The madness of March is over, and if some of the exciting action of the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments caused you to miss the action in DI track and field, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s an early-season recap of what you may have missed during DI outdoor track and field so far in 2026.
NCAA Records
It’s early, but we’ve already seen two collegiate records run this season on the track — both by women.
The first came from LSU’s Shawnti Jackson in March. The Arkansas transfer joined the Tigers as a redshirt sophomore this season, and the multi-time U20 U.S. national record holder started off her Bayou tenure with a bang. Jackson opened her Tiger career with an NCAA record 300 meters, finishing in 35.89.
welcome back, 🫶
— LSU Track & Field (@LSUTrackField)
The second collegiate record came from a standout true freshman at BYU, Jane Hedengren. She hasn’t missed a beat after a fantastic indoor season where she claimed the indoor 5000-meter collegiate record AND the 5K and 10K indoor NCAA titles. She made her collegiate outdoor debut with a record in the 10,000 meters — just like the indoor season where she debuted with a collegiate record. Hedengren ran 30:46.80 in the 10K at the Stanford Invitational to move to No. 7 all-time in U.S. history.
RECORD TRACKER: Every track and field record broken in 2026
All-time performances
The record-setting races also saw some other all-time performances finish behind them. New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei also dipped under the 10K record with a 30:49.99 finish, and Eastern Kentucky’s Edna Chelulei ran the 10th-fastest all-time 10K with a 31:33.57 finish.
Similarly, all-time performances followed Jackson in the 300 meters at the Hurricane Invitational. Nebraska’s Kelsie Belquist and Sakena Massiah, plus LSU’s Skyler Franklin and Nasya Williams, all added their names among the top-nine all-time charts in the event.
LSU had another impressive historical performance as Ella Onojuvwevwo became the first collegiate woman to run a sub-50 400 meters by the first week of April with a 49.59-second finish. It makes the Tiger the No. 10 all-time performer in the 400m.
FIRST SUB 50 IN THE 🌎 FOR 2026 GOES TO OUR TIGER ELLA ONOJUVWEVWO!!!
— LSU Track & Field (@LSUTrackField)
⏱️ 49.59 seconds
👉 LSU Record
👉 No. 10 in collegiate history
👉 No. 7 in African history
👉 No. 3 in Nigerian history
👉 2026 World Leader
When it comes to the 4x400 meter relay, the Arkansas women are no strangers to all-time performances, entering the year with the two fastest all-time finishes. The Razorbacks now have added the fifth-fastest time all-time in 2026 thanks to the quartet of Sanaria Butler, Analisse Batista, Kaylyn Brown and Sanu Jallow. Arkansas ran 3:22.06 to show that the high standard in the 4x4 has remained the same for another year.
On the men’s side, New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel ran the 11th-fastest 10K in collegiate history in 27:30.51. He already owned the third-fastest race all-time.
LSU had three more all-time performances in the 300 meters on the men’s side with Jeremiah Walker (No. 2), Shakeem McKay (No. 3) and Isaac Lewis (No. 7). Nebraska’s Richard Simpson ran the ninth-fastest 300 meters, too.
Ole Miss’ Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan climbed up the charts to become the No. 12 all-time hammer thrower with a 77.62m throw just a week after the indoor championships at the Ole Miss Classic. He also PR’d in the shot put at the same meet.
Field series:
— Ole Miss Track & XC (@OleMissTrack)
1️⃣ 75.67m/248' 3"
2️⃣ 75.46m/247' 7"
3️⃣ 77.62m/254' 8"
4️⃣ 76.75m/251' 9"
5️⃣ FOUL
6️⃣ 73.91m/242' 6"
MEET RECAPS: Texas Relays | Florida Relays
More things you may have missed
- Penn State’s Ajani Dwyer is the only man to run sub-10 in the 100 meters in 9.96 seconds (+2.2).
- Two men have already run sub-50 in the 400 meters — Georgia’s Jonathan Simms (44.76) and South Carolina’s Josiah Wrice (44.96).
- Kansas’ Anthony Meacham cleared 5.80m in the pole vault at LSU's Battle on the Bayou. He then attempted a collegiate-record-breaking 6.01m vault but missed on three attempts.
- Discus collegiate record holder Mykolas Alekna — now an Oregon Duck — is out for the season after undergoing surgery on a torn pectoral muscle.
SCHEDULE: Key meets for the 2026 outdoor track and field season
Upcoming meets to watch
Now that we’ve recapped some of the action you might’ve missed, let’s look ahead to some upcoming meets this month.
- 44 Farms Team Invitational: April 9-11 | Host: Texas A&M
- Bryan Clay Invitational: April 16-18 | Host: Azusa Pacific
- Mt. SAC Relays: April 16-18 | Host: Mt. San Antonio College
- Oregon Team Invitational: April 17-18 | Host: Oregon
- Tom Jones Memorial: April 17-18 | Host: Florida
- Drake Relays: April 22-25 | Host: Drake
- Penn Relays: April 23-25 | Host: Penn
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Comparing indoor and outdoor seasons | Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms
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