Golden Eagles Head to Little Rock for 2026 OVC Outdoor Championships
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Tennessee Tech Track & Field is set for postseason competition as the Golden Eagles travel to Arkansas for the 2026 OVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, taking place May 14-16 at the Coleman Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
By Caden Smith, TTU Athletics Media Relations
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Tennessee Tech Track & Field is set for postseason competition as the Golden Eagles travel to Arkansas for the 2026 OVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, taking place May 14-16 at the Coleman Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
The championship marks the first time Little Rock has hosted the conference meet since joining the OVC prior to the 2022-23 season.
Last season, Tennessee Tech saw several current Golden Eagles deliver strong performances at the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The distance group led the way, as Naomy Lokiles earned runner-up finishes in both the 1500m and 5000m with times of 4:31.09 and 17:05.05, respectively. Makaleigh Jessee added a fourth-place finish in the 5000m at 17:40.02, while Rylee Wells placed seventh with a time of 17:56.64.
In the hurdles, Rachael Brewer secured a fifth-place finish in the 400m hurdles after crossing in 1:04.81. Hannah Little also scored for Tech on the track, placing sixth in the 400m with a time of 56.86.
The field events saw Madison Johnson finish fifth in the high jump after clearing 1.64m (5-4.5), while Tyla Street added points in the triple jump with a seventh-place mark of 11.73m (38-5.75).
Tennessee Tech also reached the podium in the 4x400m relay, where current Golden Eagles Hannah Little and Paris Bowles helped the squad place third with a time of 3:46.23.
MEET INFO
Meet Schedule
Live results
Thursday Live Stream
Friday Live Stream
Saturday Live Stream
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The Golden Eagles enter championship weekend coming off a strong showing at the Music City Challenge, where the squad produced a school-record performance along with numerous personal-best marks across multiple event groups.
Leading the way, Kennedi Winbush tied the Tennessee Tech program record in the 100m with a blazing 11.60, matching the mark previously set by assistant coach Lisa Wickham. Winbush also placed third in the 200m with a time of 24.03 and will look to continue her momentum against the OVC's top sprinters.
The rest of Tech's sprint group continued to trend upward in Nashville, highlighted by personal-best performances from Hannah Little (55.15), Kyla Joy (56.87), and Annalee Seratt (58.92) in the 400m.
In the hurdles, Carrie Flowers and Chase Wolfenbarger each broke the 15-second barrier in the 100m hurdles with personal-best times of 14.90 and 14.99, while Rachael Brewer improved her standing in the conference with a personal-best 1:02.51 in the 400m hurdles.
The distance group remains one of Tech's strongest units heading into the championship meet. In the 1500m, Joy Jepleting (4:44.28), Hayley Stegall (4:44.53), and Hannah Faudi (4:45.38) all enter after personal-best performances at Vanderbilt.
The 5000m squad also posted impressive results, led by Makaleigh Jessee's personal-best 17:04.81. Rylee Wells (17:14.42), Jane Lokiles (17:38.40), and Zaely Tilt (17:38.78) each added PR performances and will aim to carry that momentum into conference competition.
In the field events, Ally Beneke and Madison Johnson headline the jumps group after both cleared 1.68m (5-6) in the high jump at the Music City Challenge. Beneke claimed the event title, while Johnson matched the mark for a personal best.
On the men's side, Carter Bradford enters the championship in top form after recording a breakthrough personal-best time of 3:47 in the 1500m. Cruz Hesling also posted a 9:28.46 personal best in the 3000m steeplechase.
The Golden Eagles will look to build on a season filled with steady improvement, personal records, and strong performances as they compete for conference titles and podium finishes in Little Rock.
OVC Top 8 Performers Entering the Championship
100 Meters: Kennedi Winbush – 1st (11.60)
200 Meters: Kennedi Winbush – 4th (23.85)
400 Meters: Hannah Little – 1st (55.15), Kyla Joy – 4th (56.87), Aliyah Kennedy – 7th (57.14)
800 Meters: Paris Bowles – 3rd (2:10.45)
5000 Meters: Makaleigh Jessee – 3rd (17:04.81), Rylee Wells – 4th (17:14.42)
100 Hurdles: Carrie Flowers – 6th (14.90)
400 Hurdles: Rachael Brewer – 2nd (1:02.51)
3000 Steeplechase: Joy Jepleting – 8th (11:33.64)
4x100 Relay: 4th (46.71) – Little, Stanton, Flowers, Winbush
4x400 Relay: 5th (3:53.55) – Little, Joy, Kennedy, Bowles
High Jump: Madison Johnson – T-2nd (1.68m), Ally Beneke – T-2nd (1.68m)
Long Jump: Sidnee Stanton – 4th (5.74m), Asharee Davis – 7th (5.61m)
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Fans can keep up with the latest in Tennessee Tech Cross Country and Track & Field by following us on Facebook (facebook.com/TTUXCTF), X (@TNTech_XC_TF), and Instagram (tntechxctf).
