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Knouff Advances to NCAA Championships to Headline Cincinnati's Second Day of Action at The East First Round

by Zac Swain

Abby Knouff is headed back for her third trip to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She earned her ticket to Eugene with a mark of 4.27m, placing seventh in the pole vault.

Results
Knouff Advances to NCAA Championships to Headline Cincinnati's Second Day of Action at The East First RoundKnouff Advances to NCAA Championships to Headline Cincinnati's Second Day of Action at The East First Round

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Cincinnati women’s track and field team finished the second day of action at the NCAA East First Round on Thursday, hosted by the University of Kentucky.

Nine Bearcats competed on the opening day, with fifth-year Abby Knouff leading the way for Cincinnati.

// PUNCHING TICKETS IN STYLEKnouff is headed back for her third trip to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Knouff earned her ticket to Eugene with a mark of 4.27m, placing seventh in the pole vault.The performance capped a dominant season for Knouff, who claimed an eighth-place podium finish in the Big 12 women’s pole vault championship. During her last trip to nationals in 2024, Knouff claimed All-American honors in the event with her mark of 4.30m.

// ADVANCING TO SATURDAYSenior Kya Epps advanced in two events, finishing 15th in the 100m with a time of 11.25 and 11th in the 200m with a time of 22.79.

Sophomore Macaela Walker and junior Davenae Fagan will also be advancing in their respective events. Walker placed ninth in the 400m hurdles with a school record time of 56.68 and Fagan placed 23rd in the 400m, clocking a time of 52.08.

// ENDING THE SEASON STRONGFive Bearcats closed out impressive 2026 seasons.

Sophomore Emarie Jackson placed 16th in the shot put with a personal best mark of 16.44m in her first NCAA postseason appearance as a Bearcat. Omolola Kuponiyi, the redshirt sophomore, also ended her season in the shot put event, placing 34th with her mark of 15.35m.

Miranda Tcheutchoua rounded out the field events for the Bearcats, and she finished her season and Bearcat career with a 24th-place finish in the hammer throw after an impressive 59.33m mark.

On the distance side of the track, senior Gwen Stare wrapped up an amazing career as a Bearcat, placing 41st with a time of 4:23.09. Fellow senior Claire Curtsinger also capped her career with a 43rd-place finish in the 10,000m at 36:08.58.

// BEARCATS COMPETING TOMORROWFRIDAY (MEN) *All Times ESTField EventsDiscus – 1 PM (Emmanuel Agbo Anih)

Track Events1500 Meters – 5:15 PM (Gianni Allwein)400m Hurdles – 7:25 PM (Camden Beatty)4x400m Relay – 9:10 PM (Apel, Beatty, Knight, Lloyd – Alternate, Mcabelo)

// FOLLOW THE BEARCATSFor all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.