2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships: Day 1 Recap

The 2025 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships began on Friday, March 14, at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hosted by Norfolk State University, the event saw top collegiate athletes from across the country competing for national titles. Day 1 featured record-breaking performances, thrilling finishes, and standout individual efforts that set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the championship.

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Men’s Events

Virginia Wins the Men’s Distance Medley Relay in Meet-Record Time:

In a showdown between schools with the fastest distance medley relay (DMR) times in collegiate history, Virginia emerged victorious. The Cavaliers claimed the title with a meet-record time of 9:15.12, securing their first-ever NCAA DMR championship. Gary Martin anchored the team with a powerful final lap in the 1600-meter leg, outkicking North Carolina’s Ethan Strand.

Virginia’s Championship Splits:

• 1200m – Wes Porter (2:52.97)
• 400m – Alex Sherman (46.54)
• 800m – Conor Murphy (1:47.50)
• 1600m – Gary Martin (3:48.12)

Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau Sets Meet Record in 5000m

Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau delivered a dominant performance in the men’s 5000 meters, clocking a meet-record 13:11.34. The race came down to a blistering final lap, where Musau split 25.82 seconds over 200 meters to secure the victory.

Duke’s Simen Guttormsen Wins Men’s Pole Vault

Duke’s Simen Guttormsen clinched the men’s pole vault title by clearing 5.71 meters on his second attempt. He was the only competitor to clear the height, joining his brother Sondre as an NCAA indoor champion. Sondre previously won back-to-back titles for Princeton in 2022 and 2023.

Texas’ Kelsey Daniel Wins Men’s Long Jump

Kelsey Daniel made history for Texas by becoming the first Longhorn to win an NCAA indoor long jump title. He secured the win with an 8.16-meter jump on his fifth attempt, improving on his earlier marks of 7.97m and 8.11m.

Wyoming’s Daniel Reynolds Claims Men’s Weight Throw Title

Wyoming’s Daniel Reynolds, the national leader entering the meet, lived up to expectations by winning the men’s weight throw with a personal-best of 25.08 meters. His first attempt of 24.61 meters was already enough to win, but his fourth attempt extended the mark. Reynolds became only the second Wyoming athlete this century to win an NCAA title, following Shauna Smith’s 400-meter hurdles victory in 2004.

Men’s Heptathlon Standings After Day 1

Mississippi State’s Peyton Bair leads the men’s heptathlon after four events with 3357 points, holding a slim 17-point lead over BYU’s Ben Barton. The heptathlon resumes on Saturday with the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1000 meters.

Women’s Events

BYU Wins Back-to-Back Titles in Women’s Distance Medley Relay

BYU successfully defended its women’s distance medley relay title, winning in 10:45.34. Riley Chamberlain anchored the Cougars with a stunning 4:25.12 split in the 1600 meters, overtaking Oregon’s Silan Ayyildiz on the final lap.

BYU’s Championship Splits:

• 1200m – 3:21.61
• 400m – 52.10
• 800m – 2:06.52
• 1600m – 4:25.12

Alabama’s Doris Lemngole Wins Women’s 5000m

Alabama’s Doris Lemngole added another NCAA title to her resume, winning the women’s 5000 meters in 15:05.93. Lemngole held off BYU’s Lexy Halladay-Lowry with a 30.48-second final lap, securing the victory in a thrilling finish.

Baylor’s Alexis Brown Dominates Women’s Long Jump

Baylor’s Alexis Brown delivered a dominant performance in the women’s long jump, leading from start to finish. She set a personal-best with a 6.84-meter jump on her first attempt before improving to 6.90 meters on her fourth attempt. Brown had three jumps over 6.80 meters, all of which would have secured the title.

Washington’s Amanda Moll Wins Women’s Pole Vault

Washington’s Amanda Moll edged out her twin sister and teammate Hana Moll to win the women’s pole vault. Both athletes cleared 4.70 meters, but Amanda secured the victory by making the clearance on her first attempt.

Notre Dame’s Jadin O’Brien Wins Third Consecutive Pentathlon Title

Jadin O’Brien of Notre Dame continued her dominance in the women’s pentathlon, securing her third straight NCAA title with a personal-best score of 4596 points. She recorded the fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles (8.16 seconds) and consistently performed well in the shot put, long jump, and 800 meters. O’Brien became the first woman to three-peat in the pentathlon since Georgia’s Kendell Williams won four straight from 2014-2017.

Notable Prelim Performances:

• USC’s JC Stevenson ran 6.46 seconds in the men’s 60 meters, the second-fastest time in NCAA history.
• Texas A&M’s Jaiya Covington led the women’s 60-meter hurdles prelims with a time of 7.94 seconds.
• Baylor’s Nathaniel Ezekiel posted the fastest men’s 400-meter prelim time at 45.44 seconds.
• Defending champions Brianna Lyston (LSU, 60m) and JaMeesia Ford (South Carolina, 200m) advanced to their respective finals.

Team Standings After Day 1

• Men’s Leaderboard: Oklahoma State leads with 17 points after five scored events.
• Women’s Leaderboard: Illinois leads with 21 points after six scored events.

With most finals yet to come, Day 2 promises more intense competition and potential record-breaking performances as teams vie for the championship title.