Clemson Track and Field Primed for Outdoor Success

Tigers look to build on historic indoor campaign as outdoor season begins

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Clemson track and field competition, with overlapping planes and shapes representing the various events and athletes in motion.Clemson's track and field team looks to build on its indoor success with a strong outdoor season, showcasing the program's depth and balance across multiple event groups.Today in Orlando

Clemson's track and field team is entering the outdoor season with high expectations after a standout indoor campaign that saw the women's team win the ACC championship. Led by star junior Gladys Chepngetich, the Tigers have a blend of experienced upperclassmen and emerging young talent across sprints, distance, jumps, and throws that has the program poised for national attention.

Why it matters

Clemson track and field has been on the rise in recent years, and the team's success this indoor season has elevated the program's profile. As the outdoor season gets underway, the Tigers have a chance to solidify their status as one of the top programs in the country and build momentum heading into the ACC and NCAA Championships.

The details

In their outdoor season opener at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge, the Tigers delivered an impressive showing with multiple event wins, all-time program marks, and six top-10 performances. On the track, sprinters Aniyah Kitt and Ian Johnson won the women's and men's 200 meters, while the Tigers also swept the 4x100-meter relays. In distance events, Nancy Cherop broke a facility record in the 1,500 meters, and in the field, Danielle Noble won the high jump with a personal-best clearance.

  • Clemson opened outdoor competition on March 20 at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge.
  • The outdoor season will run through the spring, culminating in the ACC Outdoor Championships and the NCAA Championships in June.

The players

Gladys Chepngetich

A junior standout who became the 2026 NCAA champion in the women's indoor 800 meters, emerging as one of the brightest stars in the country.

Aniyah Kitt

A Clemson sprinter who won the women's 200 meters at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge, moving to No. 4 all-time in program history.

Ian Johnson

A Clemson sprinter who won the men's 200 meters at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge.

Nancy Cherop

A Clemson distance runner who broke a facility record in the 1,500 meters at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge.

Danielle Noble

A Clemson jumper who won the high jump at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge with a personal-best clearance, moving into the program's all-time top 10.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to see what this team can accomplish this outdoor season. The indoor success was just the beginning, and we have the talent and depth to make a real impact nationally.”

— Brandon Bowers, Clemson Track and Field Head Coach

What’s next

The Tigers will continue their outdoor schedule in the coming weeks, leading up to the ACC Outdoor Championships in May and the NCAA Championships in June, where they will look to build on their indoor success and cement their status as one of the top programs in the country.

The takeaway

Clemson track and field has established itself as a force to be reckoned with, and the team's performance in the outdoor season will be crucial in solidifying the program's reputation as a national powerhouse. With a talented roster and the momentum from their indoor campaign, the Tigers have the potential to make a deep run in the postseason and cement their place among the elite programs in collegiate track and field.