ALBANY, N.Y. - Nine UAlbany track and field student-athletes are ready to compete at the NCAA East Prelims this week.
 
MEET INFORMATION
 
NCAA East Preliminary Rounds
DATE: Wednesday-Saturday, May 27-30
SITE: UK Outdoor Track & Field Complex - Lexington, Ky.
RESULTS: Flash Results
WATCH: ESPN+ - Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
TICKETS: Ticketmaster
MORE INFO: Schedule | Participants - Men / Women | UK Meet Homepage | NCAA Meet Homepage
 
LAST TIME AT NCAA REGIONALS

• The Great Danes brought 10 individuals, the most in program history, to the 2025 NCAA East Prelims. 
• Of the four men - Hassan Abidi, Louis Gordon, Simone Menchini, and Tooni Ogunyeye - and six women - Amelia Benjamin, Toni Galloway, Lalenii Grant, Stephanie Green, Beatriz Mora Herencia, and Miyanah Robinson - four of them - Ogunyeye, Grant, Mora Herencia, and Robinson - were freshmen. 
• Gordon, competing in his second career regionals, became UAlbany's first ever regional champion. Due to an injury and confident his mark would get him to nationals - he held on to the competition's best mark with just two attempts in the long jump.
• Mora Herencia, along with Gordon, went on to compete at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor TF Championship in the javelin throw.

 
2026 NCAA REGIONALS

• The Great Danes have nine student-athletes set to compete in Lexington, just one less than the history-making 2025.
• Five men - Leonard Durau, Jed Elmbarki, Steve Hines, Kyaire Lawson, and Brooks Robson - will compete on Wednesday and/or Friday.
• Four women - Amelia Benjamin, Keegan Collins, Lalenii Grant, and Marissa Gordon - will compete on Thursday or Saturday.
• Of the nine competitors, only Benjamin and Grant have competed at the NCAA regional competition before.
• Benjamin is set to compete in her third NCAA regional meet in as many years of collegiate competition. She finished 14th at nationals as a freshman to become a Second Team All-American. In 2025, she was just two attempts away from nationals as a tie for the last spot did not go her way.
• Three event groups have had multiple student-athletes qualify.
  • Three horizontal jumpers - Durau (TJ), Robson (TJ), and Gordon (LJ)
  • Two throwers - Collins (HT) and Grant (DT)
  • Two mid/distance runners - Hines (800m) and Elmbarki (3000mSC)
• Hines (800m), Gordon (LJ), Benjamin (HJ), and Grant (DT) all hold the UAlbany program record in their respective event.
  • Collins (HT) and Elmbarki (3000mSC) are second and closing in on breaking the record. The steeplechase record is 17 years old.
• In addition to the nine entries, Tooni Ogunyeye and Beatriz Mora Herencia qualified but had to pass on their opportunity due to injury.

 
AMERICA EAST OUTDOOR HISTORY

• The UAlbany women have won 19 outdoor titles. They currently hold a 17-year win streak.
• Historically, the women have had the most success in the 400m hurdles with a total of 14 event titles.
• The UAlbany men have won 19 men's outdoor titles overall.
• Historically, the men have seen the most success in the triple jump with 17 event titles.
• Combined, the Great Danes currently hold 12 men's and seven women's America East Outdoor Championship meet records. 
• Overall, UAlbany has won 296 event titles at America East Outdoor Championships.
  • The men have won 170, including 104 track events and 67 field events
  • The women have won 141, including 85 track events and 56 field events.

 
ENTRIES' REGIONAL RANK
Amelia Benjamin: High Jump (5, 1.83m)
Keegan Collins: Hamer Throw (41, 59.46m)
Leonard Durau: Triple Jump (32, 15.56m)
Jed Elmbarki: 3000mSC (49, 8:51.19)
Marissa Gordon: Long Jump (41, 6.22m)
Lalenii Grant: Discus Throw (11, 56.81m)
Steve Hines: 800m (32, 1:46.98)
Kyaire Lawson: 400mH (47, 51.47)
Beatriz Mora Herencia*: (48, 47.18m)
Tooni Ogunyeye*: 100m (58, 10.25)
Brooks Robson: Triple Jump (45, 15.48m)
 
Full Performance Lists: Women | Men
 
ENTRIES' NATIONAL RANK
Amelia Benjamin: High Jump (21, 1.83m)
Keegan Collins: Hamer Throw (79, 59.46m)
Leonard Durau: Triple Jump (70, 15.56m)
Jed Elmbarki: 3000mSC (105, 8:51.19)
Marissa Gordon: Long Jump (86, 6.22m)
Lalenii Grant: Discus Throw (20, 56.81m)
Steve Hines: 800m (60, 1:46.98)
Kyaire Lawson: 400mH (101, 51.47)
Beatriz Mora Herencia*: (103, 47.18m)
Tooni Ogunyeye*: 100m (108, 10.25)
Brooks Robson: Triple Jump (91, 15.48m)
 
Full Performance Lists: Women | Men
 
2026 AMERICA EAST OUTDOOR CHAMPIONS
Women
Shenequa Vassell: 100m
Shenequa Vasell: 200m
Brinesha Derrick-Bain: 400mH
4x100m: Fega Eruotor, Shenequa Vassell, Shantae Pryce, Stephanie Weiner
4x800m: Arianna Verardi, Jaymee Yelton, Aiva Pinches, Skyler Smith
Amelia Benjamin: High Jump
Keegan Collins: Hammer Throw
Lalenii Grant: Discus Throw
Men
Jacob Smith: 1500m
Jed Elmbarki: 5000m, 3000mSC
Brooks Robson: Long Jump
Leonard Durau: Triple Jump
 
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE

• The UAlbany cross country/track and field program claimed their first America East Championship victory in 2003 when the men won the indoor championship. Since then, each of the six programs have claimed at least one America East crown.
• The program's six teams have collectively won 71 of UAlbany's 143 Division I championship titles with their most recent coming during the outdoor season with both teams winning titles.

 
UP NEXT: The top 12 from each event will advance to the NCAA National Championship. The national competition will take place at Oregon in Eugene, Ore. on June 10-13.
 
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