Pirates Head for Kentucky for East First Round Regional

Thursday, May 28

Lexington, Ky.

East Carolina University

NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary

May 26, 2026 | Track & Field

Track & Field: NCAA East First Round Regional
Coverage	May 27: Watch May 28: Watch May 29: Watch May 30: Watch Stream: ESPN+ Link: Live Stats
Location:	Lexington, Kentucky \| University of Kentucky Outdoor Facility (3,000)
Other Information:	Schedule \| Meet Info \| Program
Rankings:	Men's Ranking \| Women's Ranking

LEXINGTON, Ken. – Following a historic, record-breaking performance at the American Conference Outdoor Championships, the East Carolina track and field program is moving on to the national stage. Select Pirate athletes have officially qualified and are primed to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Track and Field East First Rounds.

The prestigious four-day regional meet features the top 48 individual declared athletes and top 24 relay teams in each event from across the eastern half of the country. For the Pirates, the East First Rounds serve as the crucial gateway to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

ECU heads into the regional round carrying massive momentum after obliterating multiple program records and crowning individual standout performances during their trip to the American Outdoor Championships in Texas mid-month. The team will look to capture that same lightning this week, where the operational math remains simple yet demanding: finish in the top 12 of a contested event field to punch a direct ticket to Hayward Field.

Men's Entries
100m