Houston Track and Field opens 2026 with a bang

Houston track and field opened up its 2026 indoor season at the Leonard Hilton Memorial meet on Saturday at Yeoman Fieldhouse, after a successful 2025 indoor season, which saw four conference titles. The Cougars are returning 26 men and 22 women to the roster, including eight All-Americans. 

Men’s results 

Sprints

In the 60-meter, freshman Sean Aigboboh placed first with a 6.74, with fellow freshman Micah Washington placing second with a 6.78.

In the 60-meter hurdles, graduate Jamar Marshall Jr. got first in the event with a 7.71, and sophomore Noah Hanson got third with a time of 7.99.

For the 200-meter, freshman Dominic Harper took the meet by storm, placing first with a time of 21.12 in his debut, which was the 11th fastest time in the NCAA so far. Sophomore King Taylor claimed second behind Harper, with a 21.82.

Distance/relays

In the 3000-meter, the Cougars had two freshmen break meet records and place top three in the event, with Zachary Miller placing first with a time of 8:11.89 and sophomore Remay Abraha getting third with a time of 8:18.86. 

For the 4×400-meter, Houston’s “B” squad, consisting of sophomore Damarien Jacobs, senior Ryan Mulholland, freshman Micah Washington and Aigboboh, got second.

Field Events

For the high jump, senior Turey Stoudemire got third with a height of 2.1 meters.

In the long jump, freshman Bradley Lowman got second with a distance of 7.19 meters.

In shotput, junior Cordell Nwokeji took home first with a distance of 18.16 meters.

Finally, for the weight throw, junior Canaan Wharry got second with a distance of 18.49 meters.

Women’s events 

Sprints

For the 60-meter sprint, senior Kaycee McCoy got second place and junior Ruth Agadama got third, with the pair getting times of 7.48 and 7.56.

In the 60-meter hurdles, the highlight of the meet became McCoy getting first in convincing fashion, winning the event with a time of 8.18, which was good enough for the fourth-best time so far in the NCAA. Senior Miracle Thompson got second behind McCoy with a time of 8.49.

Distance/relays 

In the 600-yard run, sophomore Kali Magana got first with a time of 56.89.

For the 3000-meter, freshman Addison Hite took home first with a time of 9:38.97

In the 4×400-meter relay, Houston took home both first and second with the “A” squad getting first, consisting of freshman Kamree Wolridge, freshman Jada Stanford, senior Matilde Ochoa, and junior Michaela Mouton, and the “B” squad consisting of freshman Lanai Grant, freshman Mallory McLemore, sophomore Norah Nwonumah and sophomore Carlysia Cresser got second.

Field Events

In the long jump, junior Ruth Agadama took home second place, with a distance of 5.81 meters, and sophomore Athena Stith got third, jumping 5.59 meters.

In pole vault, four Cougars got on the podium with senior Aubrey Tupper, junior Nicole Prall, and sophomore Kayla Byrd all tying for third place with a height of 3.63 meters. But sophomore Evgenia Maria Panagiotou finished  first with a height of 4.13 meters

For shot put, the sophomore pair of Sydney Freeman and Cleo Oye-Agyepong got second and third, getting distances of 15.20 and 15.14 meters.

For the triple jump, freshman Shieana Hall and Saphina Stanley got second and third as well, with distances of 12.42 meters and 12.12 meters.

Finally, for the weight throw, juniors Esther Osisike and Zaeda Houff got second and third with distances of 18.74 meters and 18.25 meters.

Houston track and field will be back at it in College Station for the Ted Nelson Invitational on Jan. 23-24 for the second of five meets before the Big 12 conference indoor championships.