HOUSTON – University of St. Thomas freshman Eslie Ngoran headlined a historic season for the Celts after being named the 2026 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Women's Track & Field First-Year Athlete of the Year, the conference announced following a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors.
Ngoran becomes the third athlete in program history to receive the honor, joining Ebonee Nation (2023) and Peyton Walton (2024).
The Houston native made an immediate impact in her debut season, capturing the SCAC championship in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 57.85. The victory marked just the second conference title in program history in the event and the first since 2022. Her winning time was also one of the fastest championship performances in conference history, becoming just the 13th winning mark under 58 seconds since 1992.
Ngoran also contributed to the Celts' runner-up finish in the 4x400-meter relay, helping St. Thomas post a time of 3:59.69 to earn All-SCAC honors.
As a team, the Celts finished fourth at the 2026 SCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 108 points, continuing the program's rise among the conference's top contenders.
St. Thomas showcased its sprinting depth throughout the championship meet, highlighted by a conference championship performance in the 4x100-meter relay. The quartet raced to a winning time of 47.57 to secure the gold medal and All-SCAC recognition.
The Celts also dominated the 100-meter dash, sweeping the All-SCAC podium. Quadetra Wilburn claimed the conference title with a winning time of 11.86, followed by Trinity Provost in second at 12.14 and Christalyn Dorsey in third at 12.21.
Provost added another All-SCAC honor in the 200 meters, finishing as conference runner-up with a time of 24.77, while Wilburn earned third place in 24.91 to give St. Thomas two podium finishers in the event.
In the field events, Jakayla Ray secured a pair of All-SCAC performances. Ray placed third in the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 4.25 inches and added another third-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet, 5.75 inches.
The Celts concluded the championship meet with nine All-SCAC performances and multiple conference titles, highlighting one of the strongest seasons in program history.
UST Women's All-SCAC Selections
Eslie Ngoran
- SCAC First-Year Athlete of the Year
- SCAC Champion, 400 Meters (57.85)
- Second Place, 4x400-Meter Relay (3:59.69)
Quadetra Wilburn
- SCAC Champion, 100 Meters (11.86)
- Third Place, 200 Meters (24.91)
- SCAC Champion, 4x100-Meter Relay (47.57)
Trinity Provost
- Second Place, 100 Meters (12.14)
- SCAC Champion, 200 Meters (24.77)
- SCAC Champion, 4x100-Meter Relay (47.57)
- Second Place, 4x400-Meter Relay (3:59.69)
Christalyn Dorsey
- Third Place, 100 Meters (12.21)
- SCAC Champion, 4x100-Meter Relay (47.57)
Jakayla Ray
- Third Place, Long Jump (17' 4.25")
- Third Place, Triple Jump (35' 5.75")
4x100-Meter Relay
4x400-Meter Relay
