HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University Track and Field program made history at the NCAA East First Round Championships, qualifying a record five athletes to the 2026 Men's and Women's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. First Rounds served as the final qualifying stage for Nationals, where only the top twelve athletes in each event advance. Under immense pressure and against one of the deepest fields in the country, the Panthers delivered a weekend that will be remembered for years.
Historic Performances at First Rounds
The men's pole vault set the tone for the historic run. Jason Olivera Jr. earned his first trip to Nationals with a 5.45 meter clearance, a personal best that came during one of the longest and most demanding competitions of his career. With twenty-four vaulters on each pit and hours between attempts, Olivera Jr. relied on composure and belief.
"I was extremely nervous going into it because it was my first regional meet," Olivera Jr. said. "Making that 5.45 was exhilarating. If I had to describe the day in one word, it would be confidence. Qualifying proves to myself that I belong there."
Returning to Nationals for the second straight year, Ricardo Montes De Oca advanced with a clean early clearance at 5.35m before attempting 5.45m in light rain. His consistency and poise under shifting conditions once again placed him among the top vaulters in the East.
"I was excited and a little nervous because I really needed to qualify," he said. "But I had already made the bar I needed. Qualifying both years I have been here means a lot."
In the women's pole vault, Emily Romano advanced after surviving a multi-round jump off for the final qualifying spot. Romano was clean through 4.22m before entering one of the most dramatic battles of the entire meet, a sequence that tested her patience, focus, and resilience.
"It was such a long and intense jump off," Romano said. "I was relieved and surprised when I finally made it. After the injuries earlier this season, qualifying means a lot."
The high jump added another breakthrough moment for the Panthers. Mya Hines cleared 1.79m, a personal best and new school record, to secure her first appearance at the NCAA Championships. Hines opened at a height far above her usual starting point and needed a perfect day to advance. She delivered exactly that.
"I knew it would take a perfect day," Hines said. "Clearing everything on first attempts and ending with a PR felt perfect. I always wanted this, and I finally proved to myself that I could do it."
Rounding out the record-setting group, Cole Wilson earned his return to Eugene in the decathlon after scoring 7,777 points at the Big South Championships. The decathlon does not compete at First Rounds, so Wilson's national ranking secured his spot. His performance included a Day 1 personal best and a crucial pole vault personal best on Day 2, solidifying his place among the top twenty-four decathletes in the nation.
"The decathlon is always a roller coaster," Wilson said. "Going back to Eugene is huge. That was always the dream. Making it last year and then solidifying my spot this year shows the progress we have made as a group."
Together, the five qualifiers represent the largest Nationals roster in High Point University history. Their performances at First Rounds showcased not only talent, but the competitive maturity and belief that have become hallmarks of the program.
The NCAA Championships kick off on June 10 and will continue through June 13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, home of the Oregon Ducks. The Panthers enter the week with momentum, confidence, and a record-breaking group ready to compete on the sport's biggest stage.
Schedule of Events:
Wednesday - June 10
Cole Wilson - Decathlon | 4:00 P.M. ET | WATCH | Livestats
Jason Olivera Jr. - Men's Pole Vault | 8:35 P.M. ET | WATCH | Livestats
Ricardo Montes de Oca - Men's Pole Vault | 8:35 P.M. ET | WATCH | Livestats
Thursday - June 11
Cole Wilson - Decathlon | 1:45 P.M. ET | WATCH | Livestats
Emily Romano - Women's Pole Vault | 8:35 P.M. ET | WATCH | Livestats
Saturday - June 13
Mya Hines - Women's High Jump | 7:30 P.M. ET | WATCH | Livestats
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