Irish Athletes Ready For NCAA Indoor Championship Finale this Weekend

The American collegiate indoor season reaches its conclusion this weekend as the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships take place across all three NCAA divisions.

Irish athletes will feature prominently across the championships, with competitors lining up in Division I, Division II and Division III after qualifying through their respective conference championships earlier this month

Division I NCAA Indoor Championships

Fayetteville, Arkansas | Friday March 13th – Saturday March 14th

Six Irish athletes will be in action at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, taking place this weekend at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. All secured qualification through their conference championships two weeks ago, with several arriving after outstanding indoor campaigns that have produced Irish records and qualification standards for the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Tarleton State sprinter Lauren Roy has been one of the standout Irish performers of the indoor season. The Northern athlete held the Irish indoor national lead in the 60 metres for much of the winter and produced a superb run of 7.19 seconds on February 22nd, securing automatic qualification for the World Indoor Championships in Poland. Roy also became the first athlete in Tarleton State history to run sub 23 for 200 metres and will compete in the 200m semi finals this evening, with the final scheduled for tomorrow if she progresses.

Providence’s Maeve O’Neill is another Irish athlete enjoying a breakthrough season in the NCAA system. The middle distance runner broke the Irish indoor 800m record in Boston on February 22nd, clocking 2:00.03 to secure qualification for the World Indoor Championships. She will line up in the 800 metres this evening with a place in tomorrow's final at stake.

Oregon’s Abdel Laadjel will compete in the 5000 metres this evening following a solid winter campaign. Laadjel briefly held the Irish U23 indoor 5000m record in December before it was lowered by Nick Griggs in the new year. The Oregon athlete has raced sparingly during the indoor season but secured qualification for the championships through the conference stage.

Illinois long jumper Elizabeth Ndudi also arrives in strong form after breaking the Irish indoor long jump record earlier this season. Her performances placed her within the provisional qualification range for the World Indoor Championships, although she ultimately finished just outside the quota places for Poland. Ndudi will compete in the long jump this evening.

Rounding out the Irish involvement in Division I is Villanova athlete Sen Donoghue, who will compete as part of the Wildcats’ distance medley relay squad as they line up in the relay event on Friday evening.

⚡ Results 

Division II NCAA Indoor Championships

Virginia Beach, Virginia | Friday March 13th – Saturday March 14th

Irish interest continues at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, where three Irish distance runners will line up for Adams State University.

Ava O’Connor heads into the championships as one of the most established Irish athletes competing in the Division II system. The Tullamore Harriers athlete has built an impressive NCAA résumé, including All American honours indoors and outdoors and a third place finish in the mile at the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. She also arrives in strong form following an excellent cross country season and continues to build momentum across the indoor campaign. O’Connor will contest both the mile this evening and the 3000 metres tomorrow evening.

Her Adams State teammate Louis O’Loughlin will line up in the men’s mile this evening after reaching a major milestone earlier in the season. The Irish middle distance runner broke the four minute barrier for the mile, clocking 3:59.54 in Boston in February, a performance that underlined his progress on the NCAA circuit this winter.

The final Adams State representative in action is Claragh Keane, who will compete in the women’s 5000 metres this evening. The Wexford athlete has steadily progressed since moving to the U.S. collegiate system and continues to build experience over the longer distances.

⚡ Results 

Division II NCAA Indoor Championships

Birmingham, Alabama | Friday March 13th – Saturday March 14th

Ireland will also have representation at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, which take place at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.

The sole Irish athlete competing at the Division III championships is sprinter Lucas Fadden, who will line up in the men’s 60 metres. Fadden will contest the prelims on Friday evening, with the final scheduled for Saturday should he progress.

⚡Results

With Irish athletes competing across all three NCAA divisions, the championships once again highlight the growing presence of Irish talent within the American collegiate athletics system.

For many, this weekend marks the final major test of the indoor season before attention turns towards the outdoor campaign in the months ahead. As always, we wish every Irish athlete competing across America the very best of luck.

Image: Providence Track