Track & Field

2026 #AETF Championship Begins Friday

BOSTON - All nine #AETF schools will once again travel to the historic Boston University indoor track this week for the 2026 America East Indoor Track and Field Championships. The two-day event, beginning Friday, February 20th, will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
For more information on the upcoming championship, visit #AETF Championships Central. 
 
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW 
  • Last Year: UAlbany swept the Indoor Championship last year with both the men’s and women’s side securing first place.
  • On the women’s side the Great Danes earned their second straight championship with 164.5 points with Bryant finishing second with 141 points on the men’s side UAlbany edged UMass Lowell 170 to 135.5.  
WOMEN'S ATHLETES TO WATCH
Alex Beal, Vermont – Beal won an event in four straight meets for Vermont this year. Leading the charge for her team in the 3,000, the mile, and 1,000 meters.  Beal heads into the Championship as the favorite in the 3,000 meters with the conference best time of 9:33.04.
Adaliz Hunt, UAlbany – Hunt leads the conference in the 60-meter dash. Her time of 7.35 is ,13 seconds faster than conference opponents. In her final competition, Hunt looks to continue to her record-breaking year for UAlbany.
Zaidah Lightener, NJIT – The sophomore is coming off a successful season that included a silver medal. Lightener currently leads the conference in the triple jump and the long jump with a 12.01-meter mark and 6.02m in the long jump.
Claire Ronan, New Hampshire - The senior is hoping to reclaim her crown in the 1,000m as she improved her time to 2:48.25 this year. Ronan also remains within the top five in the mile with a time of 4:54.35.
Chloe Whiting, Bryant - Following her second-place finish at the 2025 #AEXC meet, Whiting has continued her success throughout the indoor season. She’s set personal bests in the Mile (4:51), 3K (9:39) and 5K (16:05.69), and leads the conference in the mile and 5,000 meters.
Enazajah Young, UMBC – As a standout first-year, Young remains within the top five in multiple events for the conference. Her 60-meter time currently ranks third and she remains first in the 60 hurdles by .10 seconds. She was named Rookie of the Week five times this year after multiple first place finishes.

MEN'S ATHLETES TO WATCH
Yoofi Abaka-Amuah, New Hampshire – The senior is looking to close out the year with another record-breaking performance. He is currently leading the conference in both events with a weight throw of 20.93 meters and 19.45 meters in the shot put. He moves into 11th across the NCAA this season and has a chance to set at least one new conference record in the shot put.
Justin Banks, UMBC – After a first-place finish in the 4x800 relay last year at the America East Outdoor Championship, Banks is looking to take home first in multiple distance events this year. The sophomore is ranked second in the 1,000m and the mile with times of 2:24.48 and 4:05.51.
Brennan Delaney, Binghamton – Delaney looks to make it back-to-back wins in the heptathlon this year. After being named the Most Outstanding Rookie last year, Delaney is the favorite in the men’s heptathlon this year with 5,638 points. The junior broke the school record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8:05, ranking second in the conference and is amongst the top performers in multiple events.
Devin Moreau, UMass Lowell – Moreau finished third at the #AEXC Championship and now leads the conference in the 3,000m with a time of 8:07.39. The sophomore has a 5,000 meter time of 14:07.97, ranking second, and a mile time of 4:08.36 which is ranked sixth in the conference.
Ojigwe Olua, UMBC – The first-year has had a breakout season in the 60m hurdles. Claiming rookie of the week for the conference three times, Olua has the only sub-8 second time of the conference.
Jacob Smith, UAlbany – Smith has broken multiple program records this year. His 4:00.88 mile time surpasses UAlbany’s previous mark by over a second and remains the top time in the conference. He leads the conference in the 800 meter with a time of 1:48.08 and is third in the 1,000 meter.

The two-day event will be streamed live on ESPN+ starting Friday.  For the full schedule, live streaming links, and more visit #AETF Championship Central.

Follow @AmericaEast on X to get the real-time championship updates. Use #AETF to join the conversation.