PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – It took place a day later than initially scheduled, but the University of Rochester outdoor track and field season got underway this weekend, with the Yellowjackets hosting the Rochester Spring Opener on Sunday at Edwin Fauver Stadium and the GLC Throws Complex.
 
Overall, the URochester men's squad picked up four event wins, had five other top-3 results and earned three All-Atlantic Region qualifying marks in the first outdoor meet of the 2026 season.
 
With an abbreviated schedule on the track, the highlights came mostly in the field events for the Yellowjackets, with all three of the regional performances being by field athletes.
 
Armaan Butler was a winner and AARTFC qualifier with his effort in the hammer throw, earning the victory with a 53.41 meter toss. Teammate Alex Hermann was runner-up in the discus with a regional performance of 45.43 meters. In the pole vault, first-year Brant Nicholls secured the other Atlantic Region qualifying mark with a 4.47 meter clearance, good enough for second place.
 
Additionally, junior Ethan Beer won the shot put with a 14.48 meter heave, and classmate Kyle Kelsey ended up winning the long jump with a 6.74 meter distance.
 
UR's final victory came from the 4x400 meter relay squad of Maxwell Freeman, Owen Bernstein, Henry Hasselbacher and Trevor Kuhlman. The quartet posted a time of 3:28.36 to close things out at Fauver Stadium.
 
Joining Kelsey with a solid result in the long jump was senior Oliver Annon who placed second with a 6.51 meter distance.
 
Senior Aadit Jain was third in the high jump at 1.84 meters, while rookie teammate Ray Watkins matched that height, but ended fifth overall based on missed jumps.
 
Also in the throws, Hermann placed third in the hammer at 48.89 meters. First-year teammate Ethan Kaufman was fifth in the discus (40.27 meters) and sixth in the hammer (44.68 meters). Sean Elliott (9th, 11.75 meters) and Hermann (10th, 11.14 meters) also finished top-10 in the shot put.
 
In other action on Sunday, senior Jack Maness was fifth in the pole vault, reaching a 4.17 meter height. Sophomore Emmett Hansen was one spot behind in sixth, clearing 4.02 meters.
 
On the track, the Yellowjackets were sixth, seventh and eighth in the 400 meters, with Freeman, Hasselbacher and Tyler Bernstein finishing in those spots. Freeman crossed in 51.94 seconds, Hasselbacher was at 52.28 seconds and Bernstein finished at 52.76 seconds. Sophomore Sam Cohen ended ninth in the 1500 meters for URochester, posting a time of 4:07.97 in that event.
 
The Yellowjackets will compete at two meets next weekend, with several individuals traveling to Virginia to compete in the William & Mary Colonial Relays. The rest of the squad will remain up north, competing at the SUNY Geneseo Early Season Invite.