Thursday, May 28
Lexington, KY
Florida Gators
vs
NCAA Outdoor East Preliminaries
Hilda Olemomoi broke Parker Valby's facility record at the UK Outdoor Track & Field Facility. // Photo by MJ Holloway
Olemomoi Wins 10,000-Meter Run, Three Tickets Punched to Eugene on Day Two of NCAA East Preliminary
Thursday, May 28, 2026 | Track and Field
Eight athletes are primed to represent the Gators in Saturday’s quarterfinal action.
LEXINGTON, Ky.– The Florida women's track & field squad punched three tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on a sunny Thursday at the UK Outdoor Track & Field, while eight additional athletes qualified for Saturday's quarterfinal action on day two of the NCAA East Preliminary.
Thursday marked the fifth time since 2021, when the NCAA began alternating days of men's and women's events, that the UF women have qualified at least three athletes to Eugene on opening day.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
Patience was the name of the game for Hilda Olemomoi in the 10,000-meter run semifinal. The senior stayed with the lead chase pack for much of the race until the field began to thin with just over two miles remaining. Olemomoi slowly started to catch the three leaders, eventually overtaking Caren Kiplagat of Alabama, who led for the entirety of the race, as the final lap bell began to ring. She didn't relent on the final 400 meters, crossing the finish line as the East champion in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 32:31.21, breaking the East Preliminary meet and UK facility record previously held by Gator-great Parker Valby by over 12 seconds. She advances to the 9:56 p.m. ET finale on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Oregon's Hayward Field.
Heading into Thursday's hammer throw competition, Imani Washington was seeded 15th in the East, but the senior is making the most of her final year in a Gators uniform. On her first toss of the third flight, she unleashed a personal-best mark, and No. 4 mark in Florida history, of 64.03m/210-01. Her throw put her in second in her flight, and then the waiting game began. With only 12 qualifiers making it to Eugene, Ore., and 12 athletes in the final flight, Washington's mark needed to outmatch 10 throws in the last section. Sitting in fifth heading into the final round of the contest, the excitement grew, and the celebration began once the hammer throw results were finalized with Washington in sixth, a nine-spot improvement from her entry seed. The Peachtree Corners, Ga., native will make her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at 5:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 11.
The Gators' day in the throws weren't done after Washington, however, as the second ticket to Oregon out of the field came from Alida van Daalen in the shot put. Using her first attempt of the competition, van Daalen secured a fourth-place finish overall at 17.56m/57-07.50, advancing to her fourth-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The senior is a three-time All-American in the event and will take the ring at 10:10 p.m. ET in Eugene on June 11. She will have an opportunity on Saturday to make her fourth discus appearance in the NCAA final.
Heading to Quarterfinals
Florida will be sending two athletes to Saturday's 1500-meter run quarterfinal round after Tia Wilson and Claire Stegall both automatically qualified in Wednesday's first round. Stegall overtook the field after a scramble in the middle of the pack with 700 meters to go, winning her heat with a time of 4:13.17, while Wilson made her move with 600 meters left in heat one, placing second at 4:10.84. The duo will take the track at 5:15 p.m. ET on Saturday with a trip to Oregon on the line.
The Orange & Blue maintained momentum on the track in the 100-meter dash with Gabrielle Matthews running away from the rest of heat four to earn an automatic qualifier into the 6:35 p.m. ET quarterfinal on Saturday after crossing the line at 11.08 (+0.3). Matthews' day wasn't done, as she had a quick turnaround to run the 200-meter dash first round less than two hours later. The double didn't bother her, as the Portmore, Jamaica, native clocked a time of 22.68 (+0.9) to place second in heat six and move on to the 7:50 p.m. ET quarterfinal on Saturday.
A pair of sprinters continued the qualifications for the Florida women, with Quincy Penn and Sydney Sutton both primed to represent UF in the 400-meter dash quarterfinal round. Taking an automatic qualifier of 51.14, Penn took second in heat one, pulling away from the lead group with Tennessee's Javonya Valcourt. Sutton, only a freshman, battled her way out of the fastest heat of the day, which saw three sub-51-second times. Running the No. 8 fastest time in school history and an outdoor personal-best, Sutton earned the top time qualifier time of 51.33. Penn and Sutton will line up for the 400-meter quarterfinal on Saturday at 6:50 p.m. ET.
After clinching the Barbadian national record in the 800-meter run at the SEC Outdoor Championships, Layla Haynes earned her spot in the quarterfinal of the event, automatically qualifying at 2:03.00 and a second-place finish in her heat. The 800-meter final is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET on Saturday evening.
Freshman Marianna Wright produced her best performance of her young collegiate career in the 400-meter hurdles. As the sun began to set on heat three, Wright raced across the line in fourth with a personal-best time of 57.76 to earn the top time qualifier in the field, advancing her to Saturday's 7:25 p.m. ET quarterfinal.
UP NEXT
The Orange & Blue return to the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility at 1 p.m. ET on Friday for the men's discus throw. Track events are set to begin at 5 p.m. ET with the men's 4x100-meter relay.
DAY TWO NCAA QUALIFIERS
Women's 10,000m
1. Hilda Olemomoi - 32:31.21, Facility Record, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Shot Put
3. Alida van Daalen - 17.56m/57-07.50, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Hammer Throw
6. Imani Washington - 64.03m/210-01, PR, No. 4 Florida Outdoor History, Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY TWO FIRST ROUND
Women's 100m
6. Gabrielle Matthews - 11.08 (+0.3), Automatic Qualified for Saturday Quarterfinal
Jade Brown - FS
Women's 200m
8. Gabrielle Matthews - 22.68 (+0.9), Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 400m
8. Quincy Penn - 51.14, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
10. Sydney Sutton - 51.33, Outdoor PR, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, Time Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 800m
7. Layla Haynes - 2:03.00, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 400m Hurdles
17. Marianna Wright - 57.76, PR, Time Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 1500m
6. Tia Wilson - 4:10.84, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
13. Claire Stegall - 4:13.17, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
DAY TWO ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Women's 10,000m
18. Reagan Gilmore - 33:51.33
Women's Shot Put
27. Gracelyn Leiseth - 15.96m/52-04.50
Thursday marked the fifth time since 2021, when the NCAA began alternating days of men's and women's events, that the UF women have qualified at least three athletes to Eugene on opening day.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
Patience was the name of the game for Hilda Olemomoi in the 10,000-meter run semifinal. The senior stayed with the lead chase pack for much of the race until the field began to thin with just over two miles remaining. Olemomoi slowly started to catch the three leaders, eventually overtaking Caren Kiplagat of Alabama, who led for the entirety of the race, as the final lap bell began to ring. She didn't relent on the final 400 meters, crossing the finish line as the East champion in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 32:31.21, breaking the East Preliminary meet and UK facility record previously held by Gator-great Parker Valby by over 12 seconds. She advances to the 9:56 p.m. ET finale on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Oregon's Hayward Field.
NCAA East Preliminaries | 10,000m (W)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 29, 2026
FACILITY RECORD & a ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championship‼️ pic.twitter.com/qyH7L9O5us
Heading into Thursday's hammer throw competition, Imani Washington was seeded 15th in the East, but the senior is making the most of her final year in a Gators uniform. On her first toss of the third flight, she unleashed a personal-best mark, and No. 4 mark in Florida history, of 64.03m/210-01. Her throw put her in second in her flight, and then the waiting game began. With only 12 qualifiers making it to Eugene, Ore., and 12 athletes in the final flight, Washington's mark needed to outmatch 10 throws in the last section. Sitting in fifth heading into the final round of the contest, the excitement grew, and the celebration began once the hammer throw results were finalized with Washington in sixth, a nine-spot improvement from her entry seed. The Peachtree Corners, Ga., native will make her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at 5:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 11.
NCAA East Preliminaries | Hammer Throw (W)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 28, 2026
First time flier to the NCAA Outdoor Championship🤩
Imani Washington puts up a big time PB of 64.03m to move to No. 4 UF All-Time and punch her 🎟 to Eugene! pic.twitter.com/Nxla9GoVEw
The Gators' day in the throws weren't done after Washington, however, as the second ticket to Oregon out of the field came from Alida van Daalen in the shot put. Using her first attempt of the competition, van Daalen secured a fourth-place finish overall at 17.56m/57-07.50, advancing to her fourth-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The senior is a three-time All-American in the event and will take the ring at 10:10 p.m. ET in Eugene on June 11. She will have an opportunity on Saturday to make her fourth discus appearance in the NCAA final.
NCAA East Preliminaries | Shot Put (W)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 29, 2026
Alida van Daalen ➡️ NCAA Outdoor Championship pic.twitter.com/onzPu38LWO
Heading to Quarterfinals
Florida will be sending two athletes to Saturday's 1500-meter run quarterfinal round after Tia Wilson and Claire Stegall both automatically qualified in Wednesday's first round. Stegall overtook the field after a scramble in the middle of the pack with 700 meters to go, winning her heat with a time of 4:13.17, while Wilson made her move with 600 meters left in heat one, placing second at 4:10.84. The duo will take the track at 5:15 p.m. ET on Saturday with a trip to Oregon on the line.
The Orange & Blue maintained momentum on the track in the 100-meter dash with Gabrielle Matthews running away from the rest of heat four to earn an automatic qualifier into the 6:35 p.m. ET quarterfinal on Saturday after crossing the line at 11.08 (+0.3). Matthews' day wasn't done, as she had a quick turnaround to run the 200-meter dash first round less than two hours later. The double didn't bother her, as the Portmore, Jamaica, native clocked a time of 22.68 (+0.9) to place second in heat six and move on to the 7:50 p.m. ET quarterfinal on Saturday.
A pair of sprinters continued the qualifications for the Florida women, with Quincy Penn and Sydney Sutton both primed to represent UF in the 400-meter dash quarterfinal round. Taking an automatic qualifier of 51.14, Penn took second in heat one, pulling away from the lead group with Tennessee's Javonya Valcourt. Sutton, only a freshman, battled her way out of the fastest heat of the day, which saw three sub-51-second times. Running the No. 8 fastest time in school history and an outdoor personal-best, Sutton earned the top time qualifier time of 51.33. Penn and Sutton will line up for the 400-meter quarterfinal on Saturday at 6:50 p.m. ET.
After clinching the Barbadian national record in the 800-meter run at the SEC Outdoor Championships, Layla Haynes earned her spot in the quarterfinal of the event, automatically qualifying at 2:03.00 and a second-place finish in her heat. The 800-meter final is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET on Saturday evening.
Freshman Marianna Wright produced her best performance of her young collegiate career in the 400-meter hurdles. As the sun began to set on heat three, Wright raced across the line in fourth with a personal-best time of 57.76 to earn the top time qualifier in the field, advancing her to Saturday's 7:25 p.m. ET quarterfinal.
UP NEXT
The Orange & Blue return to the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility at 1 p.m. ET on Friday for the men's discus throw. Track events are set to begin at 5 p.m. ET with the men's 4x100-meter relay.
DAY TWO NCAA QUALIFIERS
Women's 10,000m
1. Hilda Olemomoi - 32:31.21, Facility Record, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Shot Put
3. Alida van Daalen - 17.56m/57-07.50, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Hammer Throw
6. Imani Washington - 64.03m/210-01, PR, No. 4 Florida Outdoor History, Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY TWO FIRST ROUND
Women's 100m
6. Gabrielle Matthews - 11.08 (+0.3), Automatic Qualified for Saturday Quarterfinal
Jade Brown - FS
Women's 200m
8. Gabrielle Matthews - 22.68 (+0.9), Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 400m
8. Quincy Penn - 51.14, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
10. Sydney Sutton - 51.33, Outdoor PR, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, Time Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 800m
7. Layla Haynes - 2:03.00, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 400m Hurdles
17. Marianna Wright - 57.76, PR, Time Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
Women's 1500m
6. Tia Wilson - 4:10.84, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
13. Claire Stegall - 4:13.17, Automatic Qualifier for Saturday Quarterfinal
DAY TWO ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Women's 10,000m
18. Reagan Gilmore - 33:51.33
Women's Shot Put
27. Gracelyn Leiseth - 15.96m/52-04.50
Players Mentioned
JR/JR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Distance
/ Track and Field
JR/R-SO | Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Throws
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Distance
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Distance
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Throws
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Throws
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Distance
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Hurdles
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