TicketsLEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Cincinnati men's track and field team finished the first day of action at the NCAA East First Round on Wednesday, hosted by the University of Kentucky.
Ten Bearcats competed on the opening day, with graduate student Orry Willems leading the way for Cincinnati.
// PUNCHING TICKETS IN STYLE
For the second year in a row, Willems is headed to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Willems earned his ticket to Eugene with a throw of 67.11m, placing sixth in the hammer throw. The Balen, Belgium, native is the first Bearcat in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw more than once.
The performance capped a dominant season for Willems, who claimed the Big 12 men's hammer throw championship with a program-record throw of 68.65m. Last year at the NCAA East First Round, he launched a 65.58m throw to earn a ninth-place finish and advance to Eugene, where he recorded a 64.81m throw for a 20th-place finish at nationals.
// ADVANCING TO FRIDAY
Junior Gianni Allwein finished 18th in the 1,500m with a time of 3:44.28, while fellow junior Camden Beatty placed 20th in the 400m hurdles in 50.65 seconds, advancing to the quarterfinals.
// ENDING THE SEASON STRONG
Seven Bearcats closed out impressive 2026 seasons.
Freshman Ade Lloyd placed 29th in the 400m with a time of 46.13 seconds in his first NCAA postseason appearance. Senior Seth Elking claimed a 35th-place finish in the 1,500m, clocking 3:49.53. Junior Tosin Ayodeji placed 22nd in the long jump with a mark of 7.48m, while freshman Miller Mabury finished 44th at 6.52m in his postseason debut.
On the track, sophomore Ethan Long placed 40th in the 200m in 21.13 seconds, and sophomore Nickson Kogei finished 18th in the 10,000m with a time of 29:21.32.
Junior Tyler Thompson made his East First Round debut in the hammer throw, recording a mark of 61.09m for a 37th-place finish.
// BEARCATS COMPETING TOMORROW
THURSDAY (WOMEN) *All Times EST
Field Events
Hammer – 10 AM (Miranda Tcheutchoua)
Pole Vault – 6 PM (Abby Knouff)
Shot Put – 6:30 PM (Emarie Jackson, Omolola Kuponiyi)
Track Events
100m Hurdles – 6 PM (Macaela Walker)
1500 Meters – 6:30 PM (Gwen Stare)
100 Meters – 7 PM (Kya Epps)
400 Meters – 7:25 PM (Davenae Fagan)
400m Hurdles – 8:20 PM (Macaela Walker)
200 Meters – 8:45 PM (Kya Epps)
10,000 Meters – 9:10 PM (Claire Curtsinger)
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