Big Ten championships opened in Lincoln

The Big Ten Conference opened its 2026 outdoor track and field championships on Friday, May 15, in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Nebraska Outdoor Track, a new facility the conference said opened for competition this season. Day one ended with Washington leading the women’s standings on 60 points and Oregon leading the men’s standings on 38, according to the conference recap. The three-day meet runs through Sunday, May 17, at the University of Nebraska’s new outdoor venue. Nebraska had promoted the meet as the first Big Ten outdoor championships at the site, with field events starting Friday morning and track and combined events beginning at noon. ### Which teams moved in front when competition began Friday? Washington’s women took the early lead with 60 points after four scored events, the Big Ten said in its May 15 recap. Minnesota stood second on the women’s side with 34 points, followed by Illinois with 22 and Nebraska with 17.5. Oregon’s men led with 38 points after three scored events on Friday, the conference said. Minnesota was second with 16, while Nebraska and USC were tied for third with 11. ### Which performances set the tone on the first day? Minnesota’s Anthonett Nabwe opened the meet by winning the women’s hammer throw for the second straight year with a mark of 69.22 meters, according to the Big Ten recap. On the men’s side, Minnesota’s Angelos Mantzouranis won the hammer at 75.98 meters, extending what the conference called a run of six straight Golden Gopher titles in the event. Washington’s Hana Moll cleared 4.83 meters in the women’s pole vault, a mark the conference listed as a meet record, NCAA record and personal best. Her sister, Amanda Moll, finished second at 4.63 meters. Nebraska’s Keyshawn Strachan won the men’s javelin with a meet-record throw of 79.36 meters in front of the home crowd, the conference said. Washington’s Ashley Schroeder took the women’s javelin title with a personal-best 54.72 meters. ### How did the distance races affect the standings Friday night? Washington added 18 points in the women’s 10,000 meters, the conference said, pushing its lead after Chloe Thomas won in 32:59.51. The Big Ten said Thomas was the only runner in the field to break 33 minutes. Oregon’s Luke Tewalt won the men’s 10,000 meters, and the Ducks placed three runners on the podium, according to the conference recap. That result helped Oregon preserve the men’s lead heading into Saturday. ### What changed on the second day in Lincoln? Illinois moved into first place in the women’s standings with 73 points after Saturday’s events, the Big Ten said in its May 16 recap. Washington was second with 66, and Minnesota was third with 48. Oregon still led the men’s standings after day two with 55 points, the conference said. Minnesota had 41 and USC had 30 entering Sunday’s finals. Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson won the women’s shot put on Saturday with 19.97 meters, a mark the conference said was a meet record, a Big Ten overall record and a Swedish national record. UCLA’s Valentina Fakrogha won the women’s high jump at 1.89 meters, also a meet record, while Illinois’ JaiCieonna Gero-Holt won the heptathlon and Illinois’ Luuk Pelkmans won the decathlon. ### What is still left before team titles are decided? Sunday’s schedule in Lincoln begins with field events at 10:10 a.m. Central, according to the championship schedule published by the Big Ten. The conference said Big Ten Network coverage of Sunday track events begins at 12:30 p.m. Central. The Big Ten said 26 finals were scheduled for the final day, with team champions to be decided after the 4x400-meter relays. Nebraska’s athletics website listed Sunday track events starting at 12:34 p.m. Central and said the meet would conclude the three-day championship at the Nebraska Outdoor Track.