University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Punches Four Tickets to ACC Finals on Opening Day in Louisville
5/14/2026 8:04:00 PM | Track & Field
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pittsburgh men's and women's track & field programs opened the 2026 ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday at Owsley B. Frazier Cardinal Park, advancing four athletes to Saturday's finals and rewriting multiple spots on the program's all-time top-10 list along the way.
Senior Luke Simpson supplied the day's signature moment in the men's 1500 prelims. Running in the fourth and final heat, the school-record holder reeled in Duke's Braden Lofquest over the closing 10 meters to grab the final automatic qualifying spot in 3:55.52. Though his mark sat 30th overall in the prelim field, Simpson's tactical effort placed him among the 12 athletes to punch their ticket to Saturday's final.
The Panthers' hurdlers turned in the day's deepest performance. Josue Richardson Salazar, who entered the meet as the No. 12 seed in the men's 400 hurdles, ran his way into the nine-man final with a personal-best 51.57 — the eighth-fastest time across the prelims and a mark that now sits No. 9 on Pitt's all-time outdoor list.
On the women's side, Alexandria Scott and Jana Bruses both produced lifetime bests in the 400 hurdle prelims and will return for Saturday's final. Scott matched her personal best at 58.24, a time that ranks No. 6 in program history. Bruses sealed an automatic qualifying spot with a runner-up finish in her heat, clocking a PR of 58.26, good for No. 7 all-time at Pitt.
Senior Ellen Baker added another personal best in the women's 10,000, finishing 13th in 34:11.00. The performance strengthens her hold on the No. 3 spot on Pitt's all-time outdoor list, trailing only Winnie Incorvaia and Gillian Schriever.
The Panthers were also represented in the 200 prelims, with Darren McQueen Jr. (20.89, +2.2 wind-aided) and Che Nwabuko (21.06) running in the men's event, and Somiyah Braggs (23.41) and Alma Evuna Eki (24.43) competing on the women's side.
UP NEXT
The ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships continue Friday at Owsley B. Frazier Cardinal Park with additional running prelims and a wave of field-event finals. All three days of action stream on ACC Network Extra, with live results available at FlashResults.com. Pitt's slate begins with the men's shot put at 3:30 p.m.
ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Pitt Results
Thursday
Men's 200 prelims – 12. Darren McQueen Jr. 20.89 (+2.2 wa), 13. Che Nwabuko 21.06
Women's 200 prelims – 11. Somiyah Braggs 23.41, 22. Alma Evuna Eki 24.43
Men's 1500 prelims – 30. Luke Simpson 3:55.52
Women's 10,000 – 13. Ellen Baker 34:11.00 (PR, #3 in school history)
Men's 400 hurdles prelims – 8. Josue Richardson Salazar 51.57 (PR, #9 in school history)
Women's 400 hurdles prelims – 5. Alexandria Scott 58.24 (t-PR), 6. Jana Bruses 58.26 (PR, #7 in school history)
