NEW LONDON, Conn. — 

The United States Coast Guard Academy women's track & field team sits in seventh place following the first day of action at the 2026 New England Women's and Men's Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) Championships. The Bears amassed 7.5 points during the opening five-event day at home on Nitchman Track.

Leading the way with a podium finish for the hosts was Kaylee Wright (Plainwell, Mich.). The senior placed third overall in the long jump, just outside the top two necessary for All-Conference recognition. Her best leap was 5.35 meters (17' 6.75").

Tara Jessen (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) is the heptathlon leader after day one. Last year's multi-event winner and NEWMAC Track Athlete of the Year amassed 2,591 behind a trio of first place performances. The senior won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.48 seconds and took the high jump at a personal best 1.52 meters (4' 11.75"), which moved her up to fourth all-time in USCGA history. After a fifth-place effort in shot put, Jessen bounced back to win the 200 meters in 26.81 seconds.

Fellow seniors Alexa Allen (Monmouth, Maine) and Mollie Brinker (Wilmington, N.C.) also added points with their performances in the 10,000 meters and the pole vault. Both cadet-athletes placed eighth in their events, with Allen running 40:30.22 and Brinker clearing a top height of 3.10 meters (10' 2").

Alaina Stonebraker (Salt Lake City, Utah) will be the lone Bear moving on to tomorrow's 100-meter dash finals after she finished sixth at 12.34 seconds in a competitive field. Jocelyn Rush (Toms River, N.J.) just missed out with her time of 12.44 seconds, but moved up to USCGA #4 in the process, while fellow freshman Starr Hepburn (Stafford, Va.) ran 12.56 to improv upon her USCGA #5 standing.

The meet will resume tomorrow at 10:30 AM ET.