Beyond the throwing circle, ASU discus standout Ines Lopez Arias plays a leadership role for the Sun Devils’ international athletes. (Photo by Ben Wiley/Cronkite News)

TEMPE – As Arizona State gears up for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Spanish discus standout Ines Lopez Arias and local sprinter Jayden Davis return this week to historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Both athletes individually punched their tickets to compete on college track’s biggest stage, qualifying through the NCAA West Regional held May 28-31 at Texas A&M.

Davis qualified in two events: first by winning his 400-meter heat in 45.35 seconds – the second-fastest time overall – then as part of ASU’s Big 12-champion 4×400-meter relay. The foursome of Davis, Nicholas Ramey, Trevin Moyer and Malik Franklin finished in 3:02.87, the sixth-fastest time at regionals.

Madrid native Lopez Arias, who spent her first two seasons at Western Kentucky University before transferring to ASU, looks forward to competing at nationals again. Lopez Arias earned her second straight nationals appearance with a throw of 54.39 meters, placing the senior among the top 12 in the women’s discus.

In 2024, she finished 17th in the women’s discus with a top throw of 54.54 meters. Lopez Arias hopes to better that mark and placement during her event Saturday afternoon, part of the NCAA championships held Wednesday through Saturday.

“First of all, it is a great blessing to have the opportunity to go to the NCAA Championships as it is the biggest accomplishment that you can have in American competition,” Lopez Arias said. “I already have an advantage in relation to last year, because last year was my first chance. I had never competed in that stadium. It’s a stadium that intimidates because it is a world class championship stadium.

“So I feel like last year, I was not as prepared in that sense as this year.”

Even though Lopez Arias dislocated her left shoulder one week before the Big 12 conference championship meet, the injury did not stop the confident right-handed athlete from continuing to excel as she threw her NCAA personal best (57.56 meters) at that meet.

Off the field, Lopez Arias says the experience of being an international college athlete in the U.S. can be stressful, especially in light of recent political rhetoric surrounding immigration and visas.

“I feel scared, honestly, as an international person in the U.S., especially being on a visa,” Lopez Arias said. “Like, I feel already in a very privileged position because I have a scholarship, I’m pursuing education, and I have everything on rule. I’m legally here, but no matter what, there’s always that fear that something can happen and they are like, ‘Hey, you have to leave the country.’ And so it’s a pretty stressful time.”

Arizona State’s Jayden Davis, right, running here against Olympic medalist Fred Kerley, will be competing in NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field, in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)

International athletes in the U.S. often face various challenges from a language barrier to a lack of community. By transferring to ASU, Lopez Arias has not only enhanced her athletic performance, but also found ways to impact and befriend fellow foreign athletes.

“There are a lot more international students and athletes than I had at my other school. I’m also part of the international student-athlete committee at ASU, trying to help others be more aware of things that I probably wasn’t aware of for so many years,” Lopez Arias said.

“I have been helping them know how to do things they can take advantage of, but also warning them of things they should not do in order to put their visas at risk because we don’t want anyone to fail to follow the rules and have to leave the country.”

The talented discus thrower has benefited greatly from working with Turner Washington, ASU’s first-year women’s throws coach. Washington is no stranger to success as he won five NCAA championships (three shot put, two discus) during his extraordinary athletic career as a Sun Devil. After a brief professional career, Washington is fully immersed in his new coaching role.

As someone who has ascended to the top of this sport, he knows what sets Lopez Arias apart from other female college discus throwers.

“She survived those high pressure situations, and I think that’s really what separates her from some of those other girls,” Washington said. “When you get in those last rounds to throw, where you’re not qualified, she always seems to pull through and get it done when it matters most.”

In order for her to achieve All-American status and a podium placement at nationals, Washington said that Lopez Arias will have to throw near or slightly over her personal best, a difficult but not impossible task.

While she will be battling it out in the discus cage, Davis and his 4×400-meter relay mates will be representing ASU on the track. Davis, a sophomore from Gilbert, is no stranger to Hayward Field as he was part of ASU’s 4×400-meter relay team that came in fourth last year.

Davis has set personal bests in both indoor and outdoor 400-meter races this year. His outdoor personal best time of 44.84 seconds in a runner-up finish at the Mt. SAC Relays in April cemented him as the sixth-fastest men’s 400-meter runner of all time.

Fresh off a strong performance at regionals, Davis exuded confidence that he and his teammates can carry over their success to nationals.

If either athlete or the 4×400-meter relay team strikes gold at Hayward Field, it would be a fitting exclamation point to a banner year for ASU athletics and a transformative moment in each athlete’s career.

“The goal is definitely to go out there and win and compete,” Davis said. “I believe that I am the best 400-meter runner in the NCAA. So my goal is to just go out there, execute and win gold and I know all our guys think that we are the best relay in the 4×400-meter. So we’ve been training like it, and I think that’s going to be the mission going to Oregon.”

• Natick and Needham high school boys volleyball teams will face off in the Division 1 state semifinals.
• Needham seeks a fifth consecutive state championship appearance, while Natick returns to the semifinals for the second straight year.

CONCORD –

The 2025 NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championships begin Wednesday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. All the action from more than 20 events for both the men’s and women’s championships will take place across ESPN’s family of networks and digital platforms.

Here are key facts about the 2025 event:

What is the schedule?

*All times Eastern

Wednesday

Men’s Day 1: 7 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+

Thursday

Women’s Day 1: 7 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+

Friday

Men’s Day 2: 8 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+

Saturday

Women’s Day 2: 9 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+

How can fans watch?

Fans can catch all the action, including the individual event streams, in the track and field streaming hub.

How can fans access more college sports coverage from ESPN?

Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for the latest news, scores, rankings and more.

Sande Nemali, the 2024/25 Rwanda national volleyball league Most Valuable Player (MVP), has been named in Kenya’s provisional squad for the 2025 FIVB World Championship, set to take place from August 22 to September 7 in Thailand.

The standout outside hitter, who plays for Police Women’s Volleyball Club, was instrumental in leading her team to the league title after defeating APR WVC in the playoffs.

ALSO READ: Volleyball: Kepler VC appoint coach Ndaki on two-year deal

Her top performances in the recently concluded season earned her two major accolades: Best Attacker and MVP of the season.

This is Nemali’s sixth call-up to the Kenyan national team, which will be coached by Geoffrey Omondi.

Speaking to Times Sport, Nemali expressed her excitement and readiness:

“I am so humbled, and I am ready to deliver,” she said.

She is expected to join the national training camp after the 2025 Genocide Memorial Tournament, scheduled for June 20-22.

ALSO READ: Volleyball: EAUR VC sign Tanzanian star Omary Bure

Born in a rural area near Nairobi, Nemali grew up in a modest household facing financial hardships. Volleyball, a talent she describes as God-given, opened the door for her to continue her education on a sports scholarship.

She later joined the Kenya Prisons volleyball club, where she also began working as a police officer and a volleyball player.

The UCLA track & field team heads to Eugene, Ore. this week to compete in the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships from Wednesday, June 11, to Saturday, June 14. The meet will be hosted by Oregon at Hayward Field. 

Thirteen Bruin individuals qualified for this week’s competitions, 10 on the women’s side and three on the men’s side. An additional three Bruin women qualified as part of 4×100 or 4×400 relay squads. The top-nine finishers from track semifinals on Wednesday and Thursday will advance to finals on Friday and Saturday.

The four-day meet will be available for live viewing each day through a paid subscription to ESPN+, and live results can be followed here. 

Women’s Qualifiers

Ka’Leila Abrille – Pole Vault

Katerina Adamiec – Pole Vault

Aly Conyers – 4×400 Relay

Valentina Fakrogha – High Jump

Kaylen Fletcher – 200m, 4×100 Relay

Naomi Johnson – 200m, 4×100 Relay, 4×400 Relay

Sydney Johnson – Long Jump, Heptathlon

Kayla McBride – 4×400 Relay

Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck – 100m Hurdles, 4×100 Relay

Celeste Polzonetti – 100m Hurdles

Taylor Snaer – 200m, 4×100 Relay, 4×400 Relay

Jana van Schalkwyk – Javelin

Marie Warneke – 800m

Men’s Qualifiers

Gabriel Clement II – 400m

Tamaal Myers II – 400m Hurdles

Michael Pinckney – Discus

MEET INFORMATION (Outdoor NCAA Championships):

Date(s): Wednesday, June 11 to Saturday, June 14, 2025

Location: Hayward Field (University of Oregon – Eugene, Ore.)

Time: Events begin at 12 p.m. PT on Wednesday, 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, 11:45 a.m. on Friday, and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday

TV: Wednesday and Thursday – ESPN (4 p.m. PT) / Friday – ESPN2 (5 p.m. PT) / Saturday – ESPN2 (6 p.m. PT)

Live Video (ESPN+): Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3 / Day 4 / Select Field and Multis Events

Live Results: Follow

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE (all times Pacific)

5:41 p.m. – Men’s 400m (Semifinal)

6:14 p.m. – Men’s 400m Hurdles (Semifinal)

THURSDAY SCHEDULE:

4:05 p.m. – Women’s 4×100 Relay (Semifinal)

4:35 p.m. – Women’s Pole Vault (Final)

5:08 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles (Semifinal)

5:15 p.m. – Women’s Javelin (Final)

5:40 p.m. – Women’s Long Jump (Final)

5:58 p.m. – Women’s 800m (Semifinal)

6:29 p.m. – Women’s 200m (Semifinal)

7:36 p.m. – Women’s 4×400 Relay

FRIDAY SCHEDULE:

11:45 a.m. – Women’s Heptathlon 100m Hurdles

12:45 p.m. – Women’s Heptathlon High Jump

2:15 p.m. – Men’s Discus (Final)

2:45 p.m. – Women’s Hepathlon Shot Put

6:02 p.m. – Men’s 400m (Final)

6:27 p.m. – Men’s 400m Hurdles (Final)

6:43 p.m. – Women’s Heptathlon 200m

SATURDAY SCHEDULE:

3:30 p.m. – Women’s Heptathlon Long Jump

4:45 p.m. – Women’s Heptathlon Javelin

5:30 p.m. – Women’s High Jump (Final)

6:02 p.m. – Women’s 4×100 Relay (Final)

6:42 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles (Final)

7:14 p.m. – Women’s 800m (Final)

7:37 p.m. – Women’s 200m (Final)

7:43 p.m. – Women’s Heptathlon 800m

8:21 p.m. – Women’s 4×400 Relay (Final)

The junior libero joins a national training pool of elite athletes — from Olympians to rising stars 

Pepperdine Waves men’s volleyball player Jacob Reilly, 21, has dreamed of playing for Team USA since he was a youth. 

The junior libero could don the red, white, and blue for the USA Volleyball Men’s Senior National Team in the Volleyball Nations League this summer. Reilly was one of 30 players — a mix of Olympians, professionals, and top amateurs — selected to a pool from which Team USA will draw its VNL roster.

Team USA will take the court at VNL competition stops in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 11-15; Hoffman Estates, Illinois, from June 25-29; and Chiba, Japan, from July 16-30. 

Reilly said being named to the pool is an honor. 

“It’s super exciting,” he said. “I get to play with the best players around the country so, I’m super excited about this. It has been one of my biggest goals and a dream since I was a kid.” 

A member of the U.S. U21 U.S. team two years ago, Reilly began practicing with USA Volleyball for VNL on May 21. 

Reilly, a self-described gritty and competitive player, said it would be incredible to travel to the VNL sites and make an impact on the court. 

“I would be happy to make any roster, honestly,” he said. “I’m hoping to help in any way I can. I also want to grow as a player.” 

Team USA head coach Karch Kiraly will select 14 players for the tournament. The U.S. will face international competition as it aims to advance to the VNL Final Round in Ningo, China, from July 30 to Aug. 3. 

Kiraly praised the mix of talent and depth available for USA Volleyball. 

“The veterans on this roster continue to lead by example, while our younger athletes are pushing hard, bringing fresh energy and hunger,” he said. “It’s a powerful combination. This VNL season will be a vital part of our journey toward the 2025 World Championships and beyond.” 

Reilly is thrilled that one of his favorite volleyball players, Erik Shoji, a libero on national team since 2012, is in the pool of players. 

“I get to be his teammate now,” he said. 

The men’s national team is ranked third in the world and has medaled four times in VNL history, earning the bronze medal in 2018 and silver medal in 2019, 2022, and 2023.  

Reilly is the first Pepperdine men’s volleyball player to be selected for the men’s national team since Sean Rooney in 2013. 

Two of Reilly’s Waves teammates were also selected by USA Volleyball for national teams in April. Grant Lamoureux was invited to the training group for the U.S. Boys U19 National Team, while Cole Hartke was named to the U.S. Men’sU21 roster. Both will compete in the NORCECA Pan American Cup and FIVB World Championships in their respective age divisions.

Reilly said the number of Team USA selectees on the Waves’ roster highlights the strength of Pepperdine’s volleyball program.

“We are all very competitive and we’re trying to be the best players we can,” he said. “It shows how awesome our coaching staff is and how they develop us as players.” 

Reilly was one of five Waves who earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American accolades in May. Ryan Barnett was named to the first team and Reilly and Hartke were named to the second team. Gabe Dyer and James Eadie received honorable mention honors. 

Reilly, a transfer from Concordia, averaged 1.8 digs per set and had a .954 reception percentage his first season at Pepperdine. He led the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in efficiency — only 26 reception errors on 621 attempts. In the Waves’ run to the MPSF tournament championship in April and NCAA Tournament Final Four in May, Reilly allowed only three reception errors on 139 attempts. 

He said Pepperdine had a great season.

“We peaked at the right time,” Reilly recalled. “This team is very special. We all worked hard. We all loved playing for each other.” 

Reilly grew up playing volleyball in Cypress, Texas, with his four older sisters. 

“I was pretty much raised in the volleyball gym,” said Reilly, who has played volleyball since he was 11. “I’d watch my older sisters play. I would go to their practices and pick up a ball. I have always enjoyed playing. I had a great time whenever I found myself on the court.”

Team USA’s VNL schedule includes matches against Ukraine, Iran, Slovenia, and Cuba in Brazil; China, Canada, Poland, and Italy in Illinois; and Turkey, Argentina, Germany, and Japan in Japan.

Reilly is looking forward to all the experiences he will have with the national team this summer.

“It would be so awesome if I could make any of the rosters for VNL this year,” he said. “I want to grow as much as a Ican as a player and as a leader. I want to take some of the skills I learn back to Pepperdine and instill that into my teammates.” 

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