DENTON, Texas – The day two leaders remained at the top by the end of the third and final day of competition at the 2026 American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at the Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium at North Texas. Wichita State captured its third American men’s outdoor championship while Rice officially secured its first women’s title outdoors as a conference member.
Women’s discus was the first finals event to finish up on championship Saturday. Charlotte’s Sarah Pullium defended her conference championship with a meet record throw of 55.37m (181-8.0) on her way to earning women’s Most Valuable Performer honors. Memphis’ Jazmyn James was second with a top mark of 54.93m (180-2.0) and Tulane’s Cara Salsberry posted the third best throw with a 51.75m (169-9.0).
Wichita State’s Kaleb Tesmer captured the men’s conference title in the high jump after clearing 2.08m (6-9.75). North Texas’ Marcus Kennedy and Jeremiah Cams joined Tesmer over 2.08m (6-9.75) to round out the podium.
In the men’s discus, Rice’s Juan Marais established a meet record throw by covering 62.55m (205-2.0) to capture first place in the event final. Thomas Hinton from Charlotte covered 60.06m (197-0) for runner-up honors and North Texas’ Olu Williams posted a top throw of 59.95m (196-8.0) to lock down third place.
The East Carolina women’s 4x100 meter relay squad of Daisha Shular, Brianna Clayton, Kailey Elliott and Kelly Ufodiama brought home the first American title for the Pirates in the event with a time of 44.34. Charlotte’s entry of Nia Grose, Jada Lloyd, Ella Escobar and Joyasia E. Smith posted a runner-up time of 44.51, and the South Florida entry of Doris Quainoo, Tristen Evatt, Lynette Scutari and Skyler Watts clocked a time of 45.36 for third place.
In the men’s 4x100 meter relay, South Florida’s lineup of Shomari Pettigrew, Jaleel Croal, Alexavier Monfries and Cayden Broadnax ran a season best time of 38.93 to capture a third straight league title for the Bulls. East Carolina’s Jace Coleman, Ja'Darien Parker, Rashun Fountain and Tyson Tippett ran a 39.01 for second place, and Wichita State’s Josh Parrish, Jason Parrish, Brody Anderson and Chairo Ogbebor registered a third place showing in 39.60.
North Texas’ London Maxwell defended her conference championship in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:25.13. Wichita State’s Vivien Kipkorir finished as the runner-up with a time of 4:27.68 and East Carolina’s Katrina Ford logged a 4:29.55 to round out the podium in third place.
South Florida’s Karim Belmahdi took home the first victory for the Bulls in the men’s 1500-meter run with a time of 3:48.45. Past champion Maddon Muhammad from Charlotte was second in 3:48.84 and teammate Carson Williams placed third with a time of 3:48.85.
Kailey Elliott from East Carolina earned a conference championship in the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.78. South Florida’s Doris Quainoo (13.076) and UTSA Selma Ims (13.079) joined Elliott on the podium.
Wichita State’s Josh Parrish defended the league title in the men’s 110-meter hurdles final with a 13.17 championship time to help secure men’s Most Valuable Performer accolades. North Texas’ Hendrick Hundl was second with a time of 13.38 and Rice’s Christian Edgar brought home third place with a time of 13.55.
In the women’s triple jump, Rice’s Savannah Simms claimed a conference championship with a top attempt of 13.19m (43-3.25). East Carolina’s Faith Spencer and UTSA’s Nyariek Kur joined Simms on the podium with matching jumps of 13.09m (42-11.50).
In the women’s 400-meter dash, Barbora Malikova claimed the first Rice victory in the event with a final time 52.02. Aaryana Williams from North Texas was the second to cross at 52.12 and Riana Green from Rice finished third with a time of 52.89.
Nathan Metelus secured the fourth straight South Florida win in the men’s 400-meter dash with a finals showing of 46.02. Metelus bested teammate and runner-up Kelsey Singleton (46.21) and Tulsa’s Evan Sanni-Thomas (46.42) to capture the title.
Kelly Ufodiama of East Carolina remained unbeaten in individual competition at American Championships events in the women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 11.04. Charlotte’s Nia Grose scored second-place points with a time of 11.12 and Rice’s Saniya Friendly finished third with a time of 11.13.
South Florida’s Jaleel Croal not only defended his men’s 100-meter dash championship but ran what was believed to be the second-fastest recorded 100-meter dash in collegiate history, logging a wind-aided time of 9.75 to lead a blazing final heat. East Carolina’s Ja’Darien Parker (9.83) and Tyson Tippett (9.88) were also on the podium.
Charlotte’s Jonathan Hopkins took home the men’s pole vault with a successful clearance at 5.32m (17-5.50). The South Florida tandem of Nikodem Pochopien cleared 5.22m (17-1.50) and Andreas Kreiss went over 5.12m (16-9.50) to join Hopkins on the podium.
Wichita State’s Jasmine Stiede capped her conference outdoor championships debut with an event win in the women’s 800-meter run, as the women’s Freshman of the Year clocked a time of 2:13.89. Rice’s Cullen Merrell was second with a time of 2:14.32 and South Florida’s Mercy Angaamchaab earned third place in 2:14.54.
Chase Lehr of North Texas reached the winner’s circle in the men’s 800-meter final with a victorious time of 1:52.58. South Florida’s Nicolas Dovalovsky was second with a time of 1:53.36 and Tulsa’s Joseph Snyder was third with a 1:53.67.
Wichita State’s Jelese Alexander was the top performer in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.86m (6-1.25) for a new personal best and a conference title. Rice’s Alice Taylor recorded a runner-up clearance of 1.80m (5-10.75) along with UTSA’s Edlin Laur who placed third.
Memphis’ Judy Elful ran a dominant women’s 400-meter hurdles final to capture the top spot with a 57.36. UTSA’s Selma Ims was the runner-up with a time of 58.40 and Rice’s Sydney Freeman secured third place with a time of 58.97.
Wichita State’s Jason Parrish defended his men’s 400-meter hurdles championship as the only athlete under 50 seconds in the final, clocking a 49.58 to take the victory. North Texas’ Tyler Moore (50.46) and South Florida’s Joshua Crum (50.50) joined Parrish on the medal stand.
Brianna Clayton notched the second straight women’s 200-meter dash championship for East Carolina by way of a victorious 22.90 heat. Charlotte’s Joyasia Smith placed second with a time of 23.15 and North Texas’ Aaryana Williams was third with a time of 23.20.
East Carolina’s Rashaun Fountain prevented a South Florida sprint sweep in the men’s 200-meter dash, with his 19.98 winning time outdueling the 20.05 of Jaleel Croal. East Carolina’s Ja’Darien Parker joined Fountain on the podium in third place with a time of 20.12.
In men’s triple jump, UTSA’s Jemuel Miller reigned supreme thanks to a 16.69m (54-9.25) effort in the third round of the second flight. The Wichita State duo of Kelvin Acheampong (15.46m, 50-8.75) and Asher Buggs-Tipton (15.40m, 50-6.25) joined Miller on the podium.
Kathryn Koonts from Tulsa denied a repeat bid from Tulane’s Blezzin Kimutai in the women’s 5000-meter, establishing a personal best with a time of 16:39.56. Kimutai was second in 16:42.84, and Tulsa’s Sara Morefield placed third with a time of 16:44.82.
In the men’s 5000-meter run, Tulane’s Silas Kiptanui took a second straight finals win in the event for the Green Wave with his time of 14:04.35. Wichita State’s Elkana Kipruto (14:06.52) was the runner-up and Levi Rowan (14:09.11) was the first of five consecutive Tulsa athletes across the line in third place.
UTSA blazed past the field in the women’s 4x400-meter relay, with Selma Ims, Fatoumata Kabo, Shadae Findley and Ida Breigan posting a season best of 3:33.73. The Rice lineup of Riana Green, Arayna Mickles, Sydney Freeman and Barbora Malikova was second with a time of 3:34.06, followed by the North Texas entry of Lailah Hudson, Kendahl Tucker, C'Nai Childress and Aariyana Williams in third place in 3:36.39.
Host North Texas closed the meet with its first American victory in the men’s 4x400-meter relay final. The Mean Green lineup of Clarence McGill, Chase Lehr, Nehemiah Ray and Chris Johnson took the win with a time of 3:05.91. South Florida’s Joshua Crum, Alexavier Monfries, Devontie Archer and Darian Mills finished second with a time of 3:06.28, and East Carolina’s Bryson Miller, Rashun Fountain, Ja'Darien Parker and Jordan Good were third with a time of 3:08.29.
2026 American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Men’s Teams Scores (Final)
- Wichita State, 171.5
- North Texas, 138
- South Florida, 116
- Charlotte, 90.5
- Rice, 82
- Tulsa, 78
- East Carolina, 59
- UTSA, 41
- Tulane, 32
- Memphis, 11
Women’s Teams Scores (Final)
1. Rice, 142
2. UTSA, 106
3. Charlotte, 100
4. East Carolina, 72
4.. North Texas, 72
6. Wichita State, 70
7. South Florida, 66
8. Memphis, 65
9. Tulane, 51
10. Tulsa, 40
11. Florida Atlantic, 15
12. Temple, 14.5
13. UAB, 4
Men’s Most Valuable Performer
Josh Parrish – Wichita State
Women’s Most Valuable Performer
Sarah Pullium – Charlotte
Men’s Freshmen of the Year
Carson Williams – Charlotte
Ryan Heeren - UTSA
Women’s Freshman of the Year
Jasmine Stiede – Wichita State
Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year
Steve Rainbolt – Wichita State
Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year
Jim Bevan - Rice