ARLINGTON, Texas – A pair of UT Arlington men's track and field athletes are set to compete in the 2026 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships. The freshman duo of Abisayo Gbakinro and Jayden Haynes will make the trip to Eugene, Oregon for the event.

Haynes will compete first at the championship, participating in the men's 400 meters preliminary at 2:36 p.m. CST Thursday. Should Haynes qualify, the 400m final is set for 5:43 p.m. Friday. 

Gbakinro will compete at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The Mansfield native will compete in the men's triple jump. 

Each day of the championships will be streamed on usatf.tv while live results can be found here.

Haynes is coming off a successful freshman campaign in the 400 meter. The Plano native finished in the top-five six different times in the event throughout the season, highlighted by Haynes winning the WAC Outdoor Championship 400m with a 46.31. 

The freshman had a personal-best time of 45.99 at the OU O' Ring Alumni Open. Haynes is also ranked 25th in the 400m of the South Central outdoor region and first in the WAC. 

Meanwhile, Gbakinro had a strong freshman season of his own, competing in both long jump and triple jump. Gbakinro placed in the top-five four times in triple jump, his personal-best took place at the TCU Alumni Invitational where his leap of 15.51 meters earned him second place.

Gbakinro is ranked fourth in the WAC in outdoor triple jump and 13th in the South Central outdoor region.

Both Haynes and Gbakinro also earned spots in the NCAA West Regional First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas. FOLLOW ALONG
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