CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard opened the 2025-26 track & field season on home turf, as the Crimson orchestrated wins in seven events at the fifth annual HBCU & Ivy Challenge.

A two-time All-Ivy League selection in the women’s weight throw and the 2024 Ivy League champion in the event, junior Emilia Kolokotroni started the day with a fantastic showing at Gordon Indoor Track, winning the women’s weight throw after posting a 19.10m (62’8″).

Harvard found more success in the field events, as first-year Jillene Wetteland earned a win in her collegiate debut after clearing 1.69m (5’6.5″) in the women’s high jump, as sophomore Tyler Glover finished in first in the women’s shot put after logging a throw of 15.42m (50’7.25″).

The Ancient Eight’s defending women’s pole vault champion in indoor competition, sophomore Ella McRitchie started the year with a win in the women’s pole vault after clearing 4.10m (13’5.25″).

On the track, a pair of seniors started the season with stellar performances on the straightaway. The 2025 Ivy League champion in the women’s 60 hurdles, senior Fabiola Belibi finished in first place in the women’s 60 hurdles at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge after posting a time of 8.50 in the final. One of Harvard’s team captains, senior Jonas Clarke kicked-off his final collegiate season with the Crimson with a win, finishing in first in the men’s 60m after crossing the finish line in 6.85.

Harvard’s men’s 4x440y relay team of sophomore Harlow Tong, first-year Hudson McGough, sophomore Brayden Chavez and first-year Oliver Parker ended the day on a high note, winning the event after combining for a time of 3:18.44.

In the team standings, the women’s squad took second with 82 points, while the men finished in fourth with 54 points.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard started on the front foot in the throws cage, capturing the top two spots in the women’s weight throw. A two-time All-Ivy League selection and 2024 Ivy League champion in the women’s weight throw, Kolokotroni finished atop the podium with a throw of 19.10m (62’8″). Senior Michaela Denson finished in second to start her final track & field campaign with the Crimson, doing so with a throw of 18.19m (59’8.25″).
• A Crimson debutant picked up a win in the women’s high jump, as Wetteland took first after clearing 1.69m (5’6.5″). Junior Lilly Hodge also placed fourth in the event after leaping past 1.60m (5’3″).
• The Crimson orchestrated a promising effort in the men’s high jump, with two Harvard student-athletes finishing in the top five. First-year Joachim Johnson finished in third in his collegiate debut after clearing 2.04m (6’8.25″), a mark that is tied for 10^th all-time in school history. Senior and team captain Daire Mahon finished in fourth place after clearing a personal-best 1.98m (6’6″).
• The track action started with a scoring effort in the men’s 600m, as first-year Hudson McGough added to Harvard’s total with a third place finish after crossing the finish line in 1:21.29.
• Back in the throws cage, another Crimson first-year scored in his Harvard debut, as first-year Daniel Ye finished in second in the men’s weight throw with an attempt of 17.69m (58′.5″).
• Harvard continued producing wins in the throws, as Glover started her second collegiate campaign with authority, winning the women’s shot put with a mark of 15.42m (50’7.25″). Glover’s throw from the HBCU & Ivy Challenge ranks third all-time in school history.
• The men’s side of the shot put saw two Crimson compete, as junior Isaac Delaney finished in third with a throw of 16.45m (53’11.75″).
• The straightaway finals started with a top five showing in the men’s 60 hurdles, as junior Simon Weiser placed in fifth with a time of 8.16.
• Wins arrived for Crimson seniors in both the women’s 60 hurdles and the men’s 60m. The Ivy League’s defending women’s 60 hurdles champion, Belibi kicked off her final collegiate season with a win in the event, posting a time of 8.50 to capture first place. In the men’s 60m, Clarke, one of Harvard’s team captains, outlasted the field to take first place with a time of 6.85.
• The women’s 60m final saw sophomore Ella Cooper clock a personal-best time of 7.59, taking fourth place in the process.
• McRitchie, another returning Ivy League champion, started the 2025-26 with a first place finish in the women’s pole vault, doing so after clearing 4.10m (13’5.25″). Hodge finished in second, as she also cleared 4.10m.
• The Crimson’s women’s 4x440y relay team of sophomore Abigail Dennis, sophomore Saige Forbes, Cooper and sophomore Kaelin Creagh took second after clocking a 3:56.07.
• On the men’s side of the 4x440y relay, Tong, McGough, Chavez and Parker combined for a time of 3:18.44 to earn the win.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson conclude the opening weekend of the 2025-26 track & field season with two meets tomorrow, as Harvard will host the Harvard Classic at Gordon Indoor Track and will also feature at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center.

For complete coverage of Harvard Track & Field, follow us on Twitter (@HarvardTFXC) and Instagram (@harvardtfxc).

 

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Ohio women’s track & field team concluded its first meet of the indoor season, the GVSU Holiday Open, on Friday, Dec. 5.
 
Sophomore Mairin O’Brien (Lewis Center, Ohio) kicked off competition for Ohio in the women’s 3,000 meters. O’Brien placed seventh in Heat 1 of the event, running a time of 10:01.30.
 
Graduate student Kelsi Harris (Liberty Township, Ohio) and sophomore Kaitlyn Stewart (Floyd Knobs, Ind.) competed in the women’s 5,000 meters. Harris placed eighth in the Heat 1 of the event, recording a time of 16:45.66. Stewart took home eighth place in Heat 2 with a time of 17:07.16.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action at the Marshall Alumni Classic on Saturday, Jan. 10.
 
#OUohyeah
 

BIRMINGHAM – UAB Track and Field opened the 2025 season on Friday as the Blazers competed in the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Victory George competed in multiple events as the newcomer participated in the 60m and the Long Jump. George placed 12th out of 69 athletes in the 60m Prelims with a time of 7.71 seconds. George narrowly missed the finals by .01 seconds as she placed second in heat 4. The newcomer from Nigeria placed 11th of 55 athletes in the Long Jump where she finished with a mark of 5.52m and placed third in flight 3.

Leticia Quingostas started her senior season strong in the 300m. The senior from Brazil placed ninth overall out of 28 athletes and won heat 4 with a time of 40.51 seconds.

The freshmen middle distance duo consisting of Kelly Hughes and Katelyn Valtos made their college debuts in the 1000m. Hughes (3:05.08) and Valtos (3:06.08) finished sixth and seventh overall respectively. Valtos’ time was tops in heat 2.

The Blazers saw four Pole Vault athletes compete on Friday. Noelle Hambrick was the leader of the quartet placing fifth with a mark of 3.70m. Victoria Freeland, Fiona Eastman, and Trinity Fellows each finished at 3.55m.

The Green and Gold rounded out the day with true freshman Sarah Hopkins competing in the Weight Throw. Hopkins finished her day with a mark of 14.58m on her final successful throw, which ranks third-best in school history for Indoor Weight Throw.

UAB returns to action on January 9, 2026 as it returns to the Birmingham Crossplex for the Blazer Invite. Meet information, schedules, and live results will be posted at a later date.

FOLLOW THE BLAZERS

To keep up with UAB Track & Field, follow @UAB_TF_XC on Instagram and X.

Then, it seemed like the USU’s dream season might end in heartbreaking fashion.

But in a do-or-die fifth set, the Aggies fought off a furious comeback from seventh-seeded Tennessee to claim a thrilling 3-2 (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11) victory in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. This is the first NCAA Tournament victory for Utah State volleyball since recording wins in back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001.

With the win, Utah State will now face No. 2 Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). 

Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe engineered the Aggie offense to a .312 hitting percentage, recording 57 assists. Senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow led USU with 16 kills on a team-best .560 hitting percentage while sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen added 14 kills. The duo also tied for the team lead with four blocks apiece with each player also registering a solo block. Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski also had 14 kills and sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic stuffed the stat sheet with 12 kills, six digs, three blocks and three assists. Junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson led the Aggie defense with 16 digs, also leading the team with two service aces.

Head coach Rob Neilson

“What a match. Hats off to that Tennessee team. We gave them all they could handle in those first two sets and then they responded. They’re a great team obviously, well coached and talented, physical. Then you get to a fifth set and it’s a coin flip. I thought we made enough plays and battled and came through adversity. I’m really proud of this group and I’m excited that we get to play some more volleyball together.”

Set One

The Aggies came roaring out of the gates, registering kills on nine of their first 13 attacks en route to taking a 10-5 lead to force a Tennessee timeout. Štiglic posted three kills during the early run, part of a 7-0-10 line for the Croatian in the opening set. Out of the timeout, the Vols responded with a 9-2 stretch to take a lead midway through the frame and force an Aggie timeout. USU stemmed the tide with a kill from redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Larkin that preceded a block by Barlow and Helgesen. A Helgesen kill and Thompson ace then made it a 4-0 Aggie run to deliver the advantage back to Utah State. The Vols scored back-to-back points to tie it at 16 before the teams alternated the ensuing six rallies. With the set tied at 19, the Aggies closed the frame on a 6-0 burst. Helgesen ignited the run with a kill before teaming with Larkin on a block to firmly give the Aggies control late in the set. Štiglic then delivered back-to-back kills to clinch the 25-19 win to open the match. Utah State hit .382 in the opening frame while holding Tennessee to .188 to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two

Utah State again came out strong, using a 14-3 onslaught to grab hold of the second set. Simovski powered the on-fire start with five kills while Thompson added her second ace of the match to help build a double-digit cushion. The Aggies went a perfect 8-of-8 on attacks to begin the frame. Tennessee closed the gap with a 6-1 stretch, forcing a USU timeout. A Helgesen kill halted the Vols’ momentum before Utah State went on to close the set on a 5-1 run featuring a pair of kills from Barlow and a Helgesen ace plus a block by Štiglic and Barlow to help seal the 25-15 win. The Aggies improved on both their offensive and defensive marks from the first set, hitting .444 while holding Tennessee to .171 to go up 2-0 for the match.

Set Three

The Aggies again went up early as Barlow recorded three-straight kills and then a solo block as part of a personal 4-0 run to put USU ahead 7-4. The Vols, however, answered back with an 11-4 stretch to take a late four-point lead in the set. The Aggies battled back within two at 21-19 with Simovski supplying a pair of kills but Tennessee went on a 4-1 run to take the set, 25-20, to extend the match to a fourth set.

Set Four

The Vols maintained momentum to begin the fourth set, opening up a 10-5 lead out of the gates. USU scored three-straight points with Larkin and Helgesen both registering kills to trim the deficit to two points. Tennessee answered again, scoring seven of the next 10 rallies to extend their lead to six points. The Aggies were unable to build a comeback attempt as the Vols secured a 25-18 win to send the match to a winner-takes-all fifth set.

Fifth Set

In a pivotal start to the set, Utah State went up 5-2 courtesy of a pair of Simovski kills and three attacking errors from the Vols. The Aggies led by four points at 12-8 following two kills from Helgesen before Tennessee clawed back within one after three-straight points. USU regained the advantage from the defensive side as Barlow and Helgesen combined for a block to make it 13-11. Barlow then killed back-to-back balls off the slide to secure the 15-11 victory and send the Aggies into the second round.

Quick Notes

• Utah State also extended their overall winning streak to 22 matches, the third-longest streak in program history, trailing only a 23-game streak spanning the team’s 1978 national title season and 1979, and a program-record 26-game streak in 1978. USU’s streak is now tied for the third-longest active streak in the nation.
• Utah State hit .312 for the match, their 11th-straight match recording a .250 hitting percentage or better. The Aggies are now hitting .274 on the season, a mark which would break the current program record of .238 set in 2016.
• Larkin added another eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage plus two blocks and a career-high three digs.
• Sophomore outside hitter Delaney Lawson and freshman defensive specialist Sadie Warren provided key defensive contributions with eight and six digs, respectively. 
• Utah State is now 3-6 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, recording their first win since defeating BYU in Salt Lake City in 2001. USU also defeated Missouri the year prior in Provo, Utah. 
• The Aggies are now 19-13-1 all-time against SEC teams and recorded their first win over the conference since beating Alabama in 2003.
• Utah State improved to a 29-4 record during Kofe’s career when she records at least 10.0 assists per set.

Up Next
The Aggies continue play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against second-seeded Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

 – USU –

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –  The Hartford Women’s Track and Field team look to build off of a strong season in the spring as the team moves into the indoor portion of the schedule. Last year, the team found success both indoors and outdoors with strong placements in marquee meets such as 2nd in the Conference of New England (CNE) Championships, 12th and tied for 14th in the NCAA DIII Championships, and 17th and 25th in the NEICAAA All-New England Championships.

New Year, Similar Squad

With Head Coach Connor Green returning for his third year and the team only graduating two seniors a year ago, Hartford will be running out a whole host of familiar faces this season. 31 out of the 48 Hawks will be back for Coach Green with eight entering into their senior season. Amongst the group of notable returners is Lauren Duffy (Southington, Conn.) who is coming off of a standout freshman campaign last season. Duffy finished with seven top ten finishes last season with two top three finishes at The Reggie Open. 

“Our team expectations are to just stay consistent, disciplined, and work on the little things a lot. Like being in the weight room, getting consistent miles in, and also hurdle mobility, injury prevention stuff, just to stay healthy throughout the season.” Duffy said.

Another key returner for the Hawks is junior Leslie Samuel (Montauk, N.Y.) who is coming off a season in which she was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team.

“I am mostly excited to get back into it. I didn’t compete last year, so I am excited to get back to where I am, and make it to nationals hopefully.” Samuel said.

A third key returner for the Hawks is Tommie Barker (Canton, Conn.). Barker last season was nominated to the CNE All-Conference Third Team for her/their performance in both hammer throw and shotput.

“I have high expectations for this year, given it’s my senior year. I’m hoping to keep improving and PR consistently at almost every meet. My main goal is to make it to all New Englands this year, and I think it’s very doable! I’m super excited for indoor and even more so for outdoor! Between lifting and practicing consistently for the past few months, I think we’re all at our best going into this season. Practice makes progress, and we’ve had a lot of time to make some amazing progress!” Barker said. 

Season Outlook:

The Hawks will begin their season at the Yale invitational on Dec. 6th. Following that event they will take on the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 24th. They will also compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 31st. The Hawks will close out the indoor track and field season at the NCAA Division III New England Championships in Boston at the New England at the Track of New Balance

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Nebraska volleyball (30-0) begins the road to Kansas City Friday with the No. 1 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament. The Huskers play host for the Regional and take on the Long Island Sharks (20-8) for the opening round.

The match commences after San Diego takes Kansas State at 4:30 p.m. CT. The winner of each match advances to the second, which is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

Nebraska comes in with its first perfect regular season in 25 years along with its third consecutive Big Ten title. The Huskers also enter the tournament with the top offense and defense in the nation, standing with a .352 hitting percentage and holding opponents to a .125.