Full Breakdown
Washington Huskies Target NCAA Outdoor Spots at West Preliminaries
5/27/2026, 11:18:20 PM
Event Overview
Washington will field 15 men and 20 women at the NCAA West Preliminaries in Fayetteville, Arkansas, beginning Wednesday. The meet determines which athletes advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, next month.
Recent Performance and Program Context
The Huskies have a recent record of advancing multiple athletes to Eugene. In 2025, Martin Barco placed 13th in the 1500 m, and Teko Cates secured a top-22 seed in the decathlon final. The 2026 squad returns several qualifiers and adds newcomers aiming to extend that success.
Key Male Athletes and Event Outlook
- 1500 m: Reuben Reina (seed #9, 3:37.32) leads a heat that also includes Barco (seed #34, 3:40.01) and freshman Josiah Tostenson (seed #48, 3:41.47). Tyler Bilyard (seed #14, 3:37.99) will run unassisted.
- 3000 m steeplechase: Isaac Briggs (seed #15, 8:38.10) needs a top-three finish or a fast time.
- Pole vault: Jimmy Rhoads (seed #2, 5.75 m) seeks a top-12 spot after a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Outdoors.
- Javelin: Carson Olmstead (seed #18, 69.20 m) aims to improve on his 31st-place finish last year.
- Triple jump: Roman Hutchinson (seed #40, 15.51 m) and Trevontay Smith (seed #30, 15.73 m) target personal bests.
- 400 m: Alex Rhodes (seed #3, 44.94 s) returns from injury to contend for a final berth.
Key Female Athletes and Event Outlook
- Pole vault: Twins Amanda Moll (seed #1, 4.63 m) and Hana Moll (seed #2, 4.73 m) dominate the field; freshman Veronica Vacca (seed #12 tie, 4.43 m) also competes.
- 400 m hurdles: Jonathan Frazier (seed #29, 50.69) looks to improve on his 26th-place finish in 2024.
- Heptathlon: Sofia Cosculluela (seed #1) already qualified for Eugene and will warm up in Fayetteville while also contesting the 100 m hurdles (seed #26, 13.31 s).
- 1500 m: Chloe Foerster (seed #6, 4:08.64) leads a strong group.
- 5000 m/10,000 m: Mia Cochran (seed #17/28) and Julia David-Smith (seed #21) aim for top-12 spots; Abby DeVeau (seed #28, 33:18.23) targets the 10,000 m final.
- Javelin: Ashley Schroeder (seed #11, 54.72 m) and Saydi Orange (seed #16, 52.93 m) will compete against a deep field.
Seed Rankings and Qualification Benchmarks
Across both squads, 35 athletes are seeded within the top 30 of their events. Advancement typically requires a top-12 finish or a performance that meets the automatic qualifying standard, which aligns closely with the Huskies’ seed marks.
Why It Matters / Impact
Qualifying multiple athletes sustains Washington’s reputation as a national contender in both men’s and women’s track and field, supports recruiting, and contributes to the university’s overall athletic prestige at the NCAA Championships.
What’s Next
The West Preliminaries run from Wednesday through Saturday. Athletes who advance will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, beginning next month.
