INDIANA, Pa. – The United States Sports University men's track and field team captured its first USCAA National Championship in program history on Saturday, scoring 207 points to dominate the field at the 2026 USCAA Small College Track & Field National Championships.
The Eagles more than doubled the point total of the next closest competitor, with SUNY-ESF finishing second with 85 points, as USSU combined record-breaking performances, sprint dominance and field event excellence to secure one of the most commanding victories in meet history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
USSU set the tone early on day one behind a pair of record-breaking field performances.
Jasper Nero opened the meet with a meet-record 14.32m (46-11.75) to win the shot put, surpassing the previous record set in 2018, while
Hunter Hall added a third-place finish (12.57m/41-03.00).
Roderickas Burnett delivered another meet and program record in the long jump, winning with a mark of 7.10m (23-03.50), while
Daylon Lett placed second with a 6.84 (22-05.25) mark.
Hall added to the momentum with a national title in the hammer throw (45.28m/148-06), while Nero finished second (41.60m/136-05) to give USSU another scoring surge.
On the track,
Hamilton Washo closed out day one with a runner-up finish in the 10,000m, stopping the clock at 37:02.55 and keeping the Eagles in firm control heading into the final day.
USSU opened day two with a win in the 4x100m relay (42.63), setting the tone immediately with a meet record.
Cole Hayward captured the national title in the 400m in a meet-record 49.98, while
Tyler Johnson added a second-place finish (50.68).
Christian Aikens followed with a second-place finish in the 100m (11.04) before delivering one of the defining performances of the meet in the 200m. Aikens won the event while smashing the meet record in 21.65. Hayward (22.44) and Johnson (22.85) completed the podium sweep for the Eagles.
In the field, Hall secured his second national title in the discus with a 45.63m (149-08) mark while
Jacob Hagan placed third (40.75m/133-08). Burnett added his second national title of the meet in the triple jump, recording a 13.29m (43-07.25) mark.
Washo added another podium finish in the distance events with a third-place finish in the 5,000m (17:42.74), adding on to the Eagles' lead.
USSU closed the meet in dominant fashion, winning the 4x400m relay while breaking the meet record with a time of 3:20.80, sealing the national championship victory.
On the women's side,
Angelina Bercant won the 200m (27.51) and added a third-place finish in the 100m (13.28), while
Maryam Williams captured the 400m title (1:02.77).
MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. USSU – 207
2. SUNY-ESF – 85
3. Florida National – 79
T4. University of Maine Fort Kent – 53
T4. North American (Texas) – 53
NOTABLES
- The Eagles totaled 22 podium finishes.
- USSU broke six meet records, including four in the sprints.
- In total, the Eagles saw three program records and seven personal records fall during the meet.
- Burnett and Hall accounted for two of the five multi-event champions at the meet.
- The Eagles swept the podium in the men's 200m.
- USSU won by a 122-point margin of victory.
- The victory marked the first national championship in United States Sports University history.
FOLLOW THE EAGLES
For complete coverage of United States Sports University track & field, follow the Eagles on social media @ussutfxc (X), /ussutfxc (Facebook), @ussutfxc Instagram) or visit the official home of USSU athletics at ussueagles.com
