Pitt-Johnstown opened the 2026 outdoor track and field season at Saturday's California, (PA) Vulcans Early Bird, with both the men's and women's programs logging early season marks against a field that included Cal (Pa.), Slippery Rock, Edinboro, West Virginia Wesleyan, and others.
 
Men's Highlights
The standout performance of the day on the men's side came from freshman Tyler Harold, who ran a strong 50.73 in the 400 meters to finish second, just 0.39 seconds behind the event winner. It was an impressive early-season showing for the first-year runner. Fellow freshman Sebastian Roman was right behind him in fourth-place with a 51.39, giving the Mountain Cats a pair of top-5 finishers in one of the day's most competitive events.
 
In the sprints, junior Daniel Presto placed 13th in the 100m (11.30) and 21st in the 200m (23.57), while freshman Austin Yarnick ran a 24.48 in the 200 (30th). Freshman Anthony Dicesaro ran an 11.57 in the 100m (18th).
 
Pitt-Johnstown 4x400-Meter Relay Team of Tim McNish, Sebastian Galindo-Ramirez, Bryce Potter, and Nathaniel Thomas finished fourth at 3:41.91.
 
In the distance events, the 800m trio of Potter (2:10.48, 19th), McNish (2:11.34, 20th), and Galindo-Ramirez (2:12.42, 21st) all finished close together in the middle of the field — a solid pack of early outdoor marks for the freshmen.
 
In the field events, Domenion Jacobs claimed the 400-meter hurdle title at 53:55, while Thomas was third at 58.61.  Mountain Cat Henry Levander came away with a fifth-place finish in the 110-Meter Hurdles at 17.11
 
Women's Highlights
On the women's side, Ava Barker won the 3,000 won the 3,000 at 12:50.18, and Audra Fedor was second in the 5,000-meter run at 19:16.63
 
Sophomore Paris Etchu was Pitt-Johnstown's top sprinter, finishing 13th in the 100m (13.51) and appearing in the 200m as well. Sophomore Rihanna Hillegas also competed in the 100m, finishing 16th (13.68).
 
Ella Miller earned and eighth-place finish in the 800-Meter (2:32.18) and Reagan Michalski was eighth in the 5000 at 23:41.50.
 
Pitt-Johnstown travels to the Monmouth (NJ) Track and Field Opener on Friday and Saturday and to the Ohio University Cherry Blossom Invitational on April 3.