University of Memphis Athletics
Nine Tigers Heading to NCAA East Regionals
May 22, 2026 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nine members of the Memphis track and field team are heading to Lexington for the NCAA East Regional Championships, the NCAA announced Thursday.
Seven women and two men will represent the Tigers at the four-day meet, which begins Wednesday, May 27, and concludes Saturday, May 30. The University of Kentucky will host the event at its Outdoor Track and Field Facility, with live streaming available on ESPN+.
Senior sprinter Gizel Clayton will compete in the 100-meter hurdles. Her season-best time of 13.22 seconds came during the preliminary round of the American Conference Outdoor Championships. This marks the third consecutive regional appearance for Clayton, who won the event earlier this season at the Memphis Tiger Invitational.
Junior sprinter Judy Elful qualified in the 400-meter hurdles after shattering the school record at the Bulldog Relays with a time of 57.20 seconds. Making her second career regional appearance, Elful has secured three podium finishes this season, including an individual league title at the American Conference Outdoor Championships.
Freshman jumper Lilith Stenger earned her spot in the high jump after clearing 1.76 meters at the Memphis Tiger Invitational. Stenger has climbed the podium three times this year, capturing victories at both the Memphis Tiger Invitational and the Rhodes Invitational.
Senior thrower Jazmyn James is the lone Tiger to qualify in multiple individual events, booking tickets in both the shot put and discus. James logged personal-best marks and top-three finishes in both disciplines at the American Conference Outdoor Championships, tossing 16.54 meters in the shot put and 54.93 meters in the discus.
A dominant javelin contingent will also represent Memphis. On the women's side, freshman Isabelle Cruickshank recorded a career-best throw of 51.41 meters at the Rhodes Invitational, anchoring a season featuring seven podium appearances. Sophomore Adela Mullerova returns to regionals for the second straight year on the strength of a 51.01-meter launch at the Rhodes Invitational, while junior Maddie Roberts cleared 49.63 meters to earn her second consecutive regional bid.
For the men's javelin, freshman Marek Waltke qualified easily after uncovering a massive 69.94-meter throw at the Crimson Tide Invitational. Waltke holds four top-three finishes this season, including wins at the Crimson Tide and Rhodes Invitationals.
Rounding out the men's roster is senior jumper Daryl Smith Jr., who qualified for regionals for the first time in his career. Smith marked a personal-best 15.55 meters in the triple jump at the Memphis Tiger Invitational, capping off a season that includes four podium finishes.
A full list of qualifiers, their regional ranking, time and competition can be found below.
NCAA East Regional Qualifiers – Men
Daryl Smith Jr., No. 34, Triple Jump, 15.55m, Memphis Tiger Invitational
Marek Waltke, No. 15, Javelin, 69.94m, Crimson Tide Invitational
NCAA East Regional Qualifiers – Women
Gizel Clayton, No. 43, 100m Hurdles, 13.36, American Conference Outdoor Championships
Judy Elful, No. 12, 400m Hurdles, 57.20, Bulldog Relays
Lilith Stenger, No. 35, High Jump, 1.76m, Memphis Tiger Invitational
Jazmyn James, No. 22, Shot Put, 16.54m, American Conference Outdoor Championships
Jazmyn James, No. 24, Discus, 54.93m, American Conference Outdoor Championships
Isabelle Cruickshank, No. 16, Javelin, 51.41m, Rhodes Invitational
Adela Mullerova, No. 20, Javelin, 51.01m, Rhodes Invitational
Maddie Roberts, No. 34, Javelin, 49.63m, Rhodes Invitational
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Cross Country and Track & Field, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Seven women and two men will represent the Tigers at the four-day meet, which begins Wednesday, May 27, and concludes Saturday, May 30. The University of Kentucky will host the event at its Outdoor Track and Field Facility, with live streaming available on ESPN+.
Senior sprinter Gizel Clayton will compete in the 100-meter hurdles. Her season-best time of 13.22 seconds came during the preliminary round of the American Conference Outdoor Championships. This marks the third consecutive regional appearance for Clayton, who won the event earlier this season at the Memphis Tiger Invitational.
Junior sprinter Judy Elful qualified in the 400-meter hurdles after shattering the school record at the Bulldog Relays with a time of 57.20 seconds. Making her second career regional appearance, Elful has secured three podium finishes this season, including an individual league title at the American Conference Outdoor Championships.
Freshman jumper Lilith Stenger earned her spot in the high jump after clearing 1.76 meters at the Memphis Tiger Invitational. Stenger has climbed the podium three times this year, capturing victories at both the Memphis Tiger Invitational and the Rhodes Invitational.
Senior thrower Jazmyn James is the lone Tiger to qualify in multiple individual events, booking tickets in both the shot put and discus. James logged personal-best marks and top-three finishes in both disciplines at the American Conference Outdoor Championships, tossing 16.54 meters in the shot put and 54.93 meters in the discus.
A dominant javelin contingent will also represent Memphis. On the women's side, freshman Isabelle Cruickshank recorded a career-best throw of 51.41 meters at the Rhodes Invitational, anchoring a season featuring seven podium appearances. Sophomore Adela Mullerova returns to regionals for the second straight year on the strength of a 51.01-meter launch at the Rhodes Invitational, while junior Maddie Roberts cleared 49.63 meters to earn her second consecutive regional bid.
For the men's javelin, freshman Marek Waltke qualified easily after uncovering a massive 69.94-meter throw at the Crimson Tide Invitational. Waltke holds four top-three finishes this season, including wins at the Crimson Tide and Rhodes Invitationals.
Rounding out the men's roster is senior jumper Daryl Smith Jr., who qualified for regionals for the first time in his career. Smith marked a personal-best 15.55 meters in the triple jump at the Memphis Tiger Invitational, capping off a season that includes four podium finishes.
A full list of qualifiers, their regional ranking, time and competition can be found below.
NCAA East Regional Qualifiers – Men
Daryl Smith Jr., No. 34, Triple Jump, 15.55m, Memphis Tiger Invitational
Marek Waltke, No. 15, Javelin, 69.94m, Crimson Tide Invitational
NCAA East Regional Qualifiers – Women
Gizel Clayton, No. 43, 100m Hurdles, 13.36, American Conference Outdoor Championships
Judy Elful, No. 12, 400m Hurdles, 57.20, Bulldog Relays
Lilith Stenger, No. 35, High Jump, 1.76m, Memphis Tiger Invitational
Jazmyn James, No. 22, Shot Put, 16.54m, American Conference Outdoor Championships
Jazmyn James, No. 24, Discus, 54.93m, American Conference Outdoor Championships
Isabelle Cruickshank, No. 16, Javelin, 51.41m, Rhodes Invitational
Adela Mullerova, No. 20, Javelin, 51.01m, Rhodes Invitational
Maddie Roberts, No. 34, Javelin, 49.63m, Rhodes Invitational
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Cross Country and Track & Field, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
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