Saturday, May 30
Lexington, KY
Florida Gators
vs
NCAA Outdoor East Preliminaries
Three discus throwers are championship-bound for the first time in school history. // Photo by MJ Holloway
Van Daalen Resets School Record, Gators Add 13 Entries to NCAA Outdoor Championships on Final Day of East Preliminaries
Saturday, May 30, 2026 | Track and Field
The Florida women will have 17 total entries compete for a national title at Tracktown USA.
LEXINGTON, Ky.– The Gators' women's track & field team added 13 more entries to their tally for the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, as well as another historic performance in the discus, on the final day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
For the fifth consecutive year, and 11th time since Mike Holloway became the women's head coach in 2008, the Gators will send over 10 women's entries to compete in Eugene, Ore., for an NCAA title. With the inclusion of Pauline Bikembo in the heptathlon, the women will have 17 entries in Tracktown USA in 2026. This year will mark the 10th time that the Orange & Blue send 10 or more entries on both the men's and women's side to the championships.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
For the first time in school history, Florida will be represented by three women's discus throwers at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Alida van Daalen was set for the championships after her first throw of the contest and improved each throw of her series, leading up to her best toss this season. To the applause of the crowd, the senior unleashed the best collegiate toss in an NCAA-sponsored event of all time at 69.31m/227-04 on her third throw, improving her third-best mark in the world this season. In addition to exceeding her own school record, she shattered the East Preliminary meet record, UK Outdoor Track & Field Facility record and NCAA-leading throw. She now boasts the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 10 throws in collegiate history in the discus throw.
Also pushing through to Eugene was Gracelyn Leiseth. Throwing out of flight three, the junior held a toss of 54.39m/178-05 and was looking in from the outside with one attempt remaining. Putting together the best toss of her Florida career, Leiseth recorded a personal-best mark of 56.89m/186-07 to do her part and then the waiting began. Her best attempt dropped just three positions after flight four, punching her ticket for the championships for the third time, and first in the discus. That toss moved Leiseth to No. 3 in the Florida outdoor record book.
Sitting in 14th entering the final round, Akari Isaac needed to eclipse 54.07m/177-04 in order to give her a chance to qualify for the outdoor championships. The senior delivered and then some, ending with a series-best toss of 54.58m/179-01 to push her to 10th with six throws remaining. She didn't have to wait long for the celebration, as her mark ended as the 11th-best distance of the day, giving Isaac her first trip to Eugene of her career.
In the outdoor history of Florida throws, this is just the third time that three athletes will represent the Gators in the same event. The trio joins Jukina Dickerson, Erin Gilreath and Candice Scott who pushed through in the hammer throw during the 2003 season, and Lori Mercer, Solvi Nybu-Watson and Clarinda Wilson in the javelin in 1986. This is also just the second time that multiple discus athletes will travel to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, with the last coming in 1987 from Janet Matthews and Colleen Rosensteel. The discus throw semifinals at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on June 13, 2026.
The first two qualifiers on the track for the Gators during Friday afternoon's competition came out of the 1500-meter run. Claire Stegall and Tia Wilson, both in heat one, needed to place in the top-five to automatically advance to the NCAA Championships. Stegall was out fast, leading the field for the entirety of the 1500, while Wilson kicked on the straightaway to ensure the pair crossed the line together in first and second with times of 4:09.33 and 4:09.38, the top two times of the entire quarterfinal. The duo, who are the first to qualify as a pair in the 1500 since Cory McGee and Agata Stausa in 2007, will take the track in Oregon for the semifinals on June 11 at 8:21 p.m. ET.
Gabrielle Matthews secured two entries to Tracktown USA after a successful double in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Starting her day in the 100 meters, Matthews advanced out of the only heat to feature two times at or below 10.90, ending third to take an automatic qualifier of 11.02 (+1.1). An hour and 15 minutes later, she was back in action to punch her ticket in the 200-meter dash, placing second in heat three to claim an automatic entry of 22.78 (+0.8). The 100-meter semifinals will begin at 9:25 p.m. ET on June 11, with the 200-meter dash to follow at 10:29 p.m. ET.
Also advancing out of the sprints, Quincy Penn used her best performance in a Florida uniform to qualify for the national championships. Penn was right on the heels of Boston College's Sydney Segalla to take an automatic qualifier by placing second with a new personal-best and third-best time in Florida outdoor history of 50.78. The women's 400-meter dash semifinals in Eugene will begin at 9:41 p.m. ET on June 11.
Layla Haynes had her work cut out for her in the women's 800-meters quarterfinal, matching up alongside two former 800-meter NCAA indoor champions in North Carolina's Makayla Paige and Clemson's Gladys Chepngetich. She kept pace with the former champions, crossing the line in fourth of heat three with a time of 2:00.75. Her heat was the fastest of the day, featuring two times under two minutes. The 800-meter run semifinals will begin at 9:58 p.m. on June 11 at Hayward Field.
The Gators will be well represented in the women's 5K finale in Eugene with Hilda Olemomoi and Judy Chepkoech punching their tickets in the last individual track event of the East First Round. Olemomoi ran a patient race in the first section, staying with the lead pack before pulling away over the last 1200 meters to win the section and earn her spot on the plane with a season-best time of 15:27.89. In section two, Judy Chepkoech stayed with the chase pack, trailing only Alabama's Doris Lemngole, before also pulling away over the last three laps to place second at 15:36.94, qualifying for the championship roster. The women's 5000-meter run finale is slated for 9:55 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 13.
The women's triple jump gave the Gators another entry into the field events, coming by way of Asia Phillips. Phillips was consistent, jumping 13.28m/43-07.00 on her first two attempts, both of which would've punched her ticket, but saved her best for last with a leap of 13.32m/43-08.50 (+0.7) to place sixth and qualify for her second NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet. The Gators have now sent an athlete to compete in the horizontal jumps at the outdoor championships every year since 2010. The women's triple jump finale is set to begin at 8:10 p.m. ET on June 13.
The final event of the day saw Florida's last entry push their way through the qualifying round. The women's 4x400-meter relay squad of Penn, Sydney Sutton, Malia Campbell and Haynes needed to place in the top three of heat three to advance. After falling into fourth briefly, Haynes ran a strong anchor and finished with a 52.19 split to will the Gators into third with a time of 3:27.70, just outside the UF top 10, and secure their spot in Oregon for the semifinals at 11:36 p.m. ET on June 11.
UP NEXT
The Gators now turn their attention to the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held from June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore., at historic Hayward Field.
DAY THREE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Women's 100m
7. Gabrielle Matthews - 11.02 (+1.1), Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 200m
7. Gabrielle Matthews - 22.78 (+0.8), Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 400m
7. Quincy Penn - 50.78, PR, No. 3 Florida Outdoor History, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 800m
8. Layla Haynes - 2:00.75, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 1500m
1. Claire Stegall - 4:09.33, Qualified for NCAA Championships
2. Tia Wilson - 4:09.38, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 5000m
2. Hilda Olemomoi - 15:27.89, Season Best, Qualified for NCAA Championships
6. Judy Chepkoech - 15:36.94, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 4x400m Relay
6. Quincy Penn, Sydney Sutton, Malia Campbell, Layla Haynes - 3:27.70, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Discus
1. Alida van Daalen - 69.31m/227-04, PR, School Record, Meet Record, Facility Record, Third-Best Collegiate Throw All-Time, NCAA No. 1, World No. 3, Qualified for NCAA Championships
6. Gracelyn Leiseth - 56.89m/186-07, PR, No. 3 Florida Outdoor History, Qualified for NCAA Championships
11. Akari Isaac - 54.58m/179-01, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Triple Jump
6. Asia Phillips - 13.32m/43-08.25, Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY THREE ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Women's 400m
21. Sydney Sutton - 51.94
Women's 400m Hurdles
22. Marianna Wright - 59.43
Women's 4x100m Relay
14. Quincy Penn, Jade Brown, Sydney Sutton, Payton Payne - 43.76
Women's Triple Jump
16. Gabrielle Pierre - 12.97m/42-06.75
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
For the fifth consecutive year, and 11th time since Mike Holloway became the women's head coach in 2008, the Gators will send over 10 women's entries to compete in Eugene, Ore., for an NCAA title. With the inclusion of Pauline Bikembo in the heptathlon, the women will have 17 entries in Tracktown USA in 2026. This year will mark the 10th time that the Orange & Blue send 10 or more entries on both the men's and women's side to the championships.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
For the first time in school history, Florida will be represented by three women's discus throwers at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Alida van Daalen was set for the championships after her first throw of the contest and improved each throw of her series, leading up to her best toss this season. To the applause of the crowd, the senior unleashed the best collegiate toss in an NCAA-sponsored event of all time at 69.31m/227-04 on her third throw, improving her third-best mark in the world this season. In addition to exceeding her own school record, she shattered the East Preliminary meet record, UK Outdoor Track & Field Facility record and NCAA-leading throw. She now boasts the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 10 throws in collegiate history in the discus throw.
Also pushing through to Eugene was Gracelyn Leiseth. Throwing out of flight three, the junior held a toss of 54.39m/178-05 and was looking in from the outside with one attempt remaining. Putting together the best toss of her Florida career, Leiseth recorded a personal-best mark of 56.89m/186-07 to do her part and then the waiting began. Her best attempt dropped just three positions after flight four, punching her ticket for the championships for the third time, and first in the discus. That toss moved Leiseth to No. 3 in the Florida outdoor record book.
Sitting in 14th entering the final round, Akari Isaac needed to eclipse 54.07m/177-04 in order to give her a chance to qualify for the outdoor championships. The senior delivered and then some, ending with a series-best toss of 54.58m/179-01 to push her to 10th with six throws remaining. She didn't have to wait long for the celebration, as her mark ended as the 11th-best distance of the day, giving Isaac her first trip to Eugene of her career.
In the outdoor history of Florida throws, this is just the third time that three athletes will represent the Gators in the same event. The trio joins Jukina Dickerson, Erin Gilreath and Candice Scott who pushed through in the hammer throw during the 2003 season, and Lori Mercer, Solvi Nybu-Watson and Clarinda Wilson in the javelin in 1986. This is also just the second time that multiple discus athletes will travel to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, with the last coming in 1987 from Janet Matthews and Colleen Rosensteel. The discus throw semifinals at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on June 13, 2026.
The first two qualifiers on the track for the Gators during Friday afternoon's competition came out of the 1500-meter run. Claire Stegall and Tia Wilson, both in heat one, needed to place in the top-five to automatically advance to the NCAA Championships. Stegall was out fast, leading the field for the entirety of the 1500, while Wilson kicked on the straightaway to ensure the pair crossed the line together in first and second with times of 4:09.33 and 4:09.38, the top two times of the entire quarterfinal. The duo, who are the first to qualify as a pair in the 1500 since Cory McGee and Agata Stausa in 2007, will take the track in Oregon for the semifinals on June 11 at 8:21 p.m. ET.
Gabrielle Matthews secured two entries to Tracktown USA after a successful double in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Starting her day in the 100 meters, Matthews advanced out of the only heat to feature two times at or below 10.90, ending third to take an automatic qualifier of 11.02 (+1.1). An hour and 15 minutes later, she was back in action to punch her ticket in the 200-meter dash, placing second in heat three to claim an automatic entry of 22.78 (+0.8). The 100-meter semifinals will begin at 9:25 p.m. ET on June 11, with the 200-meter dash to follow at 10:29 p.m. ET.
Also advancing out of the sprints, Quincy Penn used her best performance in a Florida uniform to qualify for the national championships. Penn was right on the heels of Boston College's Sydney Segalla to take an automatic qualifier by placing second with a new personal-best and third-best time in Florida outdoor history of 50.78. The women's 400-meter dash semifinals in Eugene will begin at 9:41 p.m. ET on June 11.
Layla Haynes had her work cut out for her in the women's 800-meters quarterfinal, matching up alongside two former 800-meter NCAA indoor champions in North Carolina's Makayla Paige and Clemson's Gladys Chepngetich. She kept pace with the former champions, crossing the line in fourth of heat three with a time of 2:00.75. Her heat was the fastest of the day, featuring two times under two minutes. The 800-meter run semifinals will begin at 9:58 p.m. on June 11 at Hayward Field.
The Gators will be well represented in the women's 5K finale in Eugene with Hilda Olemomoi and Judy Chepkoech punching their tickets in the last individual track event of the East First Round. Olemomoi ran a patient race in the first section, staying with the lead pack before pulling away over the last 1200 meters to win the section and earn her spot on the plane with a season-best time of 15:27.89. In section two, Judy Chepkoech stayed with the chase pack, trailing only Alabama's Doris Lemngole, before also pulling away over the last three laps to place second at 15:36.94, qualifying for the championship roster. The women's 5000-meter run finale is slated for 9:55 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 13.
The women's triple jump gave the Gators another entry into the field events, coming by way of Asia Phillips. Phillips was consistent, jumping 13.28m/43-07.00 on her first two attempts, both of which would've punched her ticket, but saved her best for last with a leap of 13.32m/43-08.50 (+0.7) to place sixth and qualify for her second NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet. The Gators have now sent an athlete to compete in the horizontal jumps at the outdoor championships every year since 2010. The women's triple jump finale is set to begin at 8:10 p.m. ET on June 13.
The final event of the day saw Florida's last entry push their way through the qualifying round. The women's 4x400-meter relay squad of Penn, Sydney Sutton, Malia Campbell and Haynes needed to place in the top three of heat three to advance. After falling into fourth briefly, Haynes ran a strong anchor and finished with a 52.19 split to will the Gators into third with a time of 3:27.70, just outside the UF top 10, and secure their spot in Oregon for the semifinals at 11:36 p.m. ET on June 11.
UP NEXT
The Gators now turn their attention to the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held from June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore., at historic Hayward Field.
DAY THREE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Women's 100m
7. Gabrielle Matthews - 11.02 (+1.1), Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 200m
7. Gabrielle Matthews - 22.78 (+0.8), Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 400m
7. Quincy Penn - 50.78, PR, No. 3 Florida Outdoor History, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 800m
8. Layla Haynes - 2:00.75, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 1500m
1. Claire Stegall - 4:09.33, Qualified for NCAA Championships
2. Tia Wilson - 4:09.38, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 5000m
2. Hilda Olemomoi - 15:27.89, Season Best, Qualified for NCAA Championships
6. Judy Chepkoech - 15:36.94, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's 4x400m Relay
6. Quincy Penn, Sydney Sutton, Malia Campbell, Layla Haynes - 3:27.70, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Discus
1. Alida van Daalen - 69.31m/227-04, PR, School Record, Meet Record, Facility Record, Third-Best Collegiate Throw All-Time, NCAA No. 1, World No. 3, Qualified for NCAA Championships
6. Gracelyn Leiseth - 56.89m/186-07, PR, No. 3 Florida Outdoor History, Qualified for NCAA Championships
11. Akari Isaac - 54.58m/179-01, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Women's Triple Jump
6. Asia Phillips - 13.32m/43-08.25, Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY THREE ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Women's 400m
21. Sydney Sutton - 51.94
Women's 400m Hurdles
22. Marianna Wright - 59.43
Women's 4x100m Relay
14. Quincy Penn, Jade Brown, Sydney Sutton, Payton Payne - 43.76
Women's Triple Jump
16. Gabrielle Pierre - 12.97m/42-06.75
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
Players Mentioned
SO/SO | Heptathlon
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/FR | Distance
/ Track and Field
JR/R-SO | Mid-distance
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Throws
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Throws
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Distance
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Jumps
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Jumps
/ 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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