TicketsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After four days of top-tier competition, the Bearcats qualified a school-record eight individual athletes to The NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. From June 11 to 14.
Four Bearcats competed on Saturday – with all four earning berths to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Graduate student Amanda Ngandu Ntumba qualified in discus, joined by junior Kya Epps in the 200m, sophomore Davenae Fagan in the 400m, and freshman Macaela Walker in the 400m hurdles.
// MAGIC NUMBER 8
Cincinnati made program history by qualifying eight individual athletes to Eugene after several days of intense competition. This marks Cincinnati's largest contingent at nationals since 2017, when they also sent eight athletes, including four from their 4x100 relay team.
The eight Bearcats representing the red and black in Eugene will be – Fred Moudani-Likibi (Shot Put), Ryan Rieckmann (Javelin), Juliette Laracuente-Huebner (Heptathlon), Orry Willems (Hammer Throw), Amanda Ngandu Ntumba (Discus & Shot Put), Kya Epps (200m), Davenae Fagan (400m) and Macaela Walker (400m Hurdles).
// DOUBLE DIPPING IN EUGENE
Ngandu Ntumba secured her second ticket to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She unloaded a throw of 59.43m, earning her a third-place finish in the discus.
The Saint-Étienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, native also qualified for Eugene in the shot put after recording a program record throw of 16.85m en route to an 11th place finish, passing Hall of Fame Bearcat Annette Echikunwoke's mark of 16.79m to claim the school record.
Ngandu Ntumba joins an elite group as just the fourth Bearcat in school history to qualify for multiple events at the national championships.
Leading this distinguished list is Cincinnati Hall of Famer Al Lanier, who dominated the national stage with five dual-event qualifications. Lanier competed in both the triple jump and long jump at indoor and outdoor nationals in 1972 and 1973, as well as achieving an additional outdoor double qualification in the triple jump and long jump during the 1971 season.
More recently, Caisja Chandler showcased her sprinting versatility with two separate multi-event appearances. In 2021, she qualified for both the 100m and 200m at outdoor nationals, while in 2019 she competed in the 200m and anchored the 4x100m relay team.
Jasmine Cotton rounds out this exclusive quartet, having qualified for both the pentathlon and high jump at the 2012 indoor national championships.
Ngandu Ntumba entered the NCAA First Rounds coming off an impressive showing at the Outdoor Big 12 Championships, where she placed second in the discus with a heave of 59.38m. The talented thrower is the discus school record holder after she destroyed the previous mark of 55.15mm set in 2022 by Jane Sensibaugh by over five meters. At the 2025 Texas Relays, she unloaded a throw of 60.10m to overtake the number one spot in the record book.
// PUNCHING TICKETS TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Epps, Fagan and Walker also earned their spots in Eugene for a chance to compete for a national title.
Epps displayed lightning-quick speed as she crossed the finish line at 22.82 to take home eighth place, qualifying her for the 200m dash. She becomes the fourth Bearcat to qualify in the event in school history. Caisja Chandler did it three times, twice outdoors (2020, 2019) and once indoors (2020), along with Chris Borzer (2020), Kenny Wade (2004) and Charlyn Ray (2002).
Fagan powered around the track, clocking a time of 51.76 to notch a ninth-place finish, qualifying her in the 400m dash. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native is the fourth Bearcat to ever qualify in the 400m dash. Kenya Woodall did it twice (2016 & 2015), while Antione Drakeford (2009) and Steven McElroy (2022) also qualified.
Walker showed off her speed as she registered a program record time of 57.16 in the 400m hurdles to snatch 12th place, qualifying her for the event. She is the first Bearcat to ever qualify in the 400m hurdles in UC history.
// UP NEXT
UC will have eight student-athletes traveling west to compete in Eugene, Ore., from June 11 to 14 at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships.
// FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
To support the Bearcats Track and Field program click HERE.
Four Bearcats competed on Saturday – with all four earning berths to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Graduate student Amanda Ngandu Ntumba qualified in discus, joined by junior Kya Epps in the 200m, sophomore Davenae Fagan in the 400m, and freshman Macaela Walker in the 400m hurdles.
// MAGIC NUMBER 8
Cincinnati made program history by qualifying eight individual athletes to Eugene after several days of intense competition. This marks Cincinnati's largest contingent at nationals since 2017, when they also sent eight athletes, including four from their 4x100 relay team.
The eight Bearcats representing the red and black in Eugene will be – Fred Moudani-Likibi (Shot Put), Ryan Rieckmann (Javelin), Juliette Laracuente-Huebner (Heptathlon), Orry Willems (Hammer Throw), Amanda Ngandu Ntumba (Discus & Shot Put), Kya Epps (200m), Davenae Fagan (400m) and Macaela Walker (400m Hurdles).
// DOUBLE DIPPING IN EUGENE
Ngandu Ntumba secured her second ticket to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She unloaded a throw of 59.43m, earning her a third-place finish in the discus.
The Saint-Étienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, native also qualified for Eugene in the shot put after recording a program record throw of 16.85m en route to an 11th place finish, passing Hall of Fame Bearcat Annette Echikunwoke's mark of 16.79m to claim the school record.
Ngandu Ntumba joins an elite group as just the fourth Bearcat in school history to qualify for multiple events at the national championships.
Leading this distinguished list is Cincinnati Hall of Famer Al Lanier, who dominated the national stage with five dual-event qualifications. Lanier competed in both the triple jump and long jump at indoor and outdoor nationals in 1972 and 1973, as well as achieving an additional outdoor double qualification in the triple jump and long jump during the 1971 season.
More recently, Caisja Chandler showcased her sprinting versatility with two separate multi-event appearances. In 2021, she qualified for both the 100m and 200m at outdoor nationals, while in 2019 she competed in the 200m and anchored the 4x100m relay team.
Jasmine Cotton rounds out this exclusive quartet, having qualified for both the pentathlon and high jump at the 2012 indoor national championships.
Ngandu Ntumba entered the NCAA First Rounds coming off an impressive showing at the Outdoor Big 12 Championships, where she placed second in the discus with a heave of 59.38m. The talented thrower is the discus school record holder after she destroyed the previous mark of 55.15mm set in 2022 by Jane Sensibaugh by over five meters. At the 2025 Texas Relays, she unloaded a throw of 60.10m to overtake the number one spot in the record book.
// PUNCHING TICKETS TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Epps, Fagan and Walker also earned their spots in Eugene for a chance to compete for a national title.
Epps displayed lightning-quick speed as she crossed the finish line at 22.82 to take home eighth place, qualifying her for the 200m dash. She becomes the fourth Bearcat to qualify in the event in school history. Caisja Chandler did it three times, twice outdoors (2020, 2019) and once indoors (2020), along with Chris Borzer (2020), Kenny Wade (2004) and Charlyn Ray (2002).
Fagan powered around the track, clocking a time of 51.76 to notch a ninth-place finish, qualifying her in the 400m dash. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native is the fourth Bearcat to ever qualify in the 400m dash. Kenya Woodall did it twice (2016 & 2015), while Antione Drakeford (2009) and Steven McElroy (2022) also qualified.
Walker showed off her speed as she registered a program record time of 57.16 in the 400m hurdles to snatch 12th place, qualifying her for the event. She is the first Bearcat to ever qualify in the 400m hurdles in UC history.
// UP NEXT
UC will have eight student-athletes traveling west to compete in Eugene, Ore., from June 11 to 14 at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships.
// FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
To support the Bearcats Track and Field program click HERE.