STORRS, CT — UConn’s track and field contingent will send four athletes to the national stage following a strong showing at the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville.
Josh Mooney, Diarmuid O’Connor, Maresa Hense, and Enaji Muhammad all earned qualification for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships set for June 11–14 in Eugene, Oregon.
Mooney and O’Connor punched their tickets in the decathlon. Mooney’s 7,810-point finish at the BIG EAST Championships ranks fifth nationally.
O’Connor secured his berth with 7,658 points recorded at the UConn Northeast Challenge, ranking seventh in the country.
Heptathlete Maresa Hense also advanced to Eugene with a 5,733-point effort at the same meet—fourth best in the nation. High jumper Enaji Muhammad qualified with a personal-best 2.15 meters, finishing tied for 10th in the region.
The freshman standout will compete in his first NCAA Outdoor Championships.
On the women’s side, the East First Round marked the end of the collegiate season for several Huskies. Jenna Zydanowicz, a West Hartford native, closed her UConn career with a personal-best 15:46.39 in the 5000 meters. Her performance is now the second-fastest in program history, earning her a 15th-place finish.
In the 3000-meter steeplechase, Sarah Trainor placed 27th at 10:22.99. Teammates Malin Rahm and Faith Kiplimo followed in 33rd and 34th with times of 10:30.24 and 10:30.90, respectively.
The four advancing athletes will represent UConn in Oregon, continuing the program’s presence on the national stage across both combined events and field competition.
