PULASKI, Tenn. – The UT Southern Track & Field program has announced its 2027 outdoor schedule, a seven-meet slate that will prepare the Firehawks for another run at conference and national success following a historic 2026 campaign.
The 2027 season opens on February 13 at the Bulldog Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama, before the Firehawks travel to Oxford, Alabama, for the JSU Invitational on March 12.
The spring schedule continues with a pair of trips to Cleveland, Tennessee, beginning with the Lee University Invitational on March 19-20 and the Fast Break Athletics Invitational on April 9-10.
Conference championship season arrives April 30 through May 1 as UT Southern heads to Marietta, Georgia, for the SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Firehawks will then make one final tune-up at the Lee University Last Chance Meet on May 15 before qualifying student-athletes compete at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships from May 26-28 in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Firehawks enter the season with momentum after delivering one of the most successful championship performances in program history at the 2026 SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The men's team scored a program-record 101 points and finished fourth overall, while the women's team placed seventh with 29 points, marking the best conference finishes on both sides in school history.
Sophomore standout Frankline Kipruto was named the SSAC Most Valuable Performer after capturing conference championships in the 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 1,500 meters. UT Southern also produced a historic sweep of the men's 5,000-meter podium, with Kipruto, Bruno Villazon, and Martin Van Hamme finishing first, second, and third, respectively.
Villazon added an SSAC title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Jacob Sanchez claimed a conference championship in the javelin, set a conference record, and qualified for the NAIA National Championships. On the women's side, Emma Vizina earned First-Team All-Conference honors in the 1,500 meters, while the Firehawks' 4x800-meter relay team secured Third-Team All-Conference recognition.
With multiple conference champions, All-Conference performers, and national qualifiers returning, UT Southern will look to build on last season's breakthrough campaign as the Firehawks pursue additional records, championships, and national appearances in 2027.
2027 UT Southern Outdoor Track & Field Schedule
| Date |
Event |
Location |
| Feb. 13 |
Bulldog Invitational |
Birmingham, Ala. |
| Mar. 12 |
JSU Invitational |
Oxford, Ala. |
| Mar. 19-20 |
Lee University Invitational |
Cleveland, Tenn. |
| Apr. 9-10 |
Fast Break Athletics Invitational |
Cleveland, Tenn. |
| Apr. 30-May 1 |
SSAC Outdoor Championships |
Marietta, Ga. |
| May 15 |
Lee University Last Chance |
Cleveland, Tenn. |
| May 26-28 |
NAIA Outdoor National Championships |
Asheville, N.C. |
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