The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Indoor Championship
Track & Field’s Daniel earns bronze to lead Texas on final day of NCAA Indoor Championships
03.14.2026 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Daniel, Smallwood, Pinones and Cooper collected All-American honors for the Longhorns.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kelsey Daniel's bronze medal in the long jump led Texas as he Longhorns closed competition at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday inside the Randal Tyson Track Center.
The Texas men finished 24th with 12 points, while the women placed 28th with eight points.
Daniel delivered the moment of the evening for the Longhorns, finishing third in the triple jump with a career-best mark of 16.68 meters (54-8.75). Entering his sixth and final attempt in eighth place, Daniel surged into the bronze-medal position with the leap, which moved him to fourth on Texas' all-time performers list and ranks as the fourth-best performance in program history. It marked the second consecutive year Daniel earned a top-three finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships after winning the long jump at last year's meet.
Kendrick Smallwood also turned in a strong showing for Texas, placing fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.50. The mark matched the second-fastest time in program history. The program record holder at 7.46, Smallwood now owns the eight fastest times in Texas history in the event and 10 of the top 11.
In his first national championship appearance, Michael Pinones scored for the Longhorns in the men's shot put, finishing eighth with a career-best throw of 19.63 meters (64-5) to earn USTFCCCA First-Team All-America honors. The mark solidified his No. 8 position on Texas' all-time performers list. Pinones became the 11th Longhorn to earn first-team All-America honors in the indoor shot put and the first since Tripp Piperi in 2022.
Also competing in her first NCAA Indoor Championships, freshman Elise Cooper placed seventh in the women's 200 meters, crossing the line in 22.91 to add additional points for Texas. The results marked the first time the Longhorns scored in the event since 2023, when Julian Alfred earned the national crown and Lanae-Tava Thomas placed sixth. Texas has earned points in the event in four of the last six years.
Texas will now turns their attention to the outdoor season, beginning with the UTSA Invitational on March 20-21 in San Antonio.
Women's Points Scorers
Giavonna Meeks – Weight Throw – 6
Elise Cooper – 200-meter – 2
Men's Points Scorers
Kelsey Daniel – Triple Jump – 6
Kendrick Smallwood – 60-meter Hurdles – 5
Michael Piñones – Shot Put – 1
Players Mentioned
