Wednesday, May 27
Lexington, KY
Florida Gators
vs
NCAA Outdoor East Preliminaries
Temoso Masikane was the top long jumper in the East on Wednesday, punching his ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. // Photo by MJ Holloway
Five Gators Punch Their Tickets to NCAA Outdoor Championships on Day One of East Preliminary
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Track and Field
Four men punched their tickets out of the field, with one securing a bid on the track.
LEXINGTON, Ky.– Florida men's track & field saw five Gators secure their spots at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., while seven athletes qualified for their respective quarterfinal rounds on the track during Wednesday's day one East Preliminary competition.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
Wednesday's long jump contest featured a dramatic finish for the Gators. Sitting in 20th heading into his final jump of the day with a mark of 7.50m/24-07.25, Temoso Masikane leapt to the top jump of the day of 8.05m/26-05 (+0.5) to solidify his spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Not only is his mark an outdoor personal-best, but he also moves to No. 8 in the Florida record book and No. 9 on the NCAA list. The 2026 SEC outdoor champion will make his next appearance in Oregon at 9:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Kelvin Cheruiyot represented the Orange & Blue well in the lone national championship qualifying event on the track. Running under the lights in the 10,000-meter run, the freshman used the first half of the race to stick with the pack before breaking away in the top three with 4000 meters remaining. Third is where he remained for the final leg of the race, ending with a time of 28:33.20 and guaranteeing himself a spot in the 10,000-meter finale at 10:56 p.m. ET in Oregon on June 10.
The first NCAA qualifier for the Florida men came in the field on Wednesday morning, as Basel Abosina punched his ticket to Oregon on his opening toss of the hammer throw competition at 66.90m/219-06, good for eighth at the preliminary round. He will enter the ring for the hammer throw final in Eugene at 5:30 p.m. ET on June 10.
Clouds started to take over the sky toward the end of the men's javelin qualifying round, but the rain never arrived for Leikel Cabrera Gay on his way to earning his second appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Cabrera Gay placed fifth overall behind a throw of 70.15m/230-02 to secure his spot and the 2025 NCAA javelin runner-up will take the field at Hayward Field at 9:15 p.m. ET on June 10.
In the men's shot put, Jarno van Daalen was one of four athletes to surpass the 19-meter threshold, advancing to his first NCAA Outdoor Championship. The freshman placed third with a toss of 19.46m/63-10.25 on his second attempt of the day and will represent the Orange & Blue on June 10, in Eugene at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Heading to Quarterfinals
The sun was shining for first event on the track which saw the Gators qualify a duo of athletes for Friday's 1500-meter run quarterfinal. Freshman Oussama Allaoui crossed the line first in heat two by 0.03 seconds to automatically qualify with a time of 3:43.53. In heat one, Riley Smith earned an automatic qualifier after taking second at 3:48.47. The men's 1500-meter run quarterfinal will take place at 5:15 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29.
The Gators used a pair of personal-bests to advance Justin Braun and Nicholas Spikes to the 400-meter dash quarterfinal. In a fast heat two, Braun took an automatic qualifier by placing second with an outdoor personal-best and No. 8 time in school history of 44.80. It is also the No. 7 time in the NCAA this season. Spikes claimed victory in heat five to also automatically qualify, racing to a personal-best time of 45.38. Friday's quarterfinal is set to begin at 6:50 p.m ET.
As the sun began to set, Gavin Nelson advanced out of the first round in the 800-meter run for the first time in his career. Battling out of heat six, Nelson ran an automatic qualifier at 1:49.07 to take third in the section. He will take the track on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. ET for the men's 800-meter quarterfinal round.
Shortly after Nelson earned his spot in Friday's competition, Vance Nilsson secured a spot in the 400-meter hurdles quarterfinals. Fresh off of a bronze medal in the event at the 2026 SEC Outdoor Championships, Nilsson was off the blocks quickly to overcome the field in heat three, winning with a time of 49.67. The 400-meter hurdles will start at 7:25 p.m. ET on Friday.
Wednesday's first round action concluded with the 200-meter dash, where Wanya McCoy, in his first 200 since the East Coast Relays in early May, advanced to the quarterfinal round at 7:50 p.m. ET on Friday night. The senior placed second in heat three, automatically advancing after crossing the finish line with a season-best time of 20.37 (+1.5).
UP NEXT
The Florida women will begin action within the UK Outdoor Track & Field Facility on Thursday morning, starting with the women's hammer throw at 10 a.m. ET. Events on the track for the Gators will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET with women's 1500-meter run first round.
DAY ONE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Men's 10,000m
3. Kelvin Cheruiyot - 28:33.20, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Long Jump
1. Temoso Masikane - 8.05m/26-05.00 (+0.5), Outdoor PR, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, No. 9 NCAA, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Shot Put
3. Jarno van Daalen - 19.46m/63-10.25, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Hammer Throw
8. Basel Abosina - 66.90m/219-06, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Javelin Throw
5. Leikel Cabrera Gay - 70.15m/230-02, Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY ONE FIRST ROUND
Men's 100m
42. Trenton Howard - 10.49 (+1.2)
Men's 200m
8. Wanya McCoy - 20.37 (+1.5), Season-Best, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
Men's 400m
4. Justin Braun - 44.80, Outdoor PR, Second Heat Two, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, NCAA No. 7, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
10. Nicholas Spikes - 45.38, Overall PR, First Heat Five, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
Men's 800m
41. Gavin Nelson - 1:49.07, Third Heat Six, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
26. Miguel Pantojas - 1:47.70
39. Jonah Kirspel - 1:48.99
Men's 400m Hurdles
3. Vance Nilsson - 49.67, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
29. Daneil Wright - 51.48
Men's 1500m
7. Oussama Allaoui - 3:43.53, First Heat Two, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
28. Riley Smith - 3:48.47, Second Heat One, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
DAY ONE ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Men's Javelin Throw
34. Ayden Campbell - 62.19m/204.00
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
Wednesday's long jump contest featured a dramatic finish for the Gators. Sitting in 20th heading into his final jump of the day with a mark of 7.50m/24-07.25, Temoso Masikane leapt to the top jump of the day of 8.05m/26-05 (+0.5) to solidify his spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Not only is his mark an outdoor personal-best, but he also moves to No. 8 in the Florida record book and No. 9 on the NCAA list. The 2026 SEC outdoor champion will make his next appearance in Oregon at 9:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Kelvin Cheruiyot represented the Orange & Blue well in the lone national championship qualifying event on the track. Running under the lights in the 10,000-meter run, the freshman used the first half of the race to stick with the pack before breaking away in the top three with 4000 meters remaining. Third is where he remained for the final leg of the race, ending with a time of 28:33.20 and guaranteeing himself a spot in the 10,000-meter finale at 10:56 p.m. ET in Oregon on June 10.
The first NCAA qualifier for the Florida men came in the field on Wednesday morning, as Basel Abosina punched his ticket to Oregon on his opening toss of the hammer throw competition at 66.90m/219-06, good for eighth at the preliminary round. He will enter the ring for the hammer throw final in Eugene at 5:30 p.m. ET on June 10.
Clouds started to take over the sky toward the end of the men's javelin qualifying round, but the rain never arrived for Leikel Cabrera Gay on his way to earning his second appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Cabrera Gay placed fifth overall behind a throw of 70.15m/230-02 to secure his spot and the 2025 NCAA javelin runner-up will take the field at Hayward Field at 9:15 p.m. ET on June 10.
In the men's shot put, Jarno van Daalen was one of four athletes to surpass the 19-meter threshold, advancing to his first NCAA Outdoor Championship. The freshman placed third with a toss of 19.46m/63-10.25 on his second attempt of the day and will represent the Orange & Blue on June 10, in Eugene at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Heading to Quarterfinals
The sun was shining for first event on the track which saw the Gators qualify a duo of athletes for Friday's 1500-meter run quarterfinal. Freshman Oussama Allaoui crossed the line first in heat two by 0.03 seconds to automatically qualify with a time of 3:43.53. In heat one, Riley Smith earned an automatic qualifier after taking second at 3:48.47. The men's 1500-meter run quarterfinal will take place at 5:15 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29.
The Gators used a pair of personal-bests to advance Justin Braun and Nicholas Spikes to the 400-meter dash quarterfinal. In a fast heat two, Braun took an automatic qualifier by placing second with an outdoor personal-best and No. 8 time in school history of 44.80. It is also the No. 7 time in the NCAA this season. Spikes claimed victory in heat five to also automatically qualify, racing to a personal-best time of 45.38. Friday's quarterfinal is set to begin at 6:50 p.m ET.
As the sun began to set, Gavin Nelson advanced out of the first round in the 800-meter run for the first time in his career. Battling out of heat six, Nelson ran an automatic qualifier at 1:49.07 to take third in the section. He will take the track on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. ET for the men's 800-meter quarterfinal round.
Shortly after Nelson earned his spot in Friday's competition, Vance Nilsson secured a spot in the 400-meter hurdles quarterfinals. Fresh off of a bronze medal in the event at the 2026 SEC Outdoor Championships, Nilsson was off the blocks quickly to overcome the field in heat three, winning with a time of 49.67. The 400-meter hurdles will start at 7:25 p.m. ET on Friday.
Wednesday's first round action concluded with the 200-meter dash, where Wanya McCoy, in his first 200 since the East Coast Relays in early May, advanced to the quarterfinal round at 7:50 p.m. ET on Friday night. The senior placed second in heat three, automatically advancing after crossing the finish line with a season-best time of 20.37 (+1.5).
UP NEXT
The Florida women will begin action within the UK Outdoor Track & Field Facility on Thursday morning, starting with the women's hammer throw at 10 a.m. ET. Events on the track for the Gators will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET with women's 1500-meter run first round.
DAY ONE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Men's 10,000m
3. Kelvin Cheruiyot - 28:33.20, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Long Jump
1. Temoso Masikane - 8.05m/26-05.00 (+0.5), Outdoor PR, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, No. 9 NCAA, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Shot Put
3. Jarno van Daalen - 19.46m/63-10.25, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Hammer Throw
8. Basel Abosina - 66.90m/219-06, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Javelin Throw
5. Leikel Cabrera Gay - 70.15m/230-02, Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY ONE FIRST ROUND
Men's 100m
42. Trenton Howard - 10.49 (+1.2)
Men's 200m
8. Wanya McCoy - 20.37 (+1.5), Season-Best, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
Men's 400m
4. Justin Braun - 44.80, Outdoor PR, Second Heat Two, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, NCAA No. 7, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
10. Nicholas Spikes - 45.38, Overall PR, First Heat Five, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
Men's 800m
41. Gavin Nelson - 1:49.07, Third Heat Six, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
26. Miguel Pantojas - 1:47.70
39. Jonah Kirspel - 1:48.99
Men's 400m Hurdles
3. Vance Nilsson - 49.67, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
29. Daneil Wright - 51.48
Men's 1500m
7. Oussama Allaoui - 3:43.53, First Heat Two, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
28. Riley Smith - 3:48.47, Second Heat One, Qualified for Friday Quarterfinal
DAY ONE ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Men's Javelin Throw
34. Ayden Campbell - 62.19m/204.00
Players Mentioned
FR/FR | Throws
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SO/SO | Mid-distance
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FR/FR | Jumps
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SR/GR | Sprints
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JR/JR | Distance
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SO/SO | Hurdles
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JR/JR | Mid-distance
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SO/SO | Distance
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SO/SO | Sprints
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FR/FR | Throws
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Hurdles
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