Blue Demons Bound for NCAA West First Rounds

Wednesday, May 27

Fayetteville, Ark.

DePaul University

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds

5/26/2026 1:07:00 PM | TRACK AND FIELD

Live Results Schedule (PDF)Watch (ESPN+)

NCAA Postseason action begins Wednesday at John McDonnell Field

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Less than two weeks removed from another pair of BIG EAST runner-up team finishes, DePaul track and field heads to Fayetteville for the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West First Rounds, hosted by the University of Arkansas at John McDonnell Field May 27-30. Eight Blue Demons in five events are set to compete for spots at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Fans can follow the action live on ESPN+, with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Thursday before shifting to 5 p.m. CT starts on Friday and Saturday. The top-12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene next month.

Veterans Alex Bernstein and Jaiah Hopf lead the postseason group, each making their fourth career NCAA West First Rounds appearance. Bernstein enters the men's hammer throw ranked No. 6 in the West Region after another dominant season that included a BIG EAST title and facility record throw of 70.33m earlier this month in Storrs.

Hopf returns to the national stage in the women's triple jump after capturing another BIG EAST championship with a winning leap of 12.83m. The senior has continued to shine in championship competition throughout the outdoor season and enters Fayetteville ranked No. 41 in the West Region.

Jaiden Gary will compete in the men's shot put after producing one of the top moments of the BIG EAST Championships. Sitting in second entering the final round, Gary uncorked a 17.98m throw on his final attempt to secure the conference title.

Helen Baumgarten is set for her NCAA postseason debut in the women's 100m hurdles after claiming a BIG EAST title in the event with a winning time of 13.62. Baumgarten also helped DePaul secure conference gold in the women's 4x100 relay during one of the strongest championship weekends in program history for the Blue Demons.

DePaul's men's 4x400 relay squad of sophomore Tyce Smith, freshmen Denhm Holt and Christian Ortiz-Velazquez, and junior Daniel Fasasi also qualified after winning the BIG EAST title in school-record fashion. One of the youngest relay groups in the field, the quartet clocked a 3:07.13 to close the conference championships in Storrs.

2026 NCAA West Rounds Schedule
Fayetteville, Ark. - John McDonnell Field
Streaming: ESPN+ | All times central
Wednesday, May 27
Men's Hammer Throw (9:30 a.m.) - Alex Bernstein
Men's Shot Put (7 p.m.) - Jaiden Gary
Thursday, May 28
Women's 100m Hurdles First Round (6 p.m.) - Helen Baumgarten
Friday, May 29
Men's 4x400m Relay (8:45 p.m.) - Tyce Smith, Denhm Holt, Christian Ortiz-Velazquez, Daniel Fasasi
Saturday, May 30
Women's Triple Jump (6 p.m.) - Jaiah Hopf
Women's 100m Hurdles Quarterfinals (6:15 p.m.) - Helen Baumgarten

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