Friday, June 12
Eugene, OR.
Florida Gators
vs
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Justin Braun holds the third-fastest time in the world in the 400m dash this year of 43.99. // Photo by MJ Holloway
Braun Goes Sub-44 as Gators Punch Six More Tickets to NCAA Outdoor Championships
Friday, May 29, 2026 | Track and Field
The Gators will send 11 men’s entries to Oregon for the NCAA Championships from June 10-13.
LEXINGTON, Ky.– Florida's men's track & field team added six entries to its NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships roster on Friday, giving the Gators 11 total headed to Eugene, Ore., in June.
With 11 men's entries set to make the trip to Tracktown USA from June 10-13, 2026, Florida will have entered 10 or more for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the 18th time since Mike Holloway became the head coach in 2003.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
The spotlight was on the 400-meter dash on Friday night, specifically in heat three where Justin Braun lined up against the NCAA leader, Samuel Ogazi of Alabama. Braun was quick off the blocks, needing to place in the top-three to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Heat three ended up as one of the fastest 400 races in the world this season, with Braun placing second with a personal-best time of 43.99, joining Champion Allison as the only Gators to run a sub-44 400-meter dash in school history, while making him the sixth-fastest collegiate athlete all-time in the event. His time is ranked No. 3 in the world this season, and the only athlete to beat him at the East Prelim, Ogazi, ran the fastest time in the world of 43.82. He will take the track at Hayward Field on Wednesday, June 10 for the 400-meter dash semifinals.
Freshman Jarno van Daalen secured his second entry into the NCAA Outdoor Championships, this time representing the Orange & Blue in the discus throw. Entering the fourth flight, the top throw of the day sat at 57.96m/190-02, and van Daalen didn't waste time surpassing that mark, using his first toss of the day of 58.53m/192-00 to punch his ticket in the discus. He will be the first Florida men's athlete to compete in two throwing events at the outdoor national championships since Dwight Johnson competed in the shot put and discus in 1991. The discus throw at the championships will begin at 5:15 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12.
Fellow freshman Oussama Allaoui was the first Gator to qualify for the championships on the track during Friday's competition. Allaoui established himself in the lead pack during heat two of the 1500-meter run, with the top-five advancing to Oregon. A contingent of five crossed the line with each other and saw Allaoui punch his ticket by placing fourth behind a time of 3:38.57. He will make his first NCAA Championship appearance on June 12 at 8:12 p.m. ET.
In the 400-meter hurdles, Vance Nilsson left no doubt about his qualifying chances. Coming out of heat two, the sophomore took the top-spot after tying his personal-best time of 48.77, still the fifth-fastest time in Florida history and fifth in the NCAA this season. The semifinals of the 400-meter hurdles will begin in Oregon on June 10 at 10:14 p.m. ET.
The last individual qualifier of the Preliminary came out of the field. Jaden Lippett was on the outside looking in with one jump remaining in the East triple jump competition, sitting in 26th with a best jump of 15.32m/50-03.25. The Winter Haven, Fla., native didn't let the pressure rattle him, recording a mark of 15.83m/51-11.25 (+0.4) to take the 12th and final qualifying position for Eugene. Lippett will make his second appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships when the triple jump final begins at 8:10 p.m. ET on June 12.
Florida's sixth and final entry to the NCAA Outdoor Championships came from the 4x400-meter relay team of Jayden Horton-Mims, Spikes, Malique Smith-Band and Braun. With three automatic qualifiers out of each heat, the Gators took third in heat two at 3:01.45 to punch their ticket. The 4x400-meter relay semifinal will take place under the lights at Hayward Field at 11:36 p.m. ET on June 10.
Notables
Nicholas Spikes saw his individual sophomore campaign come to an end in the same heat of the 400-meter dash that featured two of the three fastest times in the world. His season ends on a high-note, running a personal-best to place fifth in the heat at 45.02, the 12th-fastest time in the event.
Wanya McCoy ended his decorated career as a Gator on Friday afternoon. The senior from Berry Island, Bahamas, ends as a five-time First Team All-American and one-time Second Team All-American, including his most recent All-American honor from the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships where he was the NCAA runner-up in the 200-meter dash and broke the school record with a time of 20.17. He also ranks third in the Florida record book for his 60-meter dash time of 6.53 from the 2025 Corky Classic and was a member of the third-best indoor 4x400-meter relay team in school history.
Outdoors, McCoy ran a personal-best time of 19.93 in the 200-meter dash at the 2024 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where he earned a silver medal. His 100-meter dash time from the same meet also ended with a second-place finish and is sixth all-time at Florida at 10.02. The senior was the second leg of the fourth-place 4x100-meter relay team at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 38.34.
UP NEXT
The Florida women will finish the NCAA East First Round beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday with the women's discus throw. The track events are slated to start at 5 p.m. ET with the 4x100-meter relay.
DAY THREE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Men's 400m
2. Justin Braun - 43.99, PR, No. 2 Florida Outdoor History, No. 3 in World, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's 1500m
4. Oussama Allaoui - 3:38.57 - Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's 400m Hurdles
2. Vance Nilsson - 48.77, PR, No. 5 Florida Outdoor History, NCAA No. 5, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's 4x400m Relay
7. Jayden Horton-Mims, Nicholas Spikes, Malique Smith-Band, Justin Braun - 3:01.45, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Discus
6. Jarno van Daalen - 58.53m/192-00, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Triple Jump
12. Jaden Lippett - 15.83m/51-11.25 (+0.2), Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY THREE ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Men's 200m
DNS. Wanya McCoy
Men's 800m
22. Gavin Nelson - 1:48.45
Men's 1500m
17. Riley Smith - 3:43.69
Men's 3000m Steeplechase
16. Graham Myers - 8:44.72
Men's 4x100m Relay
DNF. Trenton Howard, Jaden Wiley, Malique Smith-Band, Wanya McCoy
DAY ONE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Men's 10,000m
3. Kelvin Cheruiyot - 28:33.20, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Long Jump
1. Temoso Masikane - 8.05m/26-05.00 (+0.5), Outdoor PR, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, No. 9 NCAA, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Shot Put
3. Jarno van Daalen - 19.46m/63-10.25, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Hammer Throw
8. Basel Abosina - 66.90m/219-06, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Javelin Throw
5. Leikel Cabrera Gay - 70.15m/230-02, Qualified for NCAA Championships
With 11 men's entries set to make the trip to Tracktown USA from June 10-13, 2026, Florida will have entered 10 or more for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the 18th time since Mike Holloway became the head coach in 2003.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Qualifiers
The spotlight was on the 400-meter dash on Friday night, specifically in heat three where Justin Braun lined up against the NCAA leader, Samuel Ogazi of Alabama. Braun was quick off the blocks, needing to place in the top-three to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Heat three ended up as one of the fastest 400 races in the world this season, with Braun placing second with a personal-best time of 43.99, joining Champion Allison as the only Gators to run a sub-44 400-meter dash in school history, while making him the sixth-fastest collegiate athlete all-time in the event. His time is ranked No. 3 in the world this season, and the only athlete to beat him at the East Prelim, Ogazi, ran the fastest time in the world of 43.82. He will take the track at Hayward Field on Wednesday, June 10 for the 400-meter dash semifinals.
NCAA East Preliminaries | 400m (M)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 30, 2026
Justin Braun is off to Eugene with the No. 3 time in the WORLD this year & No. 2 in school history🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/F1RNHGWwmr
Freshman Jarno van Daalen secured his second entry into the NCAA Outdoor Championships, this time representing the Orange & Blue in the discus throw. Entering the fourth flight, the top throw of the day sat at 57.96m/190-02, and van Daalen didn't waste time surpassing that mark, using his first toss of the day of 58.53m/192-00 to punch his ticket in the discus. He will be the first Florida men's athlete to compete in two throwing events at the outdoor national championships since Dwight Johnson competed in the shot put and discus in 1991. The discus throw at the championships will begin at 5:15 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12.
2ND TICKET for Jarno!!!✌️ pic.twitter.com/Er6eJyB4vA
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 29, 2026
Fellow freshman Oussama Allaoui was the first Gator to qualify for the championships on the track during Friday's competition. Allaoui established himself in the lead pack during heat two of the 1500-meter run, with the top-five advancing to Oregon. A contingent of five crossed the line with each other and saw Allaoui punch his ticket by placing fourth behind a time of 3:38.57. He will make his first NCAA Championship appearance on June 12 at 8:12 p.m. ET.
NCAA East Preliminaries | 1500m (M)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 29, 2026
next stop: TrackTown✈️
Oussama Allaoui qualifies for Eugene with a 3:38.57 1500m !!! pic.twitter.com/a11u1QhV91
In the 400-meter hurdles, Vance Nilsson left no doubt about his qualifying chances. Coming out of heat two, the sophomore took the top-spot after tying his personal-best time of 48.77, still the fifth-fastest time in Florida history and fifth in the NCAA this season. The semifinals of the 400-meter hurdles will begin in Oregon on June 10 at 10:14 p.m. ET.
NCAA East Preliminaries | 400m Hurdles (M)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 30, 2026
Vance Nilsson is Eugene bound after "destroying this field"💥 pic.twitter.com/kbQ566C6wX
The last individual qualifier of the Preliminary came out of the field. Jaden Lippett was on the outside looking in with one jump remaining in the East triple jump competition, sitting in 26th with a best jump of 15.32m/50-03.25. The Winter Haven, Fla., native didn't let the pressure rattle him, recording a mark of 15.83m/51-11.25 (+0.4) to take the 12th and final qualifying position for Eugene. Lippett will make his second appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships when the triple jump final begins at 8:10 p.m. ET on June 12.
NCAA East Preliminaries | Triple Jump (M)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 30, 2026
Jaden is taking off to TrackTown🛫 pic.twitter.com/AaRSjPfdjk
Florida's sixth and final entry to the NCAA Outdoor Championships came from the 4x400-meter relay team of Jayden Horton-Mims, Spikes, Malique Smith-Band and Braun. With three automatic qualifiers out of each heat, the Gators took third in heat two at 3:01.45 to punch their ticket. The 4x400-meter relay semifinal will take place under the lights at Hayward Field at 11:36 p.m. ET on June 10.
NCAA East Preliminaries | 4x400m (M)
— Gators Track and Field & Cross Country (@GatorsTF) May 30, 2026
the boys punched their ticket👊🎟️ pic.twitter.com/WFCCsgMTnF
Notables
Nicholas Spikes saw his individual sophomore campaign come to an end in the same heat of the 400-meter dash that featured two of the three fastest times in the world. His season ends on a high-note, running a personal-best to place fifth in the heat at 45.02, the 12th-fastest time in the event.
Wanya McCoy ended his decorated career as a Gator on Friday afternoon. The senior from Berry Island, Bahamas, ends as a five-time First Team All-American and one-time Second Team All-American, including his most recent All-American honor from the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships where he was the NCAA runner-up in the 200-meter dash and broke the school record with a time of 20.17. He also ranks third in the Florida record book for his 60-meter dash time of 6.53 from the 2025 Corky Classic and was a member of the third-best indoor 4x400-meter relay team in school history.
Outdoors, McCoy ran a personal-best time of 19.93 in the 200-meter dash at the 2024 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where he earned a silver medal. His 100-meter dash time from the same meet also ended with a second-place finish and is sixth all-time at Florida at 10.02. The senior was the second leg of the fourth-place 4x100-meter relay team at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 38.34.
UP NEXT
The Florida women will finish the NCAA East First Round beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday with the women's discus throw. The track events are slated to start at 5 p.m. ET with the 4x100-meter relay.
DAY THREE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Men's 400m
2. Justin Braun - 43.99, PR, No. 2 Florida Outdoor History, No. 3 in World, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's 1500m
4. Oussama Allaoui - 3:38.57 - Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's 400m Hurdles
2. Vance Nilsson - 48.77, PR, No. 5 Florida Outdoor History, NCAA No. 5, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's 4x400m Relay
7. Jayden Horton-Mims, Nicholas Spikes, Malique Smith-Band, Justin Braun - 3:01.45, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Discus
6. Jarno van Daalen - 58.53m/192-00, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Triple Jump
12. Jaden Lippett - 15.83m/51-11.25 (+0.2), Qualified for NCAA Championships
DAY THREE ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Men's 200m
DNS. Wanya McCoy
Men's 800m
22. Gavin Nelson - 1:48.45
Men's 1500m
17. Riley Smith - 3:43.69
Men's 3000m Steeplechase
16. Graham Myers - 8:44.72
Men's 4x100m Relay
DNF. Trenton Howard, Jaden Wiley, Malique Smith-Band, Wanya McCoy
DAY ONE NCAA QUALIFIERS
Men's 10,000m
3. Kelvin Cheruiyot - 28:33.20, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Long Jump
1. Temoso Masikane - 8.05m/26-05.00 (+0.5), Outdoor PR, No. 8 Florida Outdoor History, No. 9 NCAA, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Shot Put
3. Jarno van Daalen - 19.46m/63-10.25, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Hammer Throw
8. Basel Abosina - 66.90m/219-06, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Men's Javelin Throw
5. Leikel Cabrera Gay - 70.15m/230-02, Qualified for NCAA Championships
Players Mentioned
FR/FR | Throws
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Distance
/ Track and Field
SR/SR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Throws
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Distance
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Jumps
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Jumps
/ Track and Field
SR/GR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Distance
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Distance
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Hurdles
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Distance
/ Track and Field
JR/JR | Sprints
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Sprints
/ Track and Field
FR/FR | Throws
/ Track and Field
SO/SO | Sprints
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