ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell men's track and field team is set to open the 2025–26 campaign this weekend as the Big Red host the Greg Page Relays on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 inside Barton Hall.

The meet will once again launch the indoor season for programs across the Northeast, and this year's edition comes with heightened anticipation for Cornell. With more than 60 athletes on the roster — including a talented class of 20 newcomers — the Big Red enter the year deep, experienced, and hungry.

Last winter, Cornell placed third at the Ivy League Indoor Heptagonal Championships before finishing fourth outdoors, a season marked by breakthrough performances, school records, and national-level excellence. As the team turns the page to 2025–26, the program carries both momentum and a renewed sense of opportunity.

The Season Outlook

Cornell enters the new year with one of its most complete and well-balanced rosters in recent memory. The Big Red return scorers and finalists in every event group, and a fully healthy squad has the staff optimistic about what lies ahead.

The offseason also marked the end of an extraordinary era with 15 seniors graduating, including distance standout Damian Hackett, who delivered one of the program's most memorable postseason runs. Hackett raced his way to the NCAA Outdoor Championships final in the 1500m, finishing eighth and earning First-Team All-America honors — the first Cornell athlete to do so in the event in more than a decade.

"Damian left big shoes to fill, but that simply opens the door for others to rise and for new stars to be born," said Adrian Durant, The George Heekin '29 Head Coach of Men's Track and Field. "This group has depth across every discipline, leadership in every event area, and a roster that is experienced, competitive, and hungry. We're ready to make that jump from third into the top two."

Returning Core & Emerging Leaders

Despite the senior departures, Cornell returns a strong nucleus of scorers, finalists, and rising stars across multiple disciplines. From sprints and hurdles to horizontal jumps, throws, distance, and multis, the Big Red bring experience, balance, and ambition.

The 2025 season featured several dominant performances — including 10 event wins, two facility records, and a school record at the Upstate Challenge — showcasing the team's ability to produce across event areas.

Standouts from last season such as Ryder King, Pierre Attiogbe, Kameron Coleman, and Ryan Brynjolfson return healthy and driven, each looking to elevate their performances and push Cornell squarely into Ivy title contention.

Cornell also brings back triple jump star Des Whitley, who placed second at the Ivy League Outdoor Championships and enters the year poised to contend for an individual title.

The depth these athletes provide gives the coaching staff flexibility in event placement and lineups — a critical factor in championship meets where balanced scoring can decide team standings.

Incoming Freshmen Ready to Contribute

The 2025 recruiting class — 20 freshmen strong — provides a wave of fresh energy. The group is notable not just for its size, but for its breadth: sprinters, mid- and long-distance runners, jumpers, throwers, and multi-event athletes. Many will make their Cornell debuts this weekend at the Greg Page Relays, offering an early look at the next generation of Big Red talent.

These newcomers represent not only depth, but potential — potential to step into scoring roles, develop into key performers, and help fill the gaps left by graduation.

Coaching Vision

"As we turn the page on last season, we do so with pride and purpose," said head coach Adrian Durant. "We graduated standout performers, but the reason we've consistently stayed near the top of this league is our depth, culture, and tradition of new leaders rising from within. With strong returning talent and a class ready to contribute right away, this team is built to compete for Ivy League titles."

Upcoming Schedule

After the Greg Page Relays this weekend, Cornell will regroup before returning to Barton Hall on Jan. 10 for the Southern Tier Invite.