Irish NCAA Athletes Head Into Crucial Conference Championship Weekend

The U.S. collegiate outdoor season moves into one of its defining weekends, with NCAA Division I conference championship action taking place right across the country and qualification implications beginning to sharpen ahead of the NCAA preliminary rounds later this month.

For many athletes, this weekend represents a major checkpoint in the season. Conference medals, relay titles, qualifying marks, and team points are all on the line as universities battle for honours across the Division I landscape.

There is once again a substantial Irish presence involved, with athletes competing from Texas to Oregon across sprints, distance events, jumps, throws, and combined events.

Some championship start lists are still being finalised at the time of publication. In those cases, the athletes listed below are Irish athletes representing universities within those conferences, with updates to follow once entries are officially confirmed.

Here’s how the weekend is shaping up.

American Conference 

UNT Track & Field Stadium, Denton, Texas | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

Susie Nestor of Rice University is entered across both the 800m and 1500m as championship racing begins in Texas.

University of Tulsa athletes Sarah Hosey and Shay McEvoy are also among the Irish contingent, with Hosey set for the 1500m while McEvoy lines up in both the 5000m and 10000m.

Meanwhile, University of Texas at San Antonio athlete Finn O’Neill is entered in the men’s decathlon.

⚡ Results

Atlantic Coast Conference 

Owsley B. Frazier Cardinal Park, Louisville, Kentucky | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

Florida State University’s Lucy May Sleeman returns to championship sprint action in both the 100m and 200m.

Her teammate Nicole Dinan is set for the women’s 1500m, while Boston College athlete Claire Crowley also lines up over the same distance.

⚡ Results

Big 12 Conference 

Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Arizona | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

There is strong Irish representation spread across sprint and distance events in Tucson.

University of Colorado athlete Dean Casey takes on the men’s 10000m, while University of Houston sprinter Sean Aigboboh contests both the 100m and 200m after his recent Irish national record performance over 200m.

Kansas State University athlete James Ezeonu is also entered in the men’s 200m.

⚡ Results

Big East Conference 

George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex, Storrs, Connecticut | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

Providence College once again features a sizeable Irish contingent heading into championship competition.

Maeve O’Neill is entered in both the 800m and 4x800m relay, while Cara Laverty contests the 1500m alongside relay duties.

Jane Buckley and Anna Gardiner are both listed for the women’s 5000m, with Niamh O’Mahony stepping up in the 10000m. Gemma Galvin is also set for double duty in the 800m and 4x800m relay.

On the men’s side, Providence athlete Cormac Dixon lines up in the 5000m.

Villanova University’s Seán Donoghue competes in the 1500m, while teammate Jack Fenlon takes on the 5000m.

University of Connecticut athlete Diarmuid O’Connor is entered in the decathlon, with DePaul University’s Ashleigh McArdle competing in the women’s heptathlon.

⚡ Results

Sun Belt Conference 

Jaguar Track Complex, Mobile, Alabama | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

Texas State University athlete Victoria Amiadamen lines up in the 400m hurdles and is also expected to feature in the women’s 4x400m relay.

⚡ Results

Western Athletic Conference 

Maverick Stadium, Arlington, Texas | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

Tarleton State University sprinter Lauren Roy is entered across the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay in Arlington.

UT Arlington athlete Donal Martin is also listed in both the 200m and 4x100m relay.

In the field events, Southern Utah University’s Andrew Cooper competes in the hammer throw and shot put.

⚡ Results

Southland Conference 

Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas | Thursday May 14th – Saturday May 16th

McNeese State University athlete Ryan McCarthy is confirmed for the men’s 5000m at this weekend’s Southland Conference Championships.

⚡ Results

Big West Conference 

Jack Rose Track, Long Beach, California | Friday May 15th – Sunday May 17th

UC Irvine athlete Aoife Hernon lines up in the women’s 400m and is also expected to feature in relay action in the 4x400m.

⚡ Results

Big Ten Conference

Ed Weir Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska | Friday May 15th – Sunday May 17th

University of Illinois athletes Siún Quinn and Elizabeth Ndudi are set for field event action, with Quinn competing in the high jump and Ndudi entered in the long jump.

University of Oregon athlete Anika Thompson faces a demanding double, lining up in both the women’s 5000m and 10000m.

University of Wisconsin athlete Cillian Gleeson is confirmed for the men’s 1500m.

⚡ Results

Coastal Athletic Association

Jerry and Jeanne Robertson Track and Field Complex, Elon, North Carolina | Friday May 15th – Saturday May 16th

Northeastern University athlete Conall Rogers lines up in the men’s 800m.

⚡ Results

Patriot League

Ingram Field, Annapolis, Maryland | Friday May 15th – Saturday May 16th

College of the Holy Cross athlete Liam Lyons is confirmed for both the 1500m and the 4x800m relay at this weekend’s Patriot League Championships.

⚡ Results

Other Conference Championships To Watch

Start lists for the following meetings have not been fully released at the time of writing. The athletes listed below represent Irish athletes currently competing within each respective conference, with updates to follow once official championship entries are confirmed.

The Ivy League

Weaver Stadium, Princeton, New Jersey | Saturday May 16th – Sunday May 17th

A strong Irish group is spread across this year’s Ivy League Championships.

University of Pennsylvania athlete David Davitt is among those expected to feature, alongside Cornell University’s Finn Boyle and Dartmouth College athlete Emmy Thornton.

Harvard University pair Shane Brosnan and Daire Mahon are also part of the Irish representation.

⚡ Entries/Results link TBC

Missouri Valley Conference 

Gibson Track & Field Complex, Terre Haute, Indiana | Saturday May 16th – Sunday May 17th

Bradley University athletes Eimear McCarroll is among the Irish athletes expected to feature once start lists are confirmed.

⚡ Results

Additional Last Chance Qualifiers 

George Fox Final Qualifier

Stoffer Family Stadium, Newberg, Oregon | Friday May 15th

University of Portland athlete Mark Milner lines up in the men’s 1500m as athletes make final attempts to strengthen qualifying positions ahead of the national championship phase.

⚡ Results

With conference titles, qualifying marks, and national championship progression all in play, this weekend represents one of the most important stretches of the outdoor season so far for Irish athletes competing across the U.S. collegiate system.

Image: Matt Brown/UCI Track