The Youngstown State University men's track and field team is poised to claim its 11th consecutive Horizon League indoor championship at the 2026 event in Youngstown, Ohio. The two-day meet begins Saturday at the WATTS Center with 32 Penguins athletes competing. IU Indianapolis teams will also participate in the championships.
The 2026 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships commence on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the WATTS Center in Youngstown, Ohio, with the heptathlon opening the events. Field competitions like pole vault and long jump start at noon, followed by track events at 3 p.m. On Sunday, action resumes at 9 a.m. with heptathlon finals and high jump at 9:15 a.m., leading to running events beginning at 1 p.m. with the mile.
Youngstown State, known as the Guins, enters as the defending champion after winning last year in Fort Wayne by more than 100 points over Milwaukee (227.5-127). In 2024 at home, they set a league record with 275 points, surpassing the previous high of 242.5 from 1985. The team aims for its 12th overall title, with only Lukas Lang returning as the previous year's pole vault winner.
Of the 32 competitors, 15 are making their Horizon League indoor debuts. Key athletes include Joseph Owusu-Ansah, who leads the league in the 60m and has a breakout 200m time of 21.26 seconds; Caedeon Trotter, second in the 60m and 200m; and Brayden Green, the top triple jumper. In the 60m hurdles, YSU holds three of the top four seeds, building on last year's sweep of the top four places.
The Penguins dominate several events: five of the top six in the 200m, three of the top four in triple jump and 60m hurdles, and the top two in pole vault and weight throw. In the shot put, they have the top three seeds. However, YSU has never won the heptathlon at the league meet, though Brandon Hutchinson finished second last year and has already surpassed 5,000 points this season—a rare feat in school history.
IU Indianapolis men's and women's teams are also traveling to Youngstown for the championships, joining other conference squads in the competition.
