LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The reigning men's indoor Ohio Valley Conference champions, Little Rock Track and Field, have released their 2025-26 indoor and outdoor schedules, highlighted by hosting the 2026 OVC Outdoor Championships at the Coleman Sports Complex.
The Trojans will look to defend their men's indoor title and build on runner-up finishes from the women's indoor and both outdoor teams. Since joining the OVC in 2022, Little Rock has finished in the top two at every indoor and outdoor championship.
The Trojans' indoor schedule features trips to several Southeastern Conference programs, including Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Missouri. The
OVC Indoor Championships will take place Feb. 24-25 in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by the NCAA Championships March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The season opener will feature a new twist with the Inter-Squad Alumni Meet on Nov. 8, inviting former Trojans to compete alongside current student-athletes in a fun and energetic event.
Little Rock's outdoor schedule includes high-profile meets such as the LSU Opener and the Drake Relays. Select weekends will feature split squads to give more athletes the chance to compete. The annual
Little Rock Invitational returns April 17-18 at the Coleman Sports Complex, where the Trojans have broken numerous school records in recent years.
The NCAA West Prelims are scheduled for May 27-30 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with the NCAA Championships to follow June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.
Director of track and field and cross country
J.P. Behnke said the schedule was designed to challenge the team and prepare it for conference.
"When putting a schedule together, my goal is to put our athletes in the best possible environment to be successful. This includes several variables. I strongly believe competing against high-level competition will bring out the best in our athletes," Behnke said. "Traveling to four SEC meets during the indoor season will put us up against some of the best in the country, but I believe most, if not all, of our athletes will be accepted to compete."
Behnke added that weather also played a role in planning early-season outdoor events. "During the outdoor season, weather is always a factor. I chose to travel south for those first two outdoor meets by starting the season at LSU and then Prairie View A&M," he said.
For the first time,
Little Rock will host the OVC Outdoor Championships, scheduled for May 14-16, 2026, at the Coleman Sports Complex.
"We don't want to have to watch another team celebrate on our home track," Behnke said. "We're coming off an incredible four-year run with three team championships and 16 straight top-two finishes. If we're going to pull it off again this year, it'll take big contributions from our freshmen."
Freshmen
Brianna Brinkley (hurdles) and
Leeah Boyd (pole vault) have stood out early, along with transfers
JaDerrika Welch-Fields and
Raine Jenkins, both jumpers.
"Brianna and Leeah have looked outstanding in practice and could make some noise in the OVC," Behnke said. "JaDerrika was an OVC high jump champion at UT Martin, and Raine has the potential to be one of the top triple jumpers in the league."
On the men's side, Behnke said the program went all in on adding eight freshmen, including
Brian Nwugbana, a Texas 5A state finalist in the triple jump, and
Zach Morin, who has impressed during cross country season.
The Trojans also return several conference champions, including
TaVieon Neal (sprints),
Devin Stevens (middle distance) and
Takia Palmer (sprints).
For the latest information on Little Rock Cross Country/Track and Field, check out LRTrojans.com. You can also follow the team on social media at @LittleRockTFXC on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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