The 2026 NCAA outdoor track and field season officially gets underway this weekend as programs from across the country descend on NC State University for the annual Raleigh Relays, one of the most prestigious early-season meets on the collegiate calendar. Running from March 26 through 28, the three-day competition serves as the traditional opening salvo of the outdoor campaign, offering athletes their first opportunity to compete under open skies after months of indoor racing and training. With over 100 colleges and universities expected to participate, including powerhouse programs from the ACC, SEC, Big 12, and beyond, the Raleigh Relays provides an early snapshot of the form and fitness that will define the spring season.
The transition from indoor to outdoor competition brings a host of new events and tactical considerations that shift the competitive landscape significantly. Steeplechase runners get their first races of the year, relay teams begin to establish chemistry in the 4x100m and 4x400m, and distance runners face the adjustment from the tight, banked indoor tracks to the larger outdoor ovals. For coaches, the early outdoor meets are as much about experimentation and assessment as they are about results, with many programs using the Raleigh Relays to test event combinations, develop depth, and identify which athletes have made the biggest gains during the winter training block.
Several NCAA indoor champions and All-Americans will be in action at the Raleigh Relays, providing an early look at how indoor form translates to the outdoor season. The men's and women's 1500m and 5000m races typically attract deep fields, as distance programs use the fast, flat NC State track to chase early qualifying marks for the NCAA East and West Regional Championships in May. The throwing events and jumps also draw strong entries, with many of the sport's emerging stars choosing the Raleigh Relays as their season debut over smaller, less competitive early-season invitational meets.
The broader NCAA outdoor season builds steadily from this opening weekend toward the conference championship meets in May and the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in June. This year's schedule includes several significant meets that will shape the competitive picture, including the Texas Relays, Penn Relays, and Drake Relays in April, each offering their own unique traditions and competitive opportunities. For the athletes competing this weekend in Raleigh, the goal is straightforward: lay down a solid opening performance, shake off the rust of the transition period, and begin the long journey toward peak form when it matters most at the end of the season.
Beyond the collegiate competition, the Raleigh Relays also serves as a meeting point for the broader US track and field community, with coaches scouting talent, agents evaluating prospects, and fans getting their first taste of live outdoor competition after the long winter. The meet's consistent ability to produce fast times in the distance events has earned it a reputation as a reliable barometer of early-season form, and performances from this weekend will feature prominently in the first power rankings and form guides of the 2026 outdoor season. As the sun rises over NC State's Paul Derr Track on Thursday morning, the collective sense of anticipation signals that another exciting season of NCAA outdoor track and field is officially underway.