By Megan Sanders, February 3, 2026
The Cal Poly Pomona men’s and women’s track and field teams are coming in hot this season ready to put in the work it takes to get more people to the nationals meet.
The CPP men’s team won second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association during the 2025 outdoor season, and the women’s team earned its fourth consecutive CCAA title.
The Broncos have already seen record-breaking performances by three women in the first indoor meet of the season Dec. 4-6. Senior Neshara Smith broke the school record for the indoor pentathlon with 3,674 points, junior Halle McDaniels broke the indoor weight throw school record by throwing 18.18 meters, and graduate Arissa Hatcher broke her own school record in the indoor 600 meters running 1:34.98.
The men’s team has also seen a lot of determination and growth during the current training period, according to senior sprinter Joshua Morinaga. He said this year’s incoming athletes have shown returners last year’s best isn’t going to be good enough.
“There’s a lot of fresh people, a lot of fresh blood,” Morinaga said. “Some shy, some not, but a lot, if not most, are really optimistic.”
The men’s team had a lot of success last season with the 4×400 relay team breaking its own school record at the nationals meet, running 3:08.12.
With only Morinaga and senior Leroy Crook Jr. returning this season, the men’s 4×400 relay team has two open spots to fill this season.
According to head coach Chris Bradford, the coaches plan on using the new NCAA rule for redshirting first-year athletes to their advantage, which allows them to compete in up to 30% of team competitions, including conference and national meets.
“It’s kind of across the board,” Bradford said. “It’s not just one group or this group, we’ve got jumpers, we’ve got sprinters, we’ve got distance runners all doing really good stuff.”
Graduate distance runner Ricardo Vargas and senior Vivian Martinez are two returning athletes to look out for this upcoming season. Both Vargas and Martinez were the top performers for the Broncos in the cross-country nationals meet earning top 30 finishes.
Martinez saw success last track season by qualifying for nationals where she placed 22nd in the 1,500 meters and breaking school records in the indoor mile, 3,000 meters, 4×800 meter relay and 1,500 meters.
According to distance runner Jade Kingston, the team has started off more focused than seasons in the past, putting in the work early with more challenging workouts.
“I am just looking forward to seeing all my teammates start doing their own races and see what they’re best at,” Kingston said. “In cross-country everyone’s doing the same thing, and then in track you can really see people improve.”
The field events also saw a lot of success last season. Red-shirted sophomore jumper Collin Joyce placed fifth in the triple jump at the nationals meet, earning All-American and a personal best of 15.91-meters.
Many of last season’s top performers are not returning this season, meaning returning and new incomers will have the opportunity to step up and claim a larger role on the team.
The Broncos are ready to test their limits this upcoming outdoor season, which is set to begin for most at the Rossi Relays meet Feb. 28, at the Burns Track Complex.
Feature image courtesy of Tom Zasadzinski
