The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Men’s Track & Field advances two to finals on opening day of NCAA Championships
06.10.2026 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Smallwood breaks his own school record in the 110m hurdles; Blackwood advances to 400m hurdles final.
EUGENE, Ore. – Texas Men's Track & Field opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday at Hayward Field, highlighted by a pair of event finalists and another record-breaking performance from Kendrick Smallwood.
Smallwood once again provided the spark for the Longhorns, lowering his own school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.02 to win the opening heat and advance to Friday's final. The mark ranks second in the nation this season and third in the world in 2026. Smallwood now owns the 18 fastest performances in program history.
Kody Blackwood also punched his ticket to Friday's finals, winning the second heat of the 400-meter hurdles in 48.95, the second-fastest time in the semifinal round. The performance added to an impressive season, as he now holds eight of the top 23 times in Texas history. Chris Brinkley Jr. also competed in the event, placing 16th overall in 50.25.
The Longhorns' 4x100-meter relay team of Smallwood, Xavier Butler, Jayden Jones and Gabriel Remy posted a season-best time of 39.03. The quartet finished sixth in its heat and 13th overall to earn Second Team All-America honors.
Texas closed out the track session in the 4x400-meter relay, where Waly Bathily, Sihle Mahlangu, Blackwood and Logan Popelka combined to run 3:02.66 to finish 12th.
In the field, Shaiquan Dunn placed 20th in the shot put with a mark of 17.99 meters (59-0.25).
The Women's squad opens competition Thursday, with Giavonna Meeks set to begin action for the Longhorns in the women's hammer throw at 4:30 p.m. CT (2:30 p.m. PT), throwing third in flight one. The Longhorns' track events will begin with the 4x100m relay at 7:05 p.m. CT (5:05 p.m. PT).
Schedule for Thursday, June 11
4:30 p.m. CT – Women's Hammer Final (2 Flights)
- Flight 1, Position 3: Giavonna Meeks
7:05 p.m. CT – Women's 4x100m Relay Prelims (3 Heats)
Top 9 Advance: Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
- Heat 2, Lane 4
8:25 p.m. CT – Women's 100m Prelims (3 Heats)
Top 9 Advance: Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
- Heat 2, Lane 6: Carleta Bernard
8:41 p.m. CT – Women's 400m Prelims (3 Heats)
Top 9 Advance: Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
- Heat 2, Lane 5: Bayleigh Minor
9:14 p.m. CT – Women's 400m Hurdles Prelims (3 Heats)
Top 9 Advance: Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
- Heat 1, Lane 6: Amelliah Birdow
- Heat 1, Lane 8: Anouk Krause-Jentsch
10:36 p.m. CT – Women's 4x400m Relay Prelims (3 Heats)
Top 9 Advance: Top 2 Each Heat plus Next 3 Best Times
- Heat 1, Lane 7
