Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia No.20 men’s and women’s track and field teams continued postseason competition at the 2026 NCAA East First Round hosted by the University of Kentucky at the UK Outdoor Track & Field Complex on Friday, as five Cavaliers punched six tickets to the big dance.

TICKETS PUNCHED

• Gary Martin won heat one of three in the men’s 1500-meter quarterfinal to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Martin crossed the line in 3:42.48, which was good for 12th overall.
• Later in the day, Martin punched his ticket in the men’s 5000-meters, crossing the line in 13:49.63.
• Closing in 56.17 for 400-meters, Justin Wachtel put himself in position to automatically qualify for the Eugene in the men’s 5000-meters, clocking 13:52.75.
• Will Daley ran a personal best of 13:33.43 for 5000-meters to punch his ticket back to the NCAA Championships. His time ranks No. 3 all-time in program history.
• Nate Mountain also won heat one of three in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase quarterfinal to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Mountain clocked 8:32.74 to finish seventh overall.
• Brett Gardner punched his ticket back to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, first in a Virginia uniform, in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase. Gardner crossed the line in 8:34.24 to finish third in the third heat of three to earn an automatic bid to Eugene.
• Gardner and Mountain are the 2026 ACC Outdoor gold and silver medalist.

Just another day at the office 😮‍💨#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/AX1E7XHJZC

— Virginia Track & Field and Cross Country (@UVATFCC) May 29, 2026

MORE PERFORMANCES

• After punching his ticket in the men’s hammer two days ago, Jeremiah Nubbe took on the field in the men’s discus, throwing for 55.59m/182-4 to finish in 18th place.
• Caleb Holman leapt out 15.58m/51-1.50 to finish 19th in the men’s triple jump competition.
• Just shy of a qualifying position, Sam Rodman clocked 1:46.82 to finish 15th in the men’s 800-meter quarterfinal.

TOTAL TICKETS PUNCHED (12)

Men’s 1500m (1): Gary Martin
Men’s 5000m (3): Will Daley, Gary Martin, Justin Wachtel
Men’s 10,000m (1): Will Anthony
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (2): Brett Gardner, Nate Mountain
Men’s Hammer (3): Cale Ayers, Jeremiah Nubbe, Nikolaos Polychroniou
Women’s Hammer (1): Charlotta Sandkulla
Women’s Javelin (1): Christiana Ellina

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers continue competition in Lexington on Saturday beginning with the women’s discus at 10 a.m., while action on the track is set to get underway at 5 p.m., when the gun goes off for the women’s 4×100-meter relay.

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