Marquette's track teams are competing in the 2026 Big East Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Connecticut from May 14 to May 16. Riley Ward leads the women's javelin event, aiming for a championship with a season-best throw of 47.22 meters.
Key points
Marquette's track teams are competing in Connecticut
Championships run from May 14 to May 16, 2026
Riley Ward leads the women's javelin event
Ward's throw of 47.22 meters is a Marquette school record
Tessa Hollander also set a school record earlier this season
Mentioned in this story
Sherman Sports ComplexConnecticut
Marquette Golden EaglesRiley WardTessa HollanderBig East Outdoor Track & Field Championships 2026
Riley Ward throws the javelin for Marquette at the 2026 Drake Relays.
Riley Ward heads to Connecticut to do some stabbing with an eye on winning a Big East championship in the javelin. | Credit: Marquette University
YOUR Marquette Golden Eagles menâs and womenâs track teams will be out in Connecticut this weekend for the 2026 Big East Outdoor Track & Field Championships! This yearâs event is being hosted by Connecticut at the Sherman Sports Complex and will be split between Thursday, May 14, Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16. Most of the medaling for the competition will happen on Saturday, as thatâs the day with most of the running finals. However, there will be four championships decided on Thursday and another 12 on Friday before we get there.
Thanks to the handy dandy Track & Field Results Reporting System, we have something of an idea as to where Marquette is most likely to come away from the event with medals. A quick sort of the Big Eastâs outdoor performances this season down to the top 5 in each menâs and womenâs event gives us 18 spots with either an individual or a relay team in blue and gold amongst the top performers in the conference this season.
Marquetteâs best chance at a Big East individual championship this year will be in the womenâs javelin. Riley Ward is currently the leader in the conference for the entire outdoor season with a distance of 47.22 meters, which is also a Marquette school record. Wardâs distance is just short of 3.5 meters past her next closest competition, and thatâs why this is MUâs best event with a chance for a title. Not because of Ward being out in front of the pack by itself, but because the #2 distance this yearâŠ. is Marquetteâs Tessa Hollander at 43.74 meters. That number broke a 17 year old Marquette record until Ward passed her with a 45.22 a week later.
The Golden Eagles have a few third-best performances this season that could have them in competition for individual titles this weekend as well. Freshman Blake Frea had a 46.93 time in the menâs 400 meters at the Marquette Invitational this season, which has him just under eight-tenths of a second off the best time in the Big East this year. Over in the menâs 400 meter hurdles, freshman Andrew Klopcic posted a 53.11 at Georgia Tech in mid-April, which is third best in the Big East but two seconds off the pace of the leader. At the Drake Relays, Marquetteâs 4Ă100 meter menâs relay team came in at 41.81, which is about a second and a half off the pace of UConnâs best performance in the event this season.
Q&A
When are the 2026 Big East Outdoor Track & Field Championships?
The championships are scheduled for May 14 to May 16, 2026.
Who is the top competitor for Marquette in the javelin event?
Riley Ward is the top competitor, leading the conference with a throw of 47.22 meters.
Where is the 2026 Big East Outdoor Track & Field Championships being held?
The championships are being held at the Sherman Sports Complex in Connecticut.
What records did Riley Ward and Tessa Hollander set at Marquette?
Riley Ward set a school record with a throw of 47.22 meters, while Tessa Hollander previously set a record with 43.74 meters.
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We should probably mention Blake Freaâs time in the 200 meters as well. His 21.49 at Georgia Tech is only the fourth best time in the Big East this spring, but heâs less than six-tenths of a second behind Butlerâs Joe Pierro with the best time in the league. Thatâs quite the log jam of a top four, and Villanovaâs Parker Turner is only two-hundredths of a second behind Frea in fifth. You could easily see that race going in any direction if all five guys get through prelims to the final on Saturday.
Sadly, the Big Eastâs landing page for the event says that ESPN+ will only be broadcasting the running events from the meet as things roll along. That means we wonât get much of a chance to actually see Ward and Hollander duel for the gold. It appears that coverage on ESPN+ will start at 11am Central on Thursday, 1pm Central on Friday, and 11am Central on Saturday. I donât have details as I type this up on Monday as to if thereâs going to be any play by play announcing or if itâs going to just be a camera operation only.
Schedule
Thursday, May 14
Menâs Decathlon: 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meter dash
Womenâs Heptathlon: 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meter dash
Menâs & Womenâs hammer throw
Menâs & Womenâs 10,000 meters
Friday, May 15
Menâs Decathlon: 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1,500 meters
Womenâs Heptathlon: long jump, javelin, 800 meters
Menâs & Womenâs Long Jump
Menâs & Womenâs Shot Put
Menâs High Jump
Womenâs Long Jump
Menâs & Womenâs Steeplechase
Menâs & Womenâs 5,000 meters
All other running prelims
Saturday, May 16
Menâs & Womenâs Discus
Menâs & Womenâs Javelin
Menâs & Womenâs Triple Jump
Menâs Pole Vault
Womenâs High Jump
All other running finals