DePaul Claims Pair of Hammer Throw Titles to Open BIG EAST

Thursday, May 14

Storrs, Conn.

DePaul University

BIG EAST Outdoor Championships

DePaul Claims Pair of Hammer Throw Titles to Open BIG EAST

5/14/2026 9:38:00 PM | TRACK AND FIELD

Veterans lead the way as Blue Demons open postseason competition strong

STORRS, Conn. – DePaul track and field opened the 2026 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships with a sweep of the hammer throw titles as graduate students Alex Bernstein and Elena Opp claimed conference crowns Thursday at Sherman Sports Complex. Competing in the final BIG EAST meet of their careers, the veteran duo combined for 20 points to pace the Blue Demons on day one.

Bernstein continued his dominant outdoor campaign with a winning mark and facility record of 70.33m in the men's hammer throw, securing his fifth conference title while maintaining one of the nation's top marks heading into postseason competition. Opp followed with a title of her own in the women's hammer throw at 54.15m, giving DePaul a clean sweep in the event group to open the championship meet.

The Blue Demons added several scoring performances in the hammer competitions behind their champions. Quinton Boyd placed sixth in the men's competition with a toss of 51.83m, while Laila Richardson (46.69m) and Olivia Austin (45.69m) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the women's field. Lauren Drew added a massive personal-best throw of 45.64m, narrowly missing the scoring positions, while Sydney Kube recorded a mark of 42.61m.

DePaul also received a strong opening-day showing from its women's heptathlon group, where Aubrey Phillips and Ashleigh McArdle each recorded personal-best times in the 100m hurdles to begin competition. The duo remained in scoring position throughout the day behind several top-five event finishes, highlighted by McArdle's win in the shot put at 12.19m. Through four events, Phillips sits fifth overall with 2,958 points, while McArdle stands sixth with 2,840 points entering Friday's final three events.

On the distance side, Mason Krieg delivered one of the top performances of the evening in the men's 10,000m, placing sixth in a personal-best 29:52.68 to score for the Blue Demons. Cole Tupper added an 11th-place finish in 30:57.00.

DePaul returns to action Friday for day two of the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships in Storrs.

BIG EAST Outdoor Championships
Storrs, Conn. – Sherman Sports Complex
Thursday, May 14

Women's Heptathlon -
100H: 5. Ashleigh McArdle - 15.12 (PB), 6. Aubrey Phillips - 15.46 (PB)
High Jump: 3. Aubrey Phillips - 1.64m, 4. Ashleigh McArdle - 1.58m
Shot Put: 1. Ashleigh McArdle - 12.19m, 2. Aubrey Phillips - 11.96m
200: 6. Aubrey Phillips - 26.72, 8. Ashleigh McArdle - 28.03

Women's Hammer Throw: 1. Elena Opp - 54.15m, 7. Laila Richardson - 46.69m, 8. Olivia Austin - 45.69m, 9. Lauren Drew - 45.64m, 13. Sydney Kube - 42.61m
Men's Hammer Throw: 1. Alex Bernstein - 70.33m, 6. Quinton Boyd - 51.83m, 12. Jaiden Gary - 47.01m, 13. Sergio Ayala - 40.15m
Men's 10,000m: 6. Mason Krieg - 29:52.68, 11. Cole Tupper - 30:57.00

FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.