NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Cornell women's indoor track and field team heads to New York City this weekend for the 2026 Ivy League Indoor Track & Field Heptagonal Championships, set for Saturday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 1, at The Armory Track & Field Center hosted by Columbia.

The Big Red enter championship weekend with momentum across every event group, highlighted by school records, Ivy League-leading marks and a balanced lineup poised to contend for podium finishes and team points.

Building Toward 2026

Cornell's 2026 indoor campaign has featured consistent improvement and record-setting performances across multiple disciplines.

When asked about the team's mindset heading into this weekend,  the Alan B. '53 and Elizabeth Heekin Harris Head Coach of Women's Track & Field, Mike Henderson said, "While there is nothing like the atmosphere and energy of indoor Heps to bring out great performances, we know that if we keep doing what we have been doing all year, then good things will happen for us. Which is our ultimate goal for this weekend- to be our best selves on the day."

In the pole vault, junior Avery Hilliard has emerged as one of the nation's top competitors. Hilliard has broken her own school record multiple times this season, most recently clearing 4.36 meters at The Cornell Invite. She enters Heps ranked 24th nationally and sits atop the Ivy League performance list. 

On the track, junior Francine Stevens has anchored a resurgent sprint group. Stevens broke the Cornell school record in the 400 meters with a time of 53.69 at Penn State's Sykes & Sabock Challenge, a mark that sits at second in the Ivy League currently this season. She followed with a 53.85 performance at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and helped power the 4x400-meter relay clocking a 3:40.64 — fifth-fastest in program history.

Stevens' efforts earned her Ivy League Athlete of the Week honors and established her as a central figure in Cornell's championship push. The Big Red sprint corps has also seen contributions from Natasha Redmond, Sophia Comfere, Elise Sawyer and Brianna Beckham, providing depth in the 200, 400 and relay events.

Adding to the sprint strength on the squad is Olivia Walters. She currently leads in the 60m dash and is eighth all-time in program history with a time of 7.56.

In the hurdles, Arianna Allen and Divine Bamgboye have delivered consistent scoring potential. Both freshmen rank among Cornell's all-time top-10 performers in the 60-meter hurdles. Allen posted an 8.51 in the 60 meter hurdles at the Marc Deneault Memorial Invite, earning her a tied 6th place spot in program history. Bamgboye holds the freshman record and fourth place all-time program record with a time of 8.49 she posted back in December at the Greg Page Relays.

Cornell's throws group has been equally steady. Avery Hastings leads the charge in the weight throw with a season-best 18.46 meters, ranking among the top marks in program history. Right behind Hastings in rank is Gabriella Vizcarrondo, with a season best 18.24 meters, placing her sixth all-time. And in 10th with a mark of 17.53m is Torie Jamieson. Nicole Loy and Claire Springer have posted strong performances in the shot put, including multiple podium sweeps during the regular season. Loy currently sits sixth all-time with a mark of 14.72m and Springer sits at 10th with a mark of 14.28m. This group of strong women is going to one to watch this weekend.

In the jumps, Syna Sony returns as the defending Ivy League high jump champion and has consistently cleared marks above 1.70m this season. Anika Sukumar sits at fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.41m, while Elizabeth Graham and Sarah Caldwell are tied for eighth at 12.27m. In the long jump, Paula-Marie Brown holds the current fourth place all time record in with a distance of 6.03m she completed on February 7, 2026 at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge and also is ranked fifth in the Pentathlon in the league. She will juggle a full schedule this weekend between both multi and open events. 

The middle-distance and distance squads round out Cornell's balanced lineup. Katja Jackson has clocked 2:08.40 in the 800 meters this season, while Mairead Clas continues to lead the distance group after strong performances in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. The Big Red's relay depth — particularly in the distance medley and 4x400-meter relay — remains a critical factor in the team standings.

"The women's team is very excited for indoor Heps weekend," shared Head Coach Mike Henderson. "We have strong competitors in every event area, and with the increased depth throughout the program, everyone is looking forward to seeing what we can do in one of the best track and field conferences in the country."

Looking Back at 2025 Heps

Cornell placed fourth overall at the 2025 Ivy League Heptagonal Championships, scoring 63 team points inside Barton Hall.

The Big Red opened the meet with three podium finishes on day one. Avery Hilliard placed third in the pole vault (4.16m), Mairead Clas finished fourth in the 3,000 meters (9:27.23) and Paula-Marie Brown took sixth in the pentathlon (3,655 points), highlighted by a third-place finish in the shot put portion.

Cornell carried that momentum into day two. Syna Sony captured the Ivy League title in the high jump, clearing 1.74 meters to match her career best. Augustine Haquet earned a runner-up finish in the mile (4:40.25), while Gwen Parks (1,000m, 2:44.74) and Mairead Clas (5,000m, 16:31.30) each placed third.

The Big Red also scored key points in the sprints and relays. Francine Stevens (400m), Katja Jackson (800m) and Imani Reid (200m) each placed fifth in their respective events. The distance medley relay team of Maisie McManus, Natasha Redmond, Tenley Nelson and Haquet placed second, while the 4x400-meter and 4x800-meter relays also added points to secure Cornell's fourth-place team finish.

Championship Focus

With defending champions in the high jump, Ivy-leading marks in the pole vault and 400 meters, and scoring depth throughout the roster, Cornell will look to build on last year's fourth-place finish and challenge for a spot among the league's top programs.

"This is a gritty and resilient group that we know will compete hard all weekend long. I have no doubt that they will represent the school and program with pride and passion in all they do this weekend," said Head Coach Mike Henderson.

Competition begins Saturday morning at Columbia and concludes Sunday afternoon with the crowning of the 2026 Ivy League indoor champions.

The meet will be livestreamed on ESPN+, and live stats available at armorytrack.live