University of Tennessee Athletics
Hannah Grace Earns NCAA Championship Berth, Eight Lady Vols Advance To NCAA Quarterfinals
May 28, 2026 | Track & Field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tennessee track & field freshman Hannah Grace punched her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday, tying for first overall in the women's pole vault at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds in Lexington, Kentucky. The reigning SEC champion from Wilmington, North Carolina, will take the national stage on Thursday, June 11, in Eugene, Oregon.
Grace tied for Thursday's top spot with a clean series through 4.27 meters (14-0), and the Lady Vol rookie was the only freshman to qualify for nationals out of the East Region. She will enter the NCAA Championships with a season-best and school-record clearance of 4.52 meters (14-10), ranking 10th in the country during the 2026 outdoor season.
Tennessee also went eight-for-eight in Thursday's first-round action on the track, securing eight spots in the NCAA quarterfinals, which will take place Saturday evening in Lexington. Freshman Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka kicked off the session by finishing third in her 1,500-meter heat with a time of 4:16.53 to automatically qualify for the next round.
Three Lady Vols advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in the 100-meter dash, led by freshman Dana Wilson's time of 11.20, which placed 11th overall and third in her heat. Senior Lauren Jarrett also earned automatic qualification with a time of 11.30 that was second in her heat, while redshirt freshman Avia Jones qualified on time with a mark of 11.30 that finished 18th overall in the first round.
In the 400-meter dash, three Lady Vols earned heat victories to automatically advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. Senior Javonya Valcourt placed second overall with a lifetime-best 50.57, ranking second in school history, while sophomore Esther Joseph's 51.05 was also a personal-best that ranks fourth on the Lady Vol all-time list. Cydney Wright closed out the event with a heat-winning time of 51.58, giving UT three entries in the NCAA quarterfinal round.
Ka'Myya Haywood rounded out Tennessee's quarterfinalists in the 800-meter run, turning in a time of 2:04.15 that finished third in Thursday's opening heat.
UP NEXT: Tennessee resumes action at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds on Friday, with the men's squad set to compete in nine events. Day three begins with the men's discus at 1 p.m. ET and concludes at 8:45 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Grace tied for Thursday's top spot with a clean series through 4.27 meters (14-0), and the Lady Vol rookie was the only freshman to qualify for nationals out of the East Region. She will enter the NCAA Championships with a season-best and school-record clearance of 4.52 meters (14-10), ranking 10th in the country during the 2026 outdoor season.
Tennessee also went eight-for-eight in Thursday's first-round action on the track, securing eight spots in the NCAA quarterfinals, which will take place Saturday evening in Lexington. Freshman Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka kicked off the session by finishing third in her 1,500-meter heat with a time of 4:16.53 to automatically qualify for the next round.
Three Lady Vols advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in the 100-meter dash, led by freshman Dana Wilson's time of 11.20, which placed 11th overall and third in her heat. Senior Lauren Jarrett also earned automatic qualification with a time of 11.30 that was second in her heat, while redshirt freshman Avia Jones qualified on time with a mark of 11.30 that finished 18th overall in the first round.
In the 400-meter dash, three Lady Vols earned heat victories to automatically advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. Senior Javonya Valcourt placed second overall with a lifetime-best 50.57, ranking second in school history, while sophomore Esther Joseph's 51.05 was also a personal-best that ranks fourth on the Lady Vol all-time list. Cydney Wright closed out the event with a heat-winning time of 51.58, giving UT three entries in the NCAA quarterfinal round.
Ka'Myya Haywood rounded out Tennessee's quarterfinalists in the 800-meter run, turning in a time of 2:04.15 that finished third in Thursday's opening heat.
UP NEXT: Tennessee resumes action at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds on Friday, with the men's squad set to compete in nine events. Day three begins with the men's discus at 1 p.m. ET and concludes at 8:45 p.m. with the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Mid-Distance/Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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