Fifteen Tigers Qualify for NCAA Track & Field West Regional Championships
5/22/2026 4:15:00 PM | Track & Field
Mizzou sends a squad of 15 to Fayetteville, Ark. for a chance to qualify for the finals.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fifteen Missouri track and field student-athletes have punched their tickets to the 2026 NCAA Track & Field West Regional Championships, which is slated for May 28-30 at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark.
Spearheading the qualifiers is the defending national champion for javelin, Valentina Barrios, standing No. 2 on the West leaderboard after claiming the title at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a mark of 58.31m (191-4). Skylar Ciccolini follows with the No. 3 qualifying mark after throwing 57.45m (188-6) at the Yellow Jacket Invitational, a personal best and the No. 3 result for Missouri history.
Two other Tigers represent the javelin group, ranked No. 1 in the national event squad rankings for the entirety of the outdoor campaign. Morgan Cannon qualifies with a 48.18m (158-0), the No. 44 mark in the West. Val Galligan's throw of 47.64m (156-3) earns her the No. 48 spot.
Sophomore Monica Wanjiku clinches spots in two distance events after standing No. 15 in the 10,000m from her result of 32:28.20 achieved at the Bryan Clay Invitational. She punched her ticket in the 5000m after clocking a 15:55.18 at the SEC Outdoor Championships, standing 48th in the region.
Marlena Tresnjo makes her NCAA Championship debut for her No. 18 high jump mark of 1.83m (6-0) at the Drake Relays, a personal best and No. 5 result in program history.
Senior Ames Burton earns a spot in discus throw after securing a No. 22 throw of 54.79m (179-9) at the SEC Outdoor Championships, ranking sixth on the Missouri charts. Petra Gombas returns to the national stage for hammer throw after establishing a qualifying mark of 61.43m (201-6) at the SEC Outdoor Championships, ranking No. 26 in the West and seventh in program history.
Headlining the men is senior Sam Innes, claiming the West's No. 7 result for hammer throw with a 71.65m (235-1), a personal best and No. 2 mark in Missouri history. Garik Pozecki joins him in the No. 37 spot after throwing a 63.99m (209-11) at the SEC Outdoor Championships, the sixth-best result for Mizzou.
Two Tigers represent the Black and Gold in the 3000m steeplechase, with Elijah Limo racing with the No. 13 spot after achieving a personal best of 8:36.22 at the SEC Outdoor Championships, ranking second in program history. Joshua Allison follows in the 18th qualifying mark after establishing a 8:40.21 in the same race, standing third on the Missouri charts.
Houston transfer Dillon Leacock makes his first NCAA appearance as a Tiger in the 400m hurdles for his No. 27 result of 50.68, which earned him the title of Drake Relays Champion.
Drew Rogers returns to the 10,000m after clinching a 28:47.49 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, good for the 43rd spot in the West.
Senior Lasse Funck enters the regional competition at the No. 46 mark in the 1500m after winning the Rock Chalk Classic with a 3:41.25, the No. 2 result for Missouri.
Mizzou 2026 NCAA West Regional Qualifiers
(Event – Athlete – Regional Rank)
Women
-5,000m: Monica Wanjiku (48)
-10,000m: Monica Wanjiku (15)
-High Jump: Marlena Tresnjo (18)
-Discus: Ames Burton (22)
-Hammer Throw: Petra Gombas (26)
-Javelin: Valentina Barrios (2), Skylar Ciccolini (3), Morgan Cannon (44), Val Galligan (48)
Men
-400m Hurdles: Dillon Leacock (27)
-1500m: Lasse Funck (46)
-3000m Steeplechase: Elijah Limo (13), Joshua Allison (18)
-10,000m: Drew Rogers (43)
-Hammer Throw: Sam Innes (7), Garik Pozecki (37)
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