University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Earns 13 All-America Certificates On Day 1 of NCAA Indoor Championships
March 13, 2026 | Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Tennessee track & field program totaled 13 All-America honors on Friday during the opening day of the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships, highlighted by three First Team selections and 10 Second Team accolades. Sophomore thrower Aidan Ifkovits earned First Team All-America distinction in the men's weight throw, while Cade Gray and Ismaila Sawaneh added First Team recognition in the men's pole vault to lead the Big Orange.
All-America honors are awarded to the top-16 finishers in each event at the NCAA Championships. Athletes placing first through eighth earn First Team distinction, while competitors finishing ninth through 16th receive Second Team honors.
Ifkovits opened the meet for Tennessee in his NCAA Championship debut, placing seventh overall with a lifetime-best throw of 22.70 meters (74-5.75). The sophomore was the only underclassman to advance to the weight throw final, and his mark ranks second in program history. Ifkovits also became the fifth athlete in Tennessee history to earn All-America recognition in the event and the third to place among the top eight in the men's weight throw at the indoor national meet.
Tennessee's deep men's pole vault group produced a pair of scoring performances for the Vols. Gray led UT with a fifth-place finish after clearing 5.70 meters (18-8.25) on his first attempt, marking Tennessee's best NCAA indoor finish in the event since 2015. Junior newcomer Sawaneh added a point with an eighth-place finish, clearing 5.60 meters (18-4.5) to earn First Team honors in his first national championship appearance.
The Vols and Lady Vols combined for 10 Second Team All-America performances at the Randal Tyson Track Center, including multiple honors from sprinters Davonte Howell and Esther Joseph. Tennessee's pole vault squad also added three Second Team finishes, bringing the program's total to five All-America honors in the event this season and 22 in program history.
UT's Second Team All-Americans from Friday's action are listed below:
All-America honors are awarded to the top-16 finishers in each event at the NCAA Championships. Athletes placing first through eighth earn First Team distinction, while competitors finishing ninth through 16th receive Second Team honors.
Ifkovits opened the meet for Tennessee in his NCAA Championship debut, placing seventh overall with a lifetime-best throw of 22.70 meters (74-5.75). The sophomore was the only underclassman to advance to the weight throw final, and his mark ranks second in program history. Ifkovits also became the fifth athlete in Tennessee history to earn All-America recognition in the event and the third to place among the top eight in the men's weight throw at the indoor national meet.
Tennessee's deep men's pole vault group produced a pair of scoring performances for the Vols. Gray led UT with a fifth-place finish after clearing 5.70 meters (18-8.25) on his first attempt, marking Tennessee's best NCAA indoor finish in the event since 2015. Junior newcomer Sawaneh added a point with an eighth-place finish, clearing 5.60 meters (18-4.5) to earn First Team honors in his first national championship appearance.
The Vols and Lady Vols combined for 10 Second Team All-America performances at the Randal Tyson Track Center, including multiple honors from sprinters Davonte Howell and Esther Joseph. Tennessee's pole vault squad also added three Second Team finishes, bringing the program's total to five All-America honors in the event this season and 22 in program history.
UT's Second Team All-Americans from Friday's action are listed below:
- Davonte Howell – Men's 60m – 6.61 (12th)
- Davonte Howell – Men's 200m – 20.91 (11th)
- Blake Sifferlin – Men's Pole Vault – 5.50m / 18-0.5 (t-10th)
- Evan Puckett – Men's Pole Vault – 5.50m / 18-0.5 (13th)
- Clarke Byram – Men's Pole Vault – 5.40m / 17-8.5 (t-14th)
- Cade Gray – Men's Long Jump – 7.60m / 24-11.25 (13th)
- Esther Joseph – Women's 200m – 23.11 (14th)
- Esther Joseph – Women's 400m – 51.95 (13th)
- Javonya Valcourt – Women's 400m – 52.35 (15th)
- Myreanna Bebe – Women's 60m Hurdles – 8.11 (11th)
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & FieldEverything Orange S3 l Ismaila Sawaneh (Track & Field)
Friday, March 06
T&F | Clemson Invitational Meet Recap (1.10.26)
Tuesday, January 13
Everything Orange S2 | Sarah Schmitt (Track & Field)
Thursday, April 17
Track & Field | 400m Hurdles Feature
Wednesday, May 22
