship week.
 
On the men’s side, South Florida’s Jaleel Croal ranks 37th nationally in the 60-meter dash after running 6.63 seconds at the Jarvis Scott Invitational. Wichita State’s Chairo Ogbebor sits 49th at 6.65 seconds. In the 200 meters, South Florida’s Nathan Metelus is 22nd nationally at 20.73 seconds, while teammate Shevioe Reid ranks 42nd at 20.87. Reid is also 34th in the 400 meters at 46.15 seconds.
 
Tulane’s Bernard Cheruiyot ranks 37th nationally in the 3,000 meters (7:49.26), while Wichita State’s Elkana Kipruto is 49th in the 5,000 meters (13:37.79). In the 60-meter hurdles, South Florida’s Markel Jones ranks 21st (7.68), with Wichita State’s Josh Parish 26th (7.70). Rice’s Christian Edgar (44th, 7.77) and Charlotte’s JT Allen (50th, 7.78) also sit inside the top 50.
 
UTSA’s Jayden Williams ranks 32nd nationally in the long jump with a leap of 7.65 meters, while South Florida’s Alessandro Cardoso-Williams is 41st at 7.59 meters. UTSA’s Jemuel Miller ranks seventh in the triple jump (16.42m), and Memphis’ Oageng Mdlela is 47th (15.58m). In the weight throw, Rice’s Sultan Bakare ranks 33rd (21.20m) and Cal Abdulky is 34th (21.18m). UTSA’s Janre Jogi (47th, 5,352 points) and Charlotte’s Connor Wetherington (50th, 5,298 points) represent the conference in the heptathlon rankings.
 
On the women’s side, East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama ranks third nationally in the 60 meters (7.14) and seventh in the 200 meters (22.90). Rice’s Barbora Malikova is 11th in the 400 meters (51.84). East Carolina’s Kailey Elliott ranks 25th in the 60-meter hurdles (8.16), while Rice’s Julia Johannesdottir and South Florida’s Doris Quainoo are tied for 44th at 8.25 seconds.
 
In field events, UTSA teammates Edlin Laur (29th, 1.81m) and Mia Lien (38th, 1.80m) rank in the high jump, along with North Texas’ Alliyah McNeil, who is tied for 38th. UTSA’s Ida Breigan ranks 18th nationally in the long jump (6.41m), while McNeil is 47th (6.22m). Rice’s Savannah Simms ranks 29th in the triple jump (13.08m), followed by East Carolina’s Faith Spencer (40th, 12.96m) and Temple’s Inara Shell (44th, 12.87m).
 
In the shot put, Memphis’ Jazmyn James ranks 43rd nationally (16.04m), while teammate Poorna Raorane is 48th (15.85m). Charlotte’s Sasha Gregory ranks 30th in the pentathlon with 3,963 points.
 
2026 American Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Schedule
Friday, February 27

Women's Pentathlon

9:00 a.m. W-Pentathlon 60m Hurdles 
9:45 a.m. W-Pentathlon High Jump 
11:30 a.m. W-Pentathlon Shot Put
12:45 p.m. W-Pentathlon Long Jump
2:00 p.m. W-Pentathlon 800m Run

Men's Heptathlon

11:30 a.m. M-Heptathlon 60m Dash
12:15 p.m. M-Heptathlon Long Jump
1:30 p.m. M-Heptathlon Shot Put
3:50 p.m. M-Heptathlon High Jump

Field Events

12:00 p.m. Men's High Jump
12:30 p.m. Men's Pole Vault
2:00 p.m. Women's Long Jump
2:15 p.m. Men's Weight Throw
3:30 p.m. Women's Pole Vault 
4:00 p.m. Men's Long Jump
4:15 p.. Women's Weight Throw

Track Events

1:05 p.m. Mile Run - Women's Trials
1:20 p.m. Mile Run - Men's Trials
1:35 p.m. 400m Dash - Women's Trials
1:50 p.m. 400m Dash - Men's Trials
2:15 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Women's Trials
2:25 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Men's Trials
2:35 p.m. 60m Dash - Women's Trials
2:45 p.m. 60m Dash - Men's Trials
3:00 p.m. 800m Dash - Women's Trials
3:15 p.m. 800m Dash - Men's Trials
3:30 p.m. 200m Dash - Women's Trials
3:45 p.m. 200m Dash - Men's Trials 
4:00 pm. - 5,000m Run Unseeded - Women's
4:25 p.m. - 5,000m Run Unseeded - Men's
4:45 p.m. 5,000m Run Seeded - Women's FINAL 
5:10 p.m. 5,000m Run Seeded - Men's FINAL 
5:30 p.m. Women's Distance Medley Relay
5:50 p.m. Men's Distance Medley Relay

Saturday, February 28

Men's Heptathlon

9:15 a.m. M-Heptathlon 60m Hurdles
10:15 a.m. M-Heptathlon Pole Vault 
1:50 p.m. M-Heptathlon 1000m Run

Field Events

10:30 a.m. Women's High Jump
10:45 a.m. Men's Shot Put 
11:00 a.m. Women's Triple Jump (pit A)
1:00 p.m. Men's Tripple Jump (pit B)
1:15 p.m. Women's Shot Put

Track Events

12:05 p.m. Mile Run - Women's FINAL
12:15 p.m. Mile Run - Men's FINAL
12:25 p.m. 400m Dash - Women's
12:35 p.m. 400m Dash - Men's
12:45 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Women's FINAL
12:55 p.m. 60m Hurdles - Men's FINAL
1:05 p.m. 60m Dash - Women's FINAL
1:15 p.m. 60m Dash - Men's FINAL
1:25 p.m. 800m Run - Women's FINAL
1:35 p.m. 800m Run - Men's FINAL
1:45 p.m. 200m Dash - Women's 
1:55 p.m. 200m Dash - Men's
2:05 p.m. 3,000m Run Unseeded - Women's
2:35 p.m. 3,000m Run Unseeded - Men's
2:50 p.m. 3,000m Run Seeded - Women's FINAL
3:05 p.m. 3,000m Run Seeded - Men's FINAL
3:15 p.m. 4x400m Relay - Women's FINAL
3:25 p.m. 4x400 Relay - Men's FINAL