Brown, Ballen and Fotheringham Qualify for NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Senior Jason Ballen and freshmen Eatoniel Brown and Jessie Fotheringham have officially qualified for the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships East First Round, set for May 27-30 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Highlander trio secured qualification by finishing the outdoor season ranked among the top 48 performers in the NCAA East Region in their respective events.

The 2026 season marks a historic milestone for NJIT Outdoor Track & Field, as the Highlanders will send three athletes to the NCAA East First Round for the first time in program history. It also marks the first time an NJIT female athlete and a Highlander thrower have qualified for the regional championship meet.

NJIT's last NCAA First Round qualifier came in 2019, when Alex Ortega competed in men's 400-meter hurdles.

• Day 1 | May 27 ESPN + Stream (Ballen, 1pm, Javelin; Eatoniel, 8:20pm, 400M H)

• Day 2 | May 30 ESPN+ Stream (Fotheringham, 5:40pm, Steeplechase)

• Results

Jessie Fotheringham
Fotheringham, a freshman from Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, earned a berth in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase after posting a time of 9:58.55 at the Raleigh Relays on March 26, where she placed third overall.

Her qualifying time ranks No. 15 in the East Region.

Eatoniel Brown
Brown, a freshman from Plainfield, NJ, became just the third athlete in program history to qualify for the NCAA East First Round in the men's 400-meter hurdles, joining Ortega (2019) and John Porteous (2014), who both qualified in the same event.

Brown punched his ticket with a time of 51.30 while capturing the America East title in the event — the first conference championship in program history for NJIT in the men's 400-meter hurdles.

His time ranks No. 40 in the East Region.

Jason Ballen
Ballen, a senior from Midland Park, NJy, became the first men's thrower in NJIT program history to qualify for the NCAA East First Round.

He secured his spot after setting a school record in the men's javelin with a throw of 64.20 meters at the High Point Last Chance Meet.

His mark ranks No. 48 in the East Region.

NCAA First Round Information
The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field First Round competitions will take place May 27-30. The University of Kentucky will host the East First Round in Lexington, Kentucky, while the University of Arkansas will host the West First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Qualifiers from both regional sites will advance to the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, scheduled for June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.

NJIT All-Time NCAA Qualifiers List