DENTON, Texas – Wichita State jumped to the top of the men’s standings and Rice maintained its women’s lead following day two of the 2026 American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday at the Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium at North Texas.
Wichita State paced the men’s standings after two days of events with 66 points following the first seven scored finals, with North Texas and Rice tied in second place with 50 points each. Rice scored 54 points on the women’s side over eight scored events to remain ahead of second place UTSA and its 52 points and third place Charlotte and its 45 points.
The winner of the women’s heptathlon was Rice’s Alice Taylor, who closed with a strong performance in the 800-meter run to capture the event win with 5,712 points. Teammate Julia Johannesdottir placed second with 5,617 points, followed by a third teammate in Laura Duckhorn claiming third place with 5,485 points.
The men’s decathlon saw a title defense from Wichita State’s Rikard Throgen-Hedin, as Throgen-Hedin went back-to-back as the event champion after scoring 7,377 points. UTSA’s Finn O’Neil was the runner-up with 7,291 points and his teammate Ryan Heeren placed third with 7,224 points.
Memphis’ Jazmyn James denied UTSA’s Nyaluet Diew’s title defense bid in the women’s shot put, as James ripped off a final round throw of 16.54m (54-3.25) to vault past Diew’s six throw of 16.15m (53-0). Chin-Loy Raymond from Charlotte finished in third place with a third round 15.66m (51-4.50).
UTSA’s Ida Breigan completed a successful repeat performance in the women’s long jump, jumping 6.58m (21-7.25) in the fifth round to capture a second straight American championship in the event. Teammate Nyariek Kur was the event runner-up with a final round 6.18m (20-3.50) and Wichita State’s Jelese Alexander finished third with a final jump of 6.17m (20-3.0).
Olu Williams captured the first men’s shot put championship in the conference for North Texas, recording a personal best throw of 18.69m (61-4.0) to take home the league title. The Charlotte duo of Junior Payton-Kimble (18.05m, 59-2.75) and Jahnaul Ritzie (17.87m, 58-7.50).
Ella Dolce from South Florida led a crowded field in the women’s pole vault and took the conference title in a jump off after clearing 3.99m (13-1.0) for the second time. Charlotte’s Rachel Venter was the runner-up and Wichita State’s Shellamae Farmer was third after all three competitors successfully cleared 3.99m.
Josh Parrish from Wichita State captured the men’s long jump with a personal best attempt in round three of 8.02m (26-3.75). The North Texas duo of Derrick Warren (7.90m, 25-11.0) and Anthony Ward (7.80m, 25-7.25) joined Parrish on the podium.
Tulsa’s Sara Morefield repeated as the champion in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase, establishing a facility record with a time of 10:15.64 to become the third student-athlete to defend the event title in meet history. Teammate Kathryn Koonts ran a personal best of 10:18.66 to finish in second place and Tulane’s Petra Dos Santos secured third place with 10:34.42.
The final medals of day two on the track were handed out in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase, where Tulane’s Silas Kiptanui defended his conference championship with a time of 8:57.46. Tulsa’s Luke Birdseye was the runner-up with a time of 9:03.10 and Rice’s Andrew Murray was third with a time of 9:08.54.
Conference leader Julia Johannesdottir from Rice earned the top seed in the women’s 100-meter hurdles prelims, clocking a time of 13.15. Also advancing to the final was East Carolina’s Kailey Elliott (13.21), South Florida’s Doris Quainoo (13.26), UTSA’s Selma Ims (13.30), Memphis’ Gizel Clayton (13.36), East Carolina’s Aaliyah Brown-Muhammad (13.41), North Texas’ Reah Degraffenried (13.53) and South Florida’s Gianna Hansen (13.60).
Defending champion Josh Parrish from Wichita State will be the top seed in his repeat bid in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a prelim showing of 13.29. Rounding out the field in the final will be North Texas’ Hendrick Hundl (13.39), Charlotte’s JT Allen (13.62), South Florida’s Kahiem Carby (13.72), Rice’s Christian Edgar (13.72), and the Wichita State trio of Jabari Armstrong (13.75), Tyler Carroll (13.77) and Luke Holthusen (13.91).
Jasmine Stiede from Wichita State locked down the top spot in the women’s 800-meter run preliminary heats, clocking a personal best of 2:09.48. Joining Stiede in Saturday’s final will be Charlotte’s River Mead (2:10.82), Rice’s Cullen Merrell (2:11.17), South Florida’s Mercy Angaamchaab (2:12.01), Tulsa’s Hannah Taylor (2:12.18), Tulane’s Jasper Newton (2:12.37), Florida Atlantic’s Teegan Anderson (2:12.57) and Tulsa’s Grace MacDonald (2:12.94).
A South Florida duo took the top two slots in men’s 800-meter qualifying, as Karim Belmahdi registered the number one time in 1:49.16. Teammate Nicholas Dovalovsky was second through qualifying with a 1:50.60. North Texas’ Chase Lehr (1:50.83), East Carolina’s Jordan Good (1:50.96), Charlotte’s Andrew Mallo (1:51.35), Tulsa’s Joseph Snyder (1:51.49), and Charlotte’s Ian Mas (1:51.59) and Muhammad Maddon (1:51.61) were all finals bound.
Three Rice Owls captured the top qualifying times in the women’s 400-meters, with Barbora Malikova leading the way with a time of 53.43. Aranya Mickles set a personal best with 53.70 and Riana Green posted a time of 53.93. Joining the Rice contingent in the final will be Charlotte’s Noel Evans (54.05), North Texas’ Aariyana Williams (54.22), South Florida’s Skyler Watts (54.32), North Texas’ Kendahl Tucker (54.42) and UTSA’s Shadae Findley (54.86).
South Florida’s Kelsey Singleton was the latest member of the Bulls to post a top time in the men’s 400-meters, leading the qualifying heats in 46.30. Other finalists will be Charlotte’s Michael Rice Jr. (46.34), Tulsa’s Evan Sanni-Thomas (46.48), North Texas’ Jamari Harts (46.51), UTSA’s Martin Kouyoumdjian (46.653), South Florida’s Markel Jones (46.655), North Texas’ Chris Johnson (47.13) and South Florida’s Nathan Metelus (47.72).
East Carolina’s Kelly Ufodiama continued her stellar season with another top-flight showing in the women’s 100-meter dash prelims. Ufodiama’s 11.20 led all competitors in the prelim heats. North Texas’ C’Nai Childress (11.32), Memphis’ Kaseiana Meriweather (11.32), Rice’s Saniya Friendly (11.34), East Carolina’s Daisha Shular (11.44), Memphis’ Rickaiya Whitman (11.48), Charlotte’s Nia Grose (11.49) and North Texas’ Trezeguet Taylor (11.50) also are headed to the final.
A fast men’s 100-meter prelim segment saw East Carolina’s Tyson Tippett edge out South Florida’s Jaleel Croal with a 10.133 versus a 10.137 for Saturday’s top finals seed. Other finalist times were posted by Wichita State’s Chairo Ogbebor (10.21), South Florida’s Cayden Broadnax (10.22), Wichita State’s Jason Parrish (10.23), and the East Carolina trio of Ja'Darien Parker (10.24), Jace Coleman (10.36) and Rashun Fountain (10.37).
The final day of the 2026 American Track & Field Championships will begin at 1:30 p.m. CT with women’s discus. ESPN+ coverage will resume at 4:15 p.m. CT.
2026 American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Men’s Teams Scores (Through Day 2)
- Wichita State, 66
- North Texas, 50
Rice, 50
- Tulsa, 28
- Charlotte, 25
- Tulane, 20
- UTSA, 19
- East Carolina, 6
Memphis, 6
- South Florida, 3
Women’s Teams Scores (Through Day 2)
1. Rice, 54
2. UTSA, 52
3. Charlotte, 45
4. Wichita State, 33.5
5. Tulane, 30
6. Memphis, 27
7. South Florida, 22
8. Tulsa, 19
9. North Texas, 17
10. East Carolina, 4
11. Temple, 3.5
12. Florida Atlantic, 3
13. UAB, 2
THURSDAY, MAY 14
Field Events
11:00 a.m. Women Hammer – Lauralyn Clifford, UTSA – 60.72m (199-2.0)
1:30 p.m. Men Hammer – Jason Patrick, North Texas – 66.05m (216-8.0)
3:00 p.m. Women Javelin – McKyla Van Der Westhuizen, Rice – 57.34m (188-1.0)
5:30 p.m. Men Javelin – Ty Hampton, Rice – 74.26m (243-7.0)
Decathlon
11:00 a.m. 100m Dash – Alex Mannel, Rice – 10.63
11:40 p.m. (est.) Long Jump – Luke Ivy, Rice/Ryan Heeren, UTSA – 7.24m (23-9.0)
12:40 p.m. (est.) Shot Put – Rikard Throgen-Hedin, Wichita State – 14.48m (47-6.25)
1:40 p.m. (est.) High Jump – Cole Smither, Wichita State – 2.05m (6-8.75)
3:40 p.m. (est.) 400m Dash – Ryan Heeren, UTSA – 50.51
Heptathlon
10:30 a.m. 100m Hurdles – Julia Johannesdottir, Rice – 13.27
11:15 a.m. (est.) High Jump – Alice Taylor, Rice – 1.85m (6-0.75)
1:45 p.m. (est.) Shot Put – Sofie Groeninger, Tulane – 14.20m (46-7.25)
3:00 p.m. (est.) 200m Dash – Sasha Gregory, Charlotte – 24.05
Track Events
6:30 p.m. Women 1500m Run Trials
6:45 p.m. Men 1500m Run Trials
7:00 p.m. Women 200m Dash Trials
7:15 p.m. Men 200m Dash Trials
7:30 p.m. Women 400m Hurdles Trials
7:40 p.m. Men 400m Hurdles Trials
7:50 p.m. Women 10000m Run Final – Lucy Ndungu, Wichita State – 34:45.25
8:35 p.m. Men 10000m Run Final – Elkana Kipruto, Wichita State – 29:44.15
FRIDAY, MAY 15
Field Events
1:30 p.m. - Women's Shot Put – Jazmyn Smith, Memphis – 16.54m (54-3.25)
2:00 p.m. - Women's Long Jump – Ida Breigan, UTSA – 6.58m (21-7.25)
3:30 p.m. - Men's Shot Put – Olu Williams, North Texas – 18.69m (61-4.0)
4:30 p.m. - Women's Pole Vault – Ella Dolce, South Florida – 3.99m (13-1.0)
5:00 p.m. - Men's Long Jump – Josh Parrish, Wichita State – 8.02m (26-3.75)
DECATHLON
10:00 a.m. 110m Hurdles - Alex Mannel, Rice – 14.88
10:45 a.m. (est.) Discus - Rikard Throgen-Hedin, Wichita State – 53.29m (174-10.0)
12:00 p.m. (est.) Pole Vault – Rikard Throgen-Hedin, Wichita State – 4.60m (15-1.0)
3:00 p.m. (est.) Javelin – Finn O'Neill, UTSA – 51.84m (170-01)
4:00 p.m. (est.) 1500m Run - Finn O'Neill, UTSA – 4:35.90
HEPTATHLON
11:00 a.m. Long Jump – Sasha Gregory, Charlotte – 6.01m (19-8.75)
12:15 p.m. (est.) Javelin – Laura Duckhorn, Rice – 43.81m (143-8.0)
1:30 p.m. (est.) 800m Run – Sasha Gregory, Charlotte – 2:15.62
Track Events
5:25 p.m. Women 100m Hurdles Trials
5:45 p.m. Men 110m Hurdles Trials
6:00 p.m. Women 800m Run Trials
6:15 p.m. Men 800m Run Trials
6:30 p.m. Women 400m Dash Trials
6:45 p.m. Men 400m Dash Trials
7:00 p.m. Women 100m Dash Trials
7:15 p.m. Men 100m Dash Trials
7:30 p.m. Women 3000m Steeplechase Final – Sara Morefield, Tulsa – 10:15.64
7:45 p.m. Men 3000m Steeplechase Final – Silas Kiptanui, Tulane – 8:57.46
SATURDAY, MAY 16
Field Events
1:30 p.m. - Women's Discus
2:30 p.m. - Men's High Jump
2:30 p.m. - Women's Triple Jump
3:30 p.m. - Men's Pole Vault
3:30 p.m. - Men's Discus
4:30 p.m. - Women's High Jump
4:30 p.m. - Men's Triple Jump
Track Events
4:30 p.m. Women 400m Relay Final
4:40 p.m. Men 400m Relay Final
4:50 p.m. Women 1500m Run Final
5:00 p.m. Men 1500m Run Final
5:10 p.m. Women 100m Hurdles Final
5:20 p.m. Men 110m Hurdles Final
5:30 p.m. Women 400m Dash Final
5:35 p.m. Men 400m Dash Final
5:45 p.m. Women 100m Dash Final
5:50 p.m. Men 100m Dash Final
6:00 p.m. Women 800m Run Final
6:05 p.m. Men 800m Run Final
6:15 p.m. Women 400m Hurdles Final
6:20 p.m. Mne 400m Hurdles Final
6:30 p.m. Women 200m Dash Final
6:35 p.m. Men 200m Dash Final
6:45 p.m. Women 5000m Run Final
7:10 p.m. Men 5000m Run Final
7:35 p.m. Women 1600m Relay Final
7:45 p.m. Men 1600m Relay Final