BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bailey Puckett qualified for Saturday's finals of the one-mile run at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Her performance led the Trine University track and field program this afternoon.
 
Puckett placed second in her heat of the event with a time of 4:51.71. She used a strong kick in the final lap to pass four competitors to earn one of the four automatic qualifying finishes to Saturday's finals. Puckett's preliminary time was eighth fastest on the day. She entered the meet seeded fourth. A top eight finish tomorrow would secure Puckett's first first team All-America honor. She was named second team All-America at last year's outdoor championships in the 1500-meters.
 
Also competing for Trine was Braden Estep. Estep competed in the 200-meter dash in what was his first national meet. He finished in 16^th place with a time of 21.89 seconds, just .06 off of his season best mark. While he did not qualify for Saturday's final, Estep was named second team All-American by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
Puckett will run for a national championship tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.