Cards Kick Off Outdoor Season with Florida Split

Friday, March 20

Tampa, FL

University of Louisville

USF Alumni Invitational

Matt Giuliano competes in hammer throw at the 2025 Jim Click Shootout

Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics

March 20, 2026 | Track & Field

USF Alumni Invitational Live Results Black & Gold Challenge Live Results

The University of Louisville track & field teams began the 2026 outdoor season on Friday, splitting between the Black & Gold Challenge and the USF Alumni Invitational.

Between the two meets, the Cardinals combined for four performances that currently rank among the top 10 in program history.

Detailed information on each of the meets can be found below.

BLACK & GOLD CHALLENGE
Results

A small group of distance runners traveled to Orlando for their first outdoor action of the 2026 season at the Black & Gold Challenge, fielding athletes in both the men's and women's 1500m and the women's 5000m.

Emma McGill made her outdoor debut for the Cardinals in the women's 1500m, moving up to second in program history in the event with a personal-best time of 4:18.54.

In the men's 1500m, Ryan Farrell made his first appearance on the outdoor track since 2024 after redshirting last spring, knocking over two seconds off his previous personal-best with a time of 3:47.96 that ranks seventh in the Louisville record books.

Emma Heckel closed out the night with an event victory in the women's 5000m, crossing the line in 16:58.81 to outpace the field by over 40 seconds.

USF ALUMNI INVITATIONAL
Results

The Louisville sprinters and throwers closed the first of two days of competition at the USF Alumni Invitational in Tampa.

Making her outdoor debut for the Cardinals after an indoor season where she placed third in the women's shot put at the ACC Indoor Championships in February, Kaia Tupu-South posted a massive mark of 17.50m (57-5) to win the women's shot put and move her all the way up to third in program history. The Washington transfer will look to carry her positive momentum into tomorrow when she competes in the women's discus throw at 1:30 p.m. ET.

The Cardinals also got a pair of fifth-place finishes from Matt Giuliano in the men's hammer throw and Johnny Sabinski in the men's shot put, both of whom logged personal-best marks in the process.

Giuliano notched a mark of 61.96m (203-3) to climb up to sixth in Louisville history while adding over two meters to his previous personal best from his freshman season, and Sabinski improved his outdoor-best in the men's shot put with a toss of 16.97m (55-8.25).

Breanna Braham led the charge for the Louisville sprinters, clocking a 200m time of 24.59 in her collegiate outdoor debut following an indoor season that saw her set program records in both the women's 300m and 400m.

The Cardinals will return to action tomorrow in Tampa with action set to start at 11:00 a.m. ET with the men's discus throw.

Black & Gold Challenge
March 20, 2026
Orlando, Fla. | UCF Track & Field Complex

* = Personal Record

Women's 1500m
Emma McGill – 4:18.54 *
Eliza Nicholson – 4:28.36

Men's 1500m
Ryan Farrell – 3:47.96 *
Gavin Rockwell – 3:54.99

Women's 5000m
Emma Heckel – 16:58.81

USF Alumni Invitational – Day One
March 21, 2026
Tampa, Fla. | USF Track & Field Stadium

* = Personal Record
DNF = Did Not Finish

Women's 200m
Breanna Braham – 24.59

Women's 800m
McKenzie Bell – DNF

Women's 400m Hurdles
Keira Antoni – 1:01.94

Women's Shot Put
Kaia Tupu-South – 17.50m (57-5) *
Aja Johnson – 14.36m (47-1.5)

Men's Shot Put
Johnny Sabinski – 16.97m (55-8.25) *

Women's Hammer Throw
Demaria King – 54.35m (178-3)
Aja Johnson – 49.12m (161-2)

Men's Hammer Throw
Matt Giuliano – 61.96m (203-3) *

Women's Javelin Throw
Gianna Rotelli – 41.25m (135-4)

Men's Javelin Throw
Ryan Drwal – 53.51m (175-6)

For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagramand X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.