LEXINGTON, Ky. – Purdue Track & Field’s NCAA East First Round concluded with tickets punched in the 400m by Alexia Smith, in record-breaking fashion, and in the high jump by Amarianna Lofton.
Purdue totaled six men’s qualifications and three women’s after only qualifying two men’s athletes out of the NCAA East last season. Purdue also had two combined event athletes at nationals last season, but those are not competing at regionals.
Day Four Notes
• Smith ran 50.51 to finish fourth in the NCAA East and break Brionna Thomas’ previous school record of 50.78 set in 2018. The impressive run by Smith was a 0.71-second personal best. She punched her first ticket to an NCAA Championships after she finished 15th in the east last season and 18th in 2024 as a freshman.
• Lofton earned her spot at the NCAA Championships after she cleared 1.82m (5-11.50) and finished tied for fifth in the NCAA East First Round. She
was a two-time NCAA Division II First Team All-American indoors at Central State before joining the Boilermakers.
• Britannia Johnson fell just one spot shy of qualifying for nationals in the discus after she threw 54.07m (177-04) to finish 13th. She finishes her season 16 spots higher at the NCAA East this season than last.
• The 4x400m of Gia Clay, Jayla Cooper, Smith and Taiye Ayenuro finished 16th in 3:33.44. The new group, with Cooper running for the first time this season, entered the program rankings at No. 8.
• Blessing Gideon wrapped up her season 22nd in the triple jump (12.82m / 42-00.25). She ended a successful 2026 campaign at the NCAA East First Round in the long and triple jump and scored in both events at Big Tens.
• Britannie Johnson finished 24th in the discus after she threw (51.39m / 168-07). She heads to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the shot put after she finished ninth on Thursday.
• Jubilee Felder finished tied for 35th in the high jump after she cleared 1.71m (5-07.25). She was one of 10 freshmen to qualify for the NCAA East First Round.
Next Up
Purdue’s nine qualifiers gear up for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon (June 10-13).