ELON, N.C. (May 18, 2026) – The Monmouth track and field teams competed at the CAA Outdoor Championships over the weekend, earning three individual championships and nine total top-three finishes.
As a team, the men's squad finished in fifth place out of 13 teams overall after tallying 104.5 points over two days in Elon, N.C., while the women's team amassed 61 points, resulting in a sixth-place result. The men have been in the top five three consecutive years, while the women grab sixth place for the second year in a row, matching the program's best finish at the event since joining the conference prior to the 2022-23 season.
"I'm extremely proud of how our team performed at CAA's," said Head Coach Jordan Torney. "We have a very talented young group and my main message to the team was to relax and compete."
Evan Niedrowski earned the team's first gold medal of the weekend, setting a new event record in the javelin throw with a 71.87m mark, good for the 22nd best score in NCAA DI this season. Fellow thrower Julie Thomas also brought home gold, earning the top mark in the women's shot put with a 15.34m throw.
Freshman Gavin Nelson's 2.12m high jump mark was enough to earn the team's third gold medal of the weekend while also setting a new program record in the event.
The squad picked up a pair of silver medals, as Krissy Sarnicola finished second in the women's steeple chase with a school record 10:36.02 mark, and Eddie Frey set the Monmouth freshman record on the pole vault, clearing 4.75m and earning a second-place finish.
Aaron Brooks (long jump), Rondé Washington (shot put), Andrew Beers (400m hurdles) and Garrett Boag (decathlon) also found their way onto the podium, each earning a bronze medal.
In addition to the team's nine medals, Jonelle Lewis and Genesis Castro each set new program freshman records over the weekend. Lewis's 11.93-second 100m dash was the best by a Monmouth athlete and the fastest ever by a Hawks freshman. Castro earned her record in the hammer throw, earning a mark of 55.27m.
"We competed in high caliber championship meets early in the season so I knew our group was battle tested and prepared to compete at a high level," Torney continued. "To achieve four school records, 24 Monmouth all-time top ten marks, three gold medalists and a CAA meet record this past weekend is phenomenal."
With the CAA championships complete, three Hawks have qualified for the NCAA's East Regionals from May 27-30 in Lexington, Kentucky. Niedrowski pre-qualified for the event, while Nelson and fellow freshman Maggie Hansen, who holds the school's discus throw mark, will also represent the Hawks in the Bluegrass State.
