Two of Cornell University’s top track and field athletes will compete on the sport’s biggest collegiate stage this week as juniors Avery Hilliard and Pierre Attiogbe head to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Hilliard will represent the Big Red in the women’s pole vault on Thursday, while Attiogbe is scheduled to race in the men’s 5,000-meter final on Friday. Both enter the national championships following standout seasons that have placed them among the nation’s elite performers.
Hilliard has enjoyed a breakthrough outdoor campaign, becoming the first women’s pole vaulter in Cornell history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She consistently ranked among the top competitors throughout the spring, finishing first or second in every meet before the NCAA East First Round. Her qualifying performance included a clearance of 4.27 meters, securing her place in the national field. Hilliard enters the championship meet seeded 17th and owns a season-best mark of 4.28 meters.
Attiogbe arrives in Eugene after a year of remarkable progress in the distance events. Following a successful indoor season that included an NCAA Championship appearance in the mile, he carried that momentum outdoors with personal-best performances in both the 1,500 and 5,000 meters. His victory in the championship section of the 5,000 meters at the Penn Relays marked Cornell’s first win in the event since 1986 and moved him to third on the program’s all-time list. He later captured the Ivy League title in the 1,500 meters before qualifying for nationals with a strong showing at the NCAA East First Round.
Seeded 22nd in the 5,000 meters, Attiogbe and Hilliard will look to finish their impressive seasons with strong performances against the nation’s best collegiate athletes.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
