Collins Kiprop Kipngok Advances to Steeplechase Final on the Opening Day in Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. – Sophomore Collins Kiprop Kipngok stole the show on the opening day of the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. for the Kentucky Wildcats.
In the second event of the evening for Kentucky, Kiprop Kipngok, entering the championships with the nation’s sixth-fastest time this season, ran the fastest qualifying time, a season best 8:24.39, in the semifinal round of the men’s 3000m steeplechase. In his second career NCAA steeplechase final, the Wildcat sophomore will compete for a national championship on Friday night at 8:24 p.m. ET.
The men’s 4x100m relay team, featuring Anthony Waterman, Miles Jones, Oscar Baltan Vivero and TK Pahuwa, kicked off champ week for the Wildcats in the national semifinal round. The Cats were unable to qualify for the final after placing seventh in the second heat with a time of 39.26, finishing 17th overall.
In the final track event of the day, Waterman concluded his sophomore season, which saw him rise to No. 2 all-time at UK in the 110m hurdles, in the national semifinal, placing 22nd with a time of 13.85.
Kingi McNair, in his first career appearance at the NCAA Championships, placed 13th in the men’s long jump final, clearing a final distance of 7.52m/24-8.25.
In the final event of the day, Grayson Brashear also featured in his first career appearance in Eugene, finishing 15th in the men’s shot put final, clearing a final distance of 18.26m/59-11.
Tomorrow’s schedule will start with the women’s pole vault final at 8:35 p.m. EST, followed by the penultimate round of the women’s semifinals in the 100m hurdles, 400m, 800m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay events.
The full event schedule for the Wildcats for the final three days of the championships can be found below.
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Event Schedule
| NCAA Outdoor Championships: Wednesday, June 10: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Men’s 4x100m | 8:05 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | 17. Kentucky – 39.26
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| Men’s 3000m Steeplechase | 8:38 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | 1. Collins Kiprop Kipngok – 8:24.39 (Q)
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| Men’s 110m Hurdles | 9:08 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | 22. Anthony Waterman – 13.85
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| Men’s Long Jump | 9:40 p.m. | FINAL | 13. Kingi McNair – 7.52m
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| Men’s Shot Put | 10:10 p.m. | FINAL | 15. Grayson Brashear – 18.26m
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| NCAA Outdoor Championships: Thursday, June 11: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Women’s Pole Vault | 8:35 p.m. | FINAL | Sarah Ferguson
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| Women’s 100m Hurdles | 9:08 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | Emmi Scales, Camden Bentley, Rukia Nusra Omulisia
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| Women’s 400m | 9:41 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | Hannah Douglas
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| Women’s 800m | 9:58 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | Janet Jepkemboi Amimo
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| Women’s 400m Hurdles | 10:14 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera
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| Women’s 4x400m | 11:36 p.m. | SEMIFINAL | Kentucky
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| NCAA Outdoor Championships: Friday, June 12: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Women’s 100m Hurdles | 2:45 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| Women’s High Jump | 3:45 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| Women’s Shot Put | 5:45 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| Men’s Triple Jump | 8:10 p.m. | FINAL | Theo Mudzengerere
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| Men’s 3000m Steeplechase | 8:24 p.m. | FINAL | Collins Kiprop Kipngok
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| Women’s 200m | 9:43 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| NCAA Outdoor Championships: Saturday, June 13: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Women’s Long Jump | 5:30 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| Women’s Javelin | 6:45 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| Women’s High Jump | 7:30 p.m. | FINAL | Kemarah Howard
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| Women’s 100m Hurdles | 8:42 p.m. | FINAL | TBD
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| Women’s 400m | 9:02 p.m. | FINAL | TBD
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| Women’s 800m | 9:14 p.m. | FINAL | TBD
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| Women’s 400m Hurdles | 9:27 p.m. | FINAL | TBD
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| Women’s 800m | 9:43 p.m. | HEPTATHLON | Julia Gunnell
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| Women’s 4x400m | 10:21 p.m. | FINAL | TBD |
