PREVIEW: Eight Cougars Prepared to Compete at U.S. Olympic Trials

EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Houston Track & Field program will have eight Cougars compete for a spot to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics as they take the stage at Hayward Field for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field trials, beginning Friday.

Houston is represented by recent graduates Christyan Sampy (pole vault), Sydni Townsend (400-meter hurdles) and De'Vion Wilson (110-meter hurdles), who are fresh off their performances at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. They are joined by former Cougar greats: Chris Carter (triple jump, 2008-11), Trumaine Jefferson (long jump, 2015-19), Elijah Hall (100-meters, 2017-18), Samiyah Samuels (long jump, 2017-21) and Brian Barraza (steeplechase, 5000-meters, 2014-18).

2024 U.S. TRACK & FIELD OLYMPIC TRIALS
Date \| Time	Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 30 \| All Day
Men's Events	Pole vault, 110-meter hurdles, 100-meters, long jump, triple jump, steeplechase, 5,000-meters
Women's Events	400-meter hurdles, long jump
Location	Hayward Field \| Eugene, Ore.
Live Stats	Results
Watch	NBC Networks
Meet Information	Schedule of Events
Social Media	X: @uhcougartf \| Instagram: @uhcougartf \| Facebook: H-Town Speed City Track and Field \| #GoCoogs \| #HTownSpeedCity

Sampy earned third place at the NCAA Championships as he cleared 5.52m (18' – 1.25") in the pole vault for First Team All-America honors. The senior also earned the highest finish in the event, surpassing Mark Herns' fifth-place finish in 1980.

This marked Sampy's second career First Team All-America outdoor honors (2024, 2023) and third career All-America honors (First Team 2023, 2024, Second Team 2021). The pole vaulter concludes his collegiate career as the event's indoor and outdoor school record holder.

In the 110-meter hurdles, Wilson posted a fifth-place finish with a time of 13.36 for First Team All-America honors. Wilson concluded his collegiate career as the outdoor 110-meter hurdles and indoor 60-meter hurdles school record holder.

Townsend placed fifth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles for First Team All-America honors. Townsend is the first women's 400-meter hurdler to post a fifth-place finish since assistant coach Sandra Glover earned fifth in 1991.

Barraza will open action for the former Cougars as he competes in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday, along with the men's 5,000-meters on Thursday.

Carter is set for the Trials, looking to add the Olympics to his impressive resume which includes feats such as three USA Indoor Championships in the Triple Jump (2024, 2016, 2014), alongside experience at the 2011 Pan American Games and 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Jefferson returns to the Olympic Trials and will compete in the long jump on Saturday. Hall will compete at his first Trials and opens action on Saturday in the 100-meters. Samuels is also a first-time Olympic Trials qualifier as she competes in the long jump on Thursday.

SCHEDULE - All times CT

Friday, June 21
6:49 p.m. – Brian Barraza, Men's 3000-meter steeplechase
7:50 p.m. – Christyan Sampy, Men's pole vault first round

Saturday, June 22
6:45 p.m. – Trumaine Jefferson, Men's long jump first round
8:22 p.m. – Elijah Hall, Men's 100-meter first round

Monday, June 24
7:05 p.m. – De'Vion Wilson, Men's 110-meter hurdles first round

Thursday, June 27
7:01 p.m. – De'Vion Wilson, Men's 110-meter hurdles semi-finals*
8:18 p.m. – Samiyah Samuels, Women's long jump first round
8:49 p.m. – Sydni Townsend, Women's 400-meter hurdles first round
10:03 p.m. – Brian Barraza, Men's 5,000-meters

Friday, June 28
8:20 p.m. – Chris Carter, Men's triple jump first round
9:50 p.m. – De'Vion Wilson, Men's 110-meter hurdles final*

Saturday, June 29
7:41 p.m. – Sydni Townsend, Women's 400-meter hurdles semi-finals*

Sunday, June 30
5:55 p.m. – Chris Carter, Men's triple jump final*
7:29 p.m. – Sydni Townsend, Women's 400-meter hurdles final*

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