UAH and UTC Shine at Rocket City Track Invitational

Chargers and Mocs post strong individual performances ahead of conference championships

Apr. 20, 2026 at 1:48am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the motion and energy of a track and field event, with overlapping planes and perspectives.A cubist interpretation of the dynamic action and competition of the Rocket City Track Invitational.Huntsville Today

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) track and field programs showcased their talents at the Rocket City Track Invitational held on the UAH campus on April 18-19, 2026. The two-day meet featured teams from across the Southeast, including Georgia Tech, as athletes prepared for upcoming conference championship competitions.

Why it matters

The Rocket City Invitational provided a crucial tune-up opportunity for regional collegiate track and field programs ahead of their respective conference championship meets. The event allowed coaches to evaluate athlete readiness and refine strategies in a competitive setting before the high-stakes postseason.

The details

On the men's side, UAH sprinter Jalen Brooks posted a personal-best time of 10.38 seconds in the 100-meter dash, placing him among the Gulf South Conference leaders. Brooks also anchored UAH's 4x100-meter relay team to a second-place finish. In the women's 800-meter, UTC's Sarah Lockhart claimed victory with a time of 2:08.44, continuing her strong outdoor season. In field events, UAH's Marcus Greene leapt 6.92 meters in the long jump, while UTC's Aaliyah Brooks won the triple jump with a wind-aided mark of 12.15 meters.

  • The Rocket City Track Invitational was held on April 18-19, 2026.
  • The Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships are scheduled for May 1-3, 2026 in Pensacola, Florida.
  • The Southern Conference Outdoor Championships are set for mid-May 2026.

The players

Jalen Brooks

A junior sprinter for the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) who posted a personal-best time of 10.38 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the Rocket City Invitational.

Sarah Lockhart

A redshirt sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) who won the women's 800-meter run at the Rocket City Invitational with a time of 2:08.44.

Marcus Greene

A UAH athlete who cleared 6.92 meters in the long jump, ranking him fourth in the Gulf South Conference this season.

Aaliyah Brooks

A UTC competitor who won the women's triple jump at the Rocket City Invitational with a wind-aided mark of 12.15 meters.

Robert Talbot

The head track and field coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

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What they’re saying

“Hosting this kind of meet gives our athletes a chance to compete at home against quality opposition without the travel burden. We saw improvements in execution across multiple events, especially in the relays and horizontal jumps, which tells us we're trending in the right direction as we head into championship preparation.”

— Robert Talbot, UAH Head Track and Field Coach

What’s next

UAH will compete in one last regular-season meet at Mississippi College on April 25 before entering the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships on May 1-3. UTC and Georgia Tech are both expected to participate in the Raleigh Relays on April 26-27 as a final tune-up before their respective conference championship meets.

The takeaway

The Rocket City Track Invitational provided a valuable opportunity for regional track and field programs to assess their readiness and refine strategies ahead of the high-stakes conference championship season. The strong individual performances by athletes from UAH and UTC demonstrated the depth of talent in the Gulf South and Southern Conferences.