Jepkemboi Punches Ticket to NCAA Outdoor Championship Meet; Four Frogs Advance to West Region Finals
5/28/2026 11:05:00 PM | Track and Field, Women's Outdoor Track
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Not even the rain could slow down the women on day two of the NCAA West Regional. TCU track and field's Irene Jepkemboi punched her ticket to Eugene in the javelin throw, and four other Frogs secured their spots in the finals on Thursday at John McDonnell Field.
Jepkemboi, the back-to-back-to-back Big 12 javelin champion, looked unbothered throwing in the rain. She launched her first attempt of the afternoon 53.84m (176-8) to finish fifth overall and officially advance to the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It will mark the junior's third trip to the meet. Last season, she was the NCAA bronze medalist in the event.
On the track, Indya Mayberry and London Tucker got things going, sprinting their way into Saturday's final. Mayberry won her heat with a strong 11.17 (+1.3) to automatically advance. It was the fourth fastest time of the evening. Tucker was the quickest non-top-three finisher, qualifying with an 11.31 (+1.3). She sits in 13th and looks to move into the top 12 to punch her ticket to the championship meet.
In the 800m, Georgia Scott took control of her heat on the second lap of the race and brought home the win to earn an automatic spot in the event final. Her time of 2:03.98 was within a second of her lifetime best and ranks No. 12 in the West. She'll look to hold her position on Saturday as she vies for her first trip to the national meet.
Mayberry and freshman Bailey Johnson went 1-3, respectively, in their heat, grabbing a pair of "big Q's" to move on to the 200m final. The race came just under two hours after they both raced the 100m. Mayberry's time of 23.01 has her in ninth overall. Johnson, who narrowly missed the 100m final, ran a 23.12 (14th) in the 200m and is hoping to qualify for her first NCAA Championship meet.
Junior Amari saw her season come to a close in the 100m hurdles. Laila Smith ran a personal best 58.29 in the 400m hurdles but was unable to qualify for the finals. Senior Na'Taja Ballard also missed the cut to advance in the 200m. Both Ballard and Smith will race on the women's 4x400m on Saturday.
After weather postponed the men's pole vault on Wednesday night, Ben Kirbo competed in the rain on Thursday afternoon. Battling the elements, he was unable to finish in the top 12, bringing his collegiate career as one of the top pole vaulters in TCU history to a close.
The remaining schedule for TCU can be found below.
Friday, May 29
2 p.m. // Men's High Jump (Ashvin Balaramana) ^
6:50 p.m. // Men's 400m (Ronnie Kendrick) ^
7:05 p.m. // Men's 800m (Mohamed Kowa) ^
7:25 p.m. // Men's 400m Hurdles (Jayden Douglas) ^
8:45 p.m. // Men's 4x400m (TCU) ^
Saturday, May 30
5 p.m. // Women's 4x100m (TCU) ^
6:35 p.m. // Women's 100m Dash (Indya Mayberry and London Tucker) ^
7:05 p.m. // Women's 800m (Georgia Scott) ^
7:50 p.m. // Women's 200m (Bailey Johnson and Indya Mayberry) ^
8:45 p.m. // Women's 4x400m (TCU) ^
^ Event Final (top 12 advance to Eugene)
For all the latest TCU track and field news, follow the Frogs on X at @TCUTrackField, on Instagram at @tcu_track_xc and on Facebook at TCU Track and Field.
Jepkemboi, the back-to-back-to-back Big 12 javelin champion, looked unbothered throwing in the rain. She launched her first attempt of the afternoon 53.84m (176-8) to finish fifth overall and officially advance to the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It will mark the junior's third trip to the meet. Last season, she was the NCAA bronze medalist in the event.
On the track, Indya Mayberry and London Tucker got things going, sprinting their way into Saturday's final. Mayberry won her heat with a strong 11.17 (+1.3) to automatically advance. It was the fourth fastest time of the evening. Tucker was the quickest non-top-three finisher, qualifying with an 11.31 (+1.3). She sits in 13th and looks to move into the top 12 to punch her ticket to the championship meet.
In the 800m, Georgia Scott took control of her heat on the second lap of the race and brought home the win to earn an automatic spot in the event final. Her time of 2:03.98 was within a second of her lifetime best and ranks No. 12 in the West. She'll look to hold her position on Saturday as she vies for her first trip to the national meet.
Mayberry and freshman Bailey Johnson went 1-3, respectively, in their heat, grabbing a pair of "big Q's" to move on to the 200m final. The race came just under two hours after they both raced the 100m. Mayberry's time of 23.01 has her in ninth overall. Johnson, who narrowly missed the 100m final, ran a 23.12 (14th) in the 200m and is hoping to qualify for her first NCAA Championship meet.
Junior Amari saw her season come to a close in the 100m hurdles. Laila Smith ran a personal best 58.29 in the 400m hurdles but was unable to qualify for the finals. Senior Na'Taja Ballard also missed the cut to advance in the 200m. Both Ballard and Smith will race on the women's 4x400m on Saturday.
After weather postponed the men's pole vault on Wednesday night, Ben Kirbo competed in the rain on Thursday afternoon. Battling the elements, he was unable to finish in the top 12, bringing his collegiate career as one of the top pole vaulters in TCU history to a close.
The remaining schedule for TCU can be found below.
Friday, May 29
2 p.m. // Men's High Jump (Ashvin Balaramana) ^
6:50 p.m. // Men's 400m (Ronnie Kendrick) ^
7:05 p.m. // Men's 800m (Mohamed Kowa) ^
7:25 p.m. // Men's 400m Hurdles (Jayden Douglas) ^
8:45 p.m. // Men's 4x400m (TCU) ^
Saturday, May 30
5 p.m. // Women's 4x100m (TCU) ^
6:35 p.m. // Women's 100m Dash (Indya Mayberry and London Tucker) ^
7:05 p.m. // Women's 800m (Georgia Scott) ^
7:50 p.m. // Women's 200m (Bailey Johnson and Indya Mayberry) ^
8:45 p.m. // Women's 4x400m (TCU) ^
^ Event Final (top 12 advance to Eugene)
For all the latest TCU track and field news, follow the Frogs on X at @TCUTrackField, on Instagram at @tcu_track_xc and on Facebook at TCU Track and Field.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Women's Outdoor Track
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Outdoor Track
Sprints
/ Women's Outdoor Track
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Outdoor Track
Distance
/ Women's Outdoor Track
Jumps/Hurdles
/ Women's Outdoor Track
Jumps/Sprints
/ Women's Outdoor TrackTysen Townsend Pole Vault School Record
Monday, April 05
