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≡ NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Day two of the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, was devoted to women’s events, but it was a qualifying race that took the first headline!
Adajeah Hodge (IVB-Georgia), the NCAA Indoor 200 m champion, started well in the first heat of the 100 m, then accelerated away from the field and crossed in a stunning 10.63 (wind: +1.9), the world leader in 2026, a national record and now the fifth-fastest in history!
Hodge crushed the collegiate record of 10.75 by Sha’Carri Richardson in 2019; LSU soph Shawnti Jackson was second in a lifetime best of 10.88, then USC’s Brianna Selby (10.94). Now a Georgia frosh, Hodge tested positive for a metabolic modulator at the 2024 World Athletics U-20 Championships, but it was ruled unintentional and the usual two-year suspension was reduced by seven months for her assistance in doping investigations. She became eligible at Georgia in late January.
Florida senior Gabrielle Mathews won heat two in 11.02 (+0.6) and Florida State’s Shenese Walker (JAM) took heat three in 10.94 (+0.3).
In the 200 m, defending champion Jameesia Ford (South Carolina) pulled up after 100 m in the first heat of the 200 m heats, grabbing the back of her left leg, and did not advance. Howard’s Yahnari Lyons won in 22.36, Camryn Dickson (Texas A&M: 22.22) took heat two, and then Hodge came on over the straight and eased home in heat three in 21.96 (+1.7).
In the scoring finals, the women’s 10,000 m was another showdown between BYU super-frosh Jane Hedengren, the NCAA Indoor 3,000 and 5,000 m champ and world leader, and defending champion Pamela Kosgei (KEN-Mexico). They were 1-2 with 10 laps to go, and were 1-2 at the bell. Kosgei sprinted to the lead with 200 m to go, then was Iowa State’s Mercyline Kirwa (KEN) shot into the lead on the turn and won easily in a stunner in 31:54.88! Kosgei was second in 31:56.49 and Hedengren was third in 31:57.94.
In the vault, the key height was 4.64 m (15-2 3/4), with defending champion Hana Moll (Washington) and twin sister Amanda Moll – the 2025 NCAA Indoor winner – clearing on their first tries. South Dakota soph Anna Willis cleared on her first to get a lifetime best and Ashley Callahan (Louisville) cleared on her second. Both Willis and Callahan missed at 4.69 m (15-4 1.2) while the Molls passed. At 4.74 m (15-6) both Molls cleared, with Amanda over on her first and Hana on her second. The bar went to a collegiate record of 4.84 m (15-10 1/2) and Amanda cleared on her third try to take the record from her sister (4.83 m/15-10 in May).
Hana missed her three tries and took second; Amanda tried twice at 4.92 m (16-1 3/4) and then retired, now no. 2 in the world for 2026.
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World leader Alyssa Jones (Stanford) took control of the long jump in the first round, reaching 7.06 m (23-2) and taking the meet record! She backed that up with a 7.02 m (23-0 1/2) in round five to underline her dominance. Clemson senior Shantae Foreman was second from the second round at 6.69 m (21-11 1/2) and stayed there.
National leader Axelina Johansson (SWE-Nebraska) took the lead in the shot in round one at 19.92 m (65-4 1/4), a meet record. Well behind in second was USC soph Ashley Erasmus at 18.14 m (59-6 1/4).
The 2024 hammer champion, Texas State junior Elisabet Rut Runarsdottir (ISL) returned for a second trophy, taking the lead in the third round at 73.19 m (240-1) to edge national leader Annie Nabwe (LBR-Minnesota), who reached 73.15 m (240-0) on her final toss.
Kenyan Irene Jepkemboi (TCU) was third in the javelin in 2025, but took charge in 2026 with her second throw of 59.91 m (196-6). That led through five rounds, but in the sixth, Rice’s McKyla van der Westhuizen (RSA) reached 60.87 m (199-8) and that ended up being the winner. National leader Evelyn Bliss (Bucknell) moved up to second at 60.28 m (197-9). Jepkemboi imrpoved to 60.16 m (197-4), but had to settle for third.
There was one men’s final, the final day of the decathlon, with Louisville soph Kenneth Byrd leading after nine events at 7,491, finishing second in the high jump and winning the vault. He was 50 points up on BYU’s Ben Barton with the 1,500 m to go, and Barton surged in the final straight to finish in 4:32.61 for 8,169 points. Byrd finished in 4:41.73 and had to settle for second at 8,160.
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In the qualifying races, USC ran a sizzling 41.96 in the 4×100 m relay with Dajaz Defrand, Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Madison Whyte and Brianna Selby, the no. 4 performance in collegiate history and now the no. 2 school behind Texas. Georgia was second in the same heat two in 42.00, the equal-fifth performance and now the no. 3 school. LSU won heat one in 42.38, the next fastest.
National leader Dejanea Oakley (JAM-Georgia) won the 400 m first heat in 49.93, then USC star Whyte took the second heat in 50.73 and Sydney Segala (Boston College) came on late to win heat three in 50.31. In the 800 m, national leader Sanu Jallow (GAM-Arkansas) broke away from the pack in the final 200 m to win heat three in 1:58.89, the fastest qualifier. Hayley Kitching (AUS-Penn State) won heat one in 1:59.46) and Kansas’ Emmaculate Jemutai (KEN) came from well back to win heat two in 1:59.62.
The women’s 1,500 m heats were won by Rosemary Langisa (KEN-Washington State) in 4:06.41 and Hayley Bruns (Northern Arizona: 4:09.48). The Steeple qualifying was led by Virginia Tech frosh Jule Lindner (GER) in 9:44.43 in heat one, and Cynthia Jemutai (KEN-Alabama) in 9:38.49.
The 100 m hurdles qualifying saw Kentucky’s Emmi Scales (12.72) win heat one, then defending champ Aaliyah McCormick (Oregon: 12.58) in heat two and Southern junior Tashina Alase in heat three in 12.90. The 2025 runner-up, South Carolina’s Akala Garrett dominated heat two and won in 54.59, fastest of the day. Heat one was won by Amelliah Birdow (Texas) in 55.63 and heat three went to Arkansas’ Saira Prince with a lifetime best of 55.13.
The 4×400 m heats saw Duke won heat one in 3:25.14, then Georgia take heat two in 3:24.29 and Arkansas took heat three with Jallow on anchor, in 3:21.90, the third-fastest time in collegiate history!
The meet continues Friday with the men’s finals.
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