University of Connecticut Athletics
13 Huskies Headed to NCAA East First Round; Mooney and Hense Punch Ticket to NCAA Championship
5/21/2026 11:07:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
STORRS, CT – The UConn men's and women's track & field program will have 13 athletes competing for a spot at the national championship meet at the 2026 NCAA East First Round in Lexington, Kentucky next week. In addition, the UConn pair of Josh Mooney and Maresa Hense have already punched their ticket for the NCAA title meet in Euguene, Oregon in the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively.
Mooney and Hense will be heading to the NCAA Championship meet for the second-straight season. Mooney ranked second in the nation in the decathlon and posted a career-best 8,033 points to finish third at the Mt. SAC Relays. Hense posted the best score in the heptathlon of her career at the Mt. SAC Relays as well, totally 5,816 points. Both marks set new school records for the duo.
The UConn contingent will head to the University of Kentucky's Outdoor Track & Field Complex on May 27 through 30 looking to clinch a spot at the NCAA Championship meet in June.
Women
Brooke Strauss - 1500m – Strauss recorded the fastest time in the event in her career back at the Duke Invitational in April, clocking in at 4:14.36.
Sascha Letica - 5,000m – Letcia's fastest time this spring season was also her personal best in the 5,000m. She posted a 15:48.1 at the Penn Relays last month.
Chloe Trudel - 10,000m – Trudel also had her fastest time of the season and her career come at the Penn Relays in April. Trudel posted a 33:50.89 at the 10,000m in Philadelphia.
Sarah Trainor - 3,000m Steeplechase – The Penn Relays was the spot for Trainor as well to record her best time of the outdoor season. She clocked in at 9:56.25 to record a new personal best. She took the gold in the event at the BIG EAST Championship last week as well.
Brooklyn Taylor - Long Jump – Taylor is coming off her best performance in the long jump this spring with a 6.26m showing at the BIG EAST Championships. The leap also marked a new personal best.
Men
Medwin Odamtten - 100m – Odamtten had a record-breaking performance at the BIG EAST Championship in recording the fastest time of his career. He took home the gold in the 100m dash and in the prelims posted a new UConn and BIG EAST record with a time of 10.22 seconds.
OJ Singletary - 400m Hurdles – Singletary had his fasted time in the event last time out at the BIG EAST Championship. He ran a new personal best to take the silver medal with a time of 50.33.
Enaji Muhammad - High Jump – Muhammad is coming off his best high jump performance of the season at the BIG EAST Championship where he posted a personal best height of 2.16m to win the gold medal.
Derek Shimer - High Jump – Shimer record his top-height of the outdoor season at the Duke Invitational in April, posting a personal best 2.14m.
Dar Jankovic - High Jump – Jankovic posted his best height of the spring at the UConn Northeast Challenge, clearing the bar at 2.11m.
Thomas Bannon – Javelin – Bannon is coming of the best performance of his young career at the BIG EAST Championship. He grabbed the gold medal with a personal best throw of 69.84m
Connor Hayford - Javelin – Hayford had his best throw of the season back at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational back in March when he finished second with a throw of 67.91m.
Marshall Potter - Shot Put And Hammer – Potter had his best throw in the hammer at the Penn Relays where he came up with a toss of 62.61m. His best shot put throw came back at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in March at 18.11m
There are two first rounds, one for the east region and one for the west region. This year's west first round meet will take place at the University of Arkansas. The top 48 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the first-round competitions for each individual event. The top 24 declared relay teams will be accepted into the first-round competitions for each relay event.
The top 12 competitors from each individual event and the top 12 teams from each relay event advance from each first round. The qualifiers out of these two regions will compete in the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
