Beckford Leads UNC With Record-Book Finish on Day One at Graduate Classic

Friday, January 16

Lincoln, Neb.

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Graduate Classic

1/16/2026 6:10:00 PM | Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

LINCOLN, Neb. – Northern Colorado track & field opened the Graduate Classic on Friday with a strong all-around showing, highlighted by Daniel Beckford's event-winning performance and several finals appearances as the Bears posted multiple additions to the program's all-time indoor record book at the meet hosted by the University of Nebraska.

Beckford topped the 60-meter hurdles prelims in 7.97 before winning the final in 7.90, a time that moves him to No. 2 on the UNC all-time list. Moise Bennett, Jaydon Sundbye and Ryan Pollyea also competed in the prelims, with Bennett narrowly missing the final.

On the women's side of the hurdles, Northern Colorado advanced multiple athletes through qualifying. Alexia Austin placed third in the prelims (8.81) to earn an automatic qualifying spot, while Donice Bruno-Ezealah followed in sixth (8.95). Bruno-Ezealah went on to finish fourth in the final with a time of 8.89, ranking No. 10 all-time in program history.

Distance events produced another pair of all-time marks for the Bears. Sabina Stroia finished 11th in the women's 3000 meters with a time of 10:15.08, good for No. 8 on UNC's all-time list. In the men's mile, Logan Gullett placed sixth overall at 4:20.79, moving into the No. 10 spot in program history. Aaron Roll added a solid effort in the men's 3000, finishing 19th.

Northern Colorado also showed depth in the sprints and middle distances. In the women's 400 meters, Monique Stewart led the Bears with a ninth-place finish (57.13), while Vanessa Ward followed in 24th. The men's 400 featured three Bears inside the top 10, paced by Mark Miller in fifth (48.79), Raphael Egbuchilem in sixth (49.19) and Christopher Cheatham in ninth (49.77).

The men's 60-meter dash saw Edgar Garcia qualify for the final with a fifth-place prelim time (6.92), then finish fifth overall in the final (6.99). Daniel Beckford, Johnny Fisher and several other Bears recorded competitive efforts in the prelims. On the women's side, Alison Hoodak, Bruno-Ezealah, Marely Del Campo and Kayla Christiansen all competed in the 60-meter prelims.

In the field events, April Necaise and Ciara Piffarerio placed eighth and ninth, respectively, in the women's high jump, while Ryan Pollyea cleared 1.88 meters (6-2) to finish 13th in the men's competition.

Northern Colorado continues action Saturday as the Graduate Classic concludes with finals across the track and field events.

Women's Results
400m
9. Monique Stewart – 57.13
24. Vanessa Ward – 1:01.49

High Jump
8. April Necaise – 1.60m (5'-3")
9. Ciara Piffarerio – 1.55m (5'-1")

60m Hurdles Prelims
3. Alexia Austin – 8.81 (Q)
6. Donice Bruno-Ezealah – 8.95 (Q)
13. Annison Pound – 9.53
14. Kara Sidwell – 9.99

60m Hurdles Finals
4. Donice Bruno-Ezealah – 8.89 (No. 10 UNC All-Time)

60m Prelims
15. Alison Hoodak – 8.05
16. Donice Bruno-Ezealah – 8.06
22. Marely Del Campo – 8.22
29. Kayla Christiansen – 8.49

3000m
11. Sabina Stroia – 10:15.08 (No. 8 UNC All-Time)
17. Claire Nowels – 10:35.17
18. Ania Magdesian – 10:37.41

Men's Results
400m
5. Mark Miller – 48.79
6. Raphael Egbuchilem – 49.19
9. Christopher Cheatham – 49.77
20. Nick Ellis – 51.87

60m Hurdles Prelims
1. Daniel Beckford – 7.97 (Q)
10. Moise Bennett – 8.46
11. Jaydon Sundbye – 8.50
15. Ryan Pollyea – 8.95

60m Hurdles Finals
1. Daniel Beckford – 7.90 (No. 2 UNC All-Time)

60m Prelims
5. Edgar Garcia – 6.92 (Q)
10. Daniel Beckford – 6.98
13. Johnny Fisher – 7.04
19. Jaymison Wichmann – 7.11
24. Griffin Eastman – 7.16
25. Jaydon Sundbye – 7.17
27. Ryan Pollyea – 7.22
33. Christopher Cheatham – 7.34
35. Moise Bennett – 7.39

60m Finals
5. Edgar Garcia – 6.99

Mile
6. Logan Gullett – 4:20.79 (No. 10 UNC All-Time)

High Jump
13. Ryan Pollyea – 1.88m (6'-2")

3000m
19. Aaron Roll – 8:58.72

FOLLOW THE BEARS: For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the cross country and track and field teams on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsTFXC), and Instagram (@UNC_BearsXCTF).