DENTON, Texas – The American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held for the first time at the Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium on the campus of North Texas in Denton.

The 2026 American championships are scheduled for May 14-16, with live coverage on ESPN+ featuring Noah Frary, Bryan Fetzer and Maria Trivelpiece on the call. It is the third time in meet history that the American Outdoor Track & Field Championships return to the state of Texas, after being previously held in Houston in 2017 and San Antonio in 2024.

South Florida is chasing a third straight men’s team championship after capturing the 2024 and 2025 American titles. The Bulls are looking to join Houston (2016-21) as the only program to win three or more men’s team outdoor championships in conference history.

Charlotte will also be in search of a third consecutive title on the women’s side, defending its conference championship in 2025 on home turf at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center. The 49ers are one of four women’s outdoor programs to ever repeat as American champions (SMU, 2014-15; Cincinnati 2016-17; UCF 2022-23) and are attempting to become the first three-time meet winner on the women’s side.

American men’s athletes were prominently featured among the top 25 performers in the most recent NCAA Division I men’s track & field performance list. South Florida’s Jaleel Croal was tied for 12th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.07, and teammate Kelsey Singleton led the way for the American in the 400-meter dash by checking in with a time of 45.43 to share 21st place nationally.

Elkana Kipruto from Wichita State owned the top two men’s distance times in the American, posting the number 23 time (28:09.21) in the 10000-meter run. Tulane’s Silas Kiptanui was solo fifth in the NCAA in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a top performance of 8:25.16.

Wichita State’s Josh Parrish ranked 15th nationally in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.46. Hendrick Hundl from North Texas shared the 25th position in the event with a time of 13.60. Jason Parrish from Wichita State owned the top conference time in the men’s 400-meter hurdles in 23rd with a time of 50.22.

South Florida’s 4x100-meter relay lineup of Shomari Pettigrew, Croal, Alexavier Monfries and Nathan Metelus registered the 19th fastest showing in the country with a prelim time of 38.97 earlier this season.

Josh Parrish from Wichita State added a second top-25 national mark in the men’s long jump by registering the 17th best jump in the country (7.85m, 25-9.25) during the regular season. UTSA’s Jemuel Miller checked in atop the conference triple jump standings with a top showing of 16.25m (53-3.75) to rank 12th in the NCAA.

North Texas’ Olu Williams reached the 24th spot in the men’s discus national standings with a top attempt of 58.68m (192-6.0). The Rice duo of Jack Greaves and Ty Hampton were among the top NCAA performers in the men’s javelin, with Greaves 12th with a top throw of 74.22m (243-6.0) and Hampton 13th following a 74.19m (243-5.0) effort.

In the women’s national top 25, East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama owned the fastest women’s 200-meter dash in the American during the regular season and ranked eighth in the NCAA with a time of 23.53. Sara Morefield from Tulsa posted the best showing in the conference in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase, clocking a time of 10:00.34 to rank 20th.

Rice’s Julia Johannesdottir has twice turned in top-25 women’s 100-meter hurdles showings during 2026, most recently lowering her top time to 20th in the country in 13.02. East Carolina’s Kailey Elliott was just behind Johannesdottir ranked 21st nationally in the 100 hurdles with a 13.03.

Josie Taylor from Rice was tied for the sixth position in DI in the women’s high jump with a top clearance of 1.87m (6-1.5). Wichita State’s Jelese Alexander was included in a large group of high jumpers tied for 14th nationally with a mark of 1.83m (6-0).

Ida Breigan from UTSA held third place individually in the women’s long jump thanks to an effort of 6.71m (22-0.25). Wichita State’s Alexander was just outside of the top 25 thanks to a top jump of 6.37m (20-10.75).

UTSA’s Daisy Monie was tied for 24th in the women’s shot put with a top throw of 16.71m (54-10.0) earlier this season. Charlotte’s Sarah Pullium climbed up to solo 25th in the women’s discus earlier this month with a 55.81m (183-1.0) top mark, adding to Pullium’s 19th ranked women’s hammer throw PR of 64.77m (212-6.0). Rice’s McKyla Van Der Westhuizen has remained second in the nation in the women’s javelin with a top throw of 59.06m (193-9.0).