Four Bison to Compete in NCAA East First Round

Wednesday, May 27

Lexington, Ky.

10 a.m.

Bucknell University

NCAA East First Round

5/26/2026 2:22:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

LEXINGTON, Ky.- Bucknell track & field's 2026 outdoor season continues this week with the participation of four athletes in the NCAA East First Round. Javelineer Brylee Tereska became the first Bison thrower to earn four qualifications. US National Champion Evelyn Bliss qualified for the third time in the javelin. Speedy sprinter Alexandra Lea notched back-to-back qualifications in the 400-meter dash. Shot put record holder Wade Shomper earned his first qualification this year. Placement in the top 12 earns a ticket to the NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The event will be streamed on ESPN+.

What: 2026 NCAA East First Round
Where: UK Outdoor Track & Field Complex-Lexington, Ky.
When: May 27-30
Live Results: flashresults.com
Live Stream: ESPN+ (Day I) | ESPN+ (Day II) | ESPN+ (Day III) | ESPN+ (Day IV)

**Competition Times for Bucknell Participants**
Day	Event	Athlete(s)	Time
May 27	Men's Shot Put	Wade Shomper	6:30 p.m.
May 28	Women's Javelin	Evelyn Bliss, Brylee Tereska	1 p.m.
May 28	Women's 400-Meter Dash (First Round)	Alexandra Lea	7:25 p.m.
May 30	Women's 400-Meter Dash (Quarterfinals)	Alexandra Lea	6:50 p.m.

Bliss enters the competition, seeded #1, after her career-best throw of 61.34m (201-3) hurled at the Bison Outdoor Classic. "The junior javelineer aims to return to Eugene for the third consecutive season and contend for an NCAA title while earning her third straight All-America honor. Bliss would join Bucknell legend and fellow javelin thrower Maura Fiamoncini (2018, 2019, and 2021) as the program's only three-time All-Americans.

She has enjoyed massive success at the NCAA East First Round. In her inaugural competition (2024), Bliss placed fifth and during last year's competition, she slotted first and set the then-school record with her first and only throw. The Bison thrower will look to repeat the same formula. She is on the right path, having laid waste to all competition like a sweeping scythe during her historic season. Bliss set five facilities and meet records at the Colonial Relays (William & Mary), the Bison Outdoor Classic (Bucknell), Penn Relays (the University of Penn), Kehoe Twilight (Maryland), and the Patriot League Outdoor Championships (Navy). Kentucky's facility record is 58.74m (192-8) set in 2025 by Georgia's Lianna Davidson - a mark Bliss has already surpassed this season.

"I think my goal is over 60m and hopefully one and done," said Bliss. "Whether that puts me first or fifth. I mean, as long as I get there, I think it doesn't really matter what I go coming in, it's what matters when I come out in the end."

Lea has been Bucknell's thunderbolt, darting like lightning on tracks across the Eastern seaboard. The Bison sophomore sprinter repeated her dual wins in the 200 and 400 meter dashes at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships, establishing a meet record in the former. Lea reset her school records in both events and once again reaffirmed her status as one of the best sprinters in school history by repeating as the only dasher to earn NCAA qualification under the current top 48 format.

"Track and field is getting better and better every year and you know so far Alex has also gotten better and better every year and the goals keep changing and we continue to try to change with it right and so our goal is continue to do better and so hopefully that remains the case for future years," sprints coach Richard Alexander said.

The sophomore will run in the sixth and last heat and is seeded 48th, but as Coach Kevin Donner famously repeats, "Paper don't run!" Lea was seeded 44th in 2025 and finished 45th but now she knows the competition and enters with a renewed purpose and understanding of how to manage the event. She will need to finish in the top 24 on Thursday to run Saturday.

"I think last year I was kind of just happy to be there I didn't expect to make it at all last year and I think I was just, you know, getting through the meet," Lea said. "I think this year with that experience, I'm a lot less nervous and I know I can run with those girls out there."

Shomper's qualification marks the first time since 2019 that the Bison men send a participant. The senior shot put star repeated as the gold medalist at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships with a school record throw of 18.40m (60-4.25). Shomper owns both school records in the event and completed a clean sweep of the event at the 2025-26 Patriot League Championships. He essentially secured qualification at the Raleigh Relays back in March and improved upon his seed with his last throw at Leagues. Shomper is seeded 24th and will throw in the third flight on Wednesday.

"I have a decent chance," said Shomper. "Because of my seed, I don't have to beat 35 people to make it, just 12. So I'm going to do my best, going to go for it, put as much effort as I can into it and hope for the best."

Tereska's qualification made Bucknell thrower history as the first four-time NCAA qualifier, joining pole vaulter Melanie Buczko (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007) as the only ones to accomplish the feat in program lore. With that accomplishment unlocked, Tereska seeks her first entry to the NCAA National Championships. The senior has finished 38th (2023), 26th (2024), and 17th (2025) in her last NCAA East First Round. Tereska enters as the 29th seed but has outperformed her slot each time. In her favor is peaking at the right time. Tereska threw a career-best 50m (164-0) at the Outdoor Championships.

"I improved my standing at my ranking each meet so far," said Tereska. "Hoping to do that again this year. I know last year I finished 17th so I was only five spots off. So hoping to make it in the top 12 this year."

Three Bison javelineers have qualified for the NCAA National Championships: Bliss (2024 & 2025), Fiamoncini (2018, 2019, and 2021), and Laura Rycek (2011). Tereska's goal is turning that terrific trio into a quartet. The Bison women have a proud lineage in the javelin. Five of the six All-Americans have competed in the event, as were six of the eight national qualifiers. Tereska throws in the second flight and Bliss competes in the fourth and final flight on Thursday.

Bucknell's track & field program has continued to prove that athletes can achieve national success outside the traditional power conferences. Throws coach Ryan Protzman, who coaches three of Bucknell's four NCAA qualifiers, reflected on that accomplishment during the team's send-off, where Orange & Blue fans and staff gathered to support the athletes before departure.

"I think that's kind of the cool thing about track and field — smaller schools can have stars that compete with the SEC and Big Ten, and we've shown that the last few years," Protzman said. "To be able to put Bucknell on the national scene is really special. We want Patriot League success, but having individuals compete nationally is huge for our program and the university as a whole."

The NCAA National Championships will be held from June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.