Ithaca College introduced its newly built track on the morning of Oct. 25, named “Egan Family Track & Field Complex.” The new track was made possible by donations from the Egan family. The athletics department has chosen not to share the amount donated. The Bombers will now be able to host outdoor track meets, something that has not happened since 2016 at the former track around Butterfield Stadium.
Mike Egan ’84 and his wife, Tracy Egan ’84, met at Ithaca College. Mike is an alumni of the men’s track and field program and was a part of the record book team that set the school record in the two-mile relay.
The Egan family’s contributions were the ideaofMike, who, in a speech before the unveiling of the track’s name, explained his inclination for making the facilities possible.
“I had just been reading through the Ithaca alumni book, and I saw a picture of the beautiful football field,”Mike said. “I’m looking there and I said, ‘Where’s the track?’ … ‘What’d they do to our track?’”
Mike got in contact with the school soon after the old track was removed in 2023. After a meeting with President La Jerne Cornish, plans to build a new track were underway.
One of the Egan family’s goals is to provide facilities that simultaneously benefit the track and field program and the entirety of the IC community.
After the new facility’s name was introduced, the ceremony made its way onto the track — colored Bombers blue — for the track’s inaugural races, three 4×400 meter runs, with squads made up of various players from the men’s and women’s track and field teams.
From left, Laine Norton, Aaron Bouyea, Mike Egan and Tracy Egan at the ceremony. (Erin Soltano)
For the players, like women’s senior hurdler Rachel Larson, a new track not only means gaining the comfort of hosting outdoor meets in the spring, but also gaining the ability to polish their outdoor skills in the fall.
“Now, with this new facility, we have the opportunity to train, compete and continue building championship culture right here,” Larson said.
Stargell Williams, men’s track and field head coach, knows how impactful the new track is to those who have waited years for one, despite being in only his second year as head coach.
“I’m just grateful, getting here now and stepping into this,” Williams said.“I like to stay outside in the fall as long as I can. And then when that time comes in the spring, it’ll mean a lot for us to be able to just train right here.”
While Williams is in his second year, Jennifer Potter, women’s track and field head coach, is entering her 23rd season as head coach. The last time Potter’s team hosted a home meet, she was in just her 13th season.
“I’m sure to Coach Potter, it means a lot with her being here longer,” Williams said. “You know, having 10-plus years without a home complex for home meets and then not being able to practice outdoors for a long time.”
Athletic director Aaron Bouyea arrived on South Hill just this year, but can already see how positive of an impact the new facilities have on the athletes.
“When you talk to our track athletes and you see the look on their face, it’s really meaningful to them,” Bouyea said. “It shows that we’re committed to who they are as student-athletes and being competitive.”
Mike recalls many non-student-athletes making use of the old track in his times at IC and wants to be sure that the new track can create a similar connection on campus.
“This is for all of the Ithaca College community,” Bouyea said. “[Track & field athletes] compete and train here, but it’ll be open all day from morning until night for people to access. We’ll likely do community events here too.”
Beyond community bonding, Bouyea envisions the new track serving as a resource for academic research.“Yes, our student-athletes will compete here,” Bouyea said. “But a lot of our health science and [Health Science and Human Performance] students will be out here, working with our student-athletes. … I think it’s going to touch a lot more than just our athletics programs, which is pretty cool.”
All-RRV Volleyball 2025: A golden finish: Trinity Christian Academy’s Pyeatt walks off as state champion and All-RRV Volleyball Co-Offensive Player of the Year | Free
The 118th Millrose Games women’s 3000 meters on Feb. 1, 2026, at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory will feature a showdown between NCAA distance running’s top stars Doris Lemngole and Jane Hedengren, along with 2025 runner-up Josette Andrews.
Lemngole, competing for Alabama, holds the NCAA championship and record in the 3000m steeplechase. The Kenya native won the steeplechase at the Lausanne Diamond League and finished fourth at the World Championships before claiming her second straight NCAA cross country title — her fifth NCAA championship overall. The junior received the 2025 Bowerman Award last week, recognizing her as collegiate track and field’s top athlete.
“I am excited and looking forward to competing at the Millrose Games, especially given its prestige and historic significance,” said Lemngole in a release by the meeting this week.. “It is a great opportunity!”
Read More: Julien Alfred Among Sprinters Confirmed For 2025 Millrose Games
Hedengren broke every American high school distance record from 1500m through 5000m before enrolling at BYU. The freshman went unbeaten in cross country until finishing second to Lemngole at nationals, then shattered the NCAA 5000m record with a 14:44.79 clocking in her indoor debut.
Both runners will chase Katelyn Tuohy’s NCAA 3000m record of 8:35.20, established at the 2023 Millrose Games.
Andrews, from Tenafly, N.J., finished sixth in the 5000m at the 2025 World Championships and has top-five showings at World Indoor Championships and the Diamond League Final.
Several Other 118th Millrose Games Confirmations
The World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet will also feature Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Elle St. Pierre, Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Joe Kovacs, Yared Nuguse, Hobbs Kessler, Cameron Myers, Julien Alfred, Devynne Charlton and Danielle Williams.
Tickets are available at millrosegames.org. More than 85 percent of seats have sold.
DAYTONA BEACH – The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats have officially released their 2026 softball schedule. The schedule includes four in-season tournaments prior to SWAC play along with two separate contests against non-conference foes.
The Wildcats’ season will begin at the USF-Rawlings Classic in Tampa from February 5-7. B-CU will open against Illinois State, followed by matchups with USF, Kansas, Michigan, and Florida.
The Cats’ first game at Sunnyland Park will take place on February 11th against North Dakota State at 5 p.m.
From February 13-15, the Wildcats will be in Leesburg, Florida for THE Spring Games, where they will take on mid-majors LIU, Southern Miss, Loyola Chicago, and St. John’s.
The following weekend, B-CU once again travels to Cathedral City, California for an appearance in the annual Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (Feb. 19-21), squaring off against Utah, Rutgers, Texas Tech, Oregon State, and Long Beach State.
For their fourth and final in-season tournament, the Wildcats head to Madiera Beach, Florida for the Make It Happen Games. The event takes place from February 27 to March 1 and features Bellarmine, UMass, UIC, Bowling Green, and Monmouth.
The Wildcats’ SWAC schedule begins on Friday, March 6th with a two-game road series against Alabama A&M. B-CU will then finish up their non-conference schedule following a road contest against UNF (March 11).
B-CU welcomes Alabama State for a three-game series on March 13th & 14th. The following weekend (March 20-21), they will travel to play Jackson State before heading back to Sunnyland. The Cats host rival Florida A&M for a three-game set on March 27th and 28th.
The Wildcats travel to Itta Bena, Mississippi to take on the Delta Devils on April 3rd & 4th. Their final three series include rematches of previous series against Jackson State, Alabama State, and Alabama A&M. B-CU will host the Tigers (April 10-11) and the Bulldogs (April 24-25), while traveling to face the Hornets (April 17-18).
The Southeastern Athletic Conference tournament will again compete in Gulfport, Mississippi, and takes place from May 5th to May 9th.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Softball on Twitter (@BCUSoftball) and Instagram (@BCUSoftball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.
Penn State landed its second commitment in the transfer portal of the day.
The Nittany Lions earned a commitment from outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein.
Lauenstein was previously at Texas and Nebraska before transferring to her third school, Penn State.
Lauenstein adds depth to the right side and outside, which is already pretty deep for the blue and white.
The Waverly, Nebraska, native had her best season in 2022 with the Cornhuskers, totaling 297 kills, with 2.78 kills per set and a .238 hitting percentage. She added 28 aces as a premier server, which could be a major part of her role with the Nittany Lions.
She’ll make her way to Happy Valley as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility.
MORE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE
Penn State earned another commitment from the transfer portal.
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Texas outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein announced her commitment to Penn State women’s volleyball out of the transfer portal on Wednesday. Lauenstein posted her decision to transfer to Happy Valley on her Instagram.
As a redshirt senior this past season, Lauenstein logged 33 kills, 11 digs, and 14 total blocks across 20 sets for the Longhorns.
Lauenstein began her NCAA journey with two seasons at Nebraska. As a sophomore, she led the Cornhuskers in total points, earning AVCA All-Region Team and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
After the 2022 season, the Waverly, Nebraska, native stepped away from the team to focus on her family. Lauenstein then transferred to Texas in December of 2023, where she spent the last two seasons.
Lauenstein now joins setter Alexis Stucky and middle blocker Ryla Jones as transfer players who have committed to the Nittany Lions this cycle.
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Cadyn is a third-year broadcast journalism major at Penn State. Hailing from the great state of Texas, he is a die hard Dallas sports fan. You’ll often see him voicing his opinions on music and sports on X/Twitter @cgill214.
Marquette volleyball All-American Natalie Ring is transferring to Texas A&M for her final season.
Ring, a third-team All-American, ranked 25th in the nation with 497 kills this past season.
She is the second key player to leave Marquette, following freshman setter Isabela Haggard’s transfer to Baylor.
Marquette has added Ball State’s Carson Tyler, the Mid-American Conference player of the year.
A Marquette volleyball All-American is joining the national champions.
The Golden Eagles’ Natalie Ring announced on social media on Dec. 23 that she will use her final season of NCAA eligibility at Texas A&M.
Ring, a former Madison Edgewood High School standout, was a third-team All-American this season. She ranked 25th in the nation in kills with 497. Ring has 754 kills in her career.
“We are excited to add Natalie to our Aggie family here in Aggieland,” Texas A&M coach Jamie Morrison said in a statement. “She brings a wealth of experience as a well-rounded outside hitter and is a relentless competitor who consistently raised her level against the best competition.”
Ring helped lead the Golden Eagles to the second round of the NCAA tournament under first-year coach Tom Mendoza. MU lost in five sets to host Louisville.
Texas A&M went on a magical run to the national title as a No. 3 seed, beating three of the tournament’s No. 1 seeds, culminating in a sweep of Kentucky in the title game.
Ring is the second key player to leave MU’s team. Freshman setter Isabela Haggard announced a transfer to Baylor after recording 997 assists and 257 digs.
Mendoza has added Ball State’s Carson Tyler, the Mid-American Conference player of the year who will have two seasons of eligibility. She registered 506 kills, which was 18th in the country.
