Tulane Notches Pair of Medals on Day One of American Outdoor Championships

Photo by: Wyatt Streett

Tulane Notches Pair of Medals on Day One of American Outdoor Championships

May 14, 2026 | Track & Field

By: Wyatt Streett

DENTON, Texas – The 2026 American Outdoor Track and Field Championships got underway Thursday at Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium, and Tulane got off to a strong start with a pair of medalists and five other athletes qualifying for the finals of their respective events. Blezzin Kimutai took home silver in the women's 10,000m, and Cara Salsberry added bronze in the women's hammer throw.

Cara Salsberry was Tulane's first medalist of the weekend, placing third in the women's hammer throw. She hurled a mark of 59.19m to secure bronze. Later in the night, Blezzin Kimutai ran a 35:11.33 in the women's 10,000m to place second and earn the silver medal.

Five Green Wave athletes delivered qualifying performances in their respective 1,500m prelim races to qualify for the finals. For the women, Dana Rojas Vazquez ran a 4:35.81 to finish fifth overall, and Jasper Newton delivered a 4:36.19 to place eighth. For the men, Gilbert Rono was fourth with a time of 3:52.61. Rogerio Amaral was sixth at 3:55.08, and Illia Kunin was eighth with a mark of 3:56.23.

Adding points to the team totals alongside the medalists, Aiden Yang placed fifth in the men's javelin with a personal best of 59.02m. The result notched four points. The Wave men secured six more points in the nightcap between a pair of top-eight finishers in the 10,000m. Tommy Rice was fourth with a time of 30:41.96 to notch five points, and Juan Giron was eighth to grab one point with a mark of 31:02.00.

In the heptathlon, Sofie Groeninger sits in fourth after the first four events today. With a 14.40 in the 100m hurdles, she placed seventh, but she steadily improved with a fourth-place 1.61m mark in the high jump. From there, Groeninger delivered a 14.20m in the shot put to top the event's leaderboard and improve upon her fourth-best mark in Tulane history. The day closed for her with a 26.41 in the 200m, which was 11^th. In total, Groeninger boasts 3,239 points through the first four events and stands within striking distance of the leader, Rice's Julia Johannesdottir with her 3,443 points. The final three events of the heptathlon will take place tomorrow: long jump, javelin, and 800m.

Also in action for the Wave were Zaria Parker and Marissa Gordon, who finished 17^th and 28^th, respectively, in the women's 200m prelims. Parker ran a 24.41 while Gordon posted a 23.88. Paul James Pam also ran in the men's 1,500m prelims, placing 17^th with a time of 4:00.25. In the men's 200m prelims, Andrew Bamberg and Alexander Montoro placed back-to-back at 24^th and 25^th, respectively. Bamberg's time was 22.13, and Montoro ran a 22.66. Rounding out the Tulane competitors on day one is Nahema Dumonteil Cabanas, who placed 11^th in the women's 400m hurdles prelims with a time of 1:00.61.

Entering day two, Tulane's women are fourth on the team leaderboard with 14 points. The Wave men are fifth in the standings with 10 points.

Tulane's second day of action begins at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow with heptathlon high jump. Groeninger will complete her remaining heptathlon events tomorrow, and the Wave will see action in the women's long jump, shot put, and pole vault. On the track, Tulane will compete in the 800m and 100m prelim races. Medalists will also be crowned in the men's and women's 3,000m steeplechase events. Finals of all prelims will be held on Saturday. Tomorrow's action will also be streamed on ESPN+ beginning at 6:15 p.m.

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