UAlbany Track and Field Sends Two to NCAA Nationals

A young woman with a blond pony tail wearing a track singlet cheers while standing on the edge of the grass on a track.
UAlbany freshman Beatriz Mora Herencia threw the javelin 49.42 meters to finish in 12th place and qualify for the NCAA Track and Field Nationals while at the NCAA Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla., last week. (Photo by UAlbany Athletics)

By Michael Parker

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 3, 2025) — Fifth-year standout Louis Gordon broke his own program record in the long jump, and freshman Beatriz Mora Herencia threw the javelin 49.42 meters as both students qualified for the NCAA Nationals following their performances at the NCAA Regionals last week in Jacksonville, Fla.

Gordon, who is originally from Bodden Town, Grand Cayman and graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in economics and cybersecurity, shattered his own UAlbany record with a leap of 7.83 meters (25 feet, 8.25 inches), to finish in first in the event on Wednesday at the NCAA East Regionals. 

Meanwhile, teammate Hassan Abidi also broke his own program record in finishing fourth in the final of the 800m with a time of 1:47.30. He was just one-hundredth of a second behind the runner in third place. Both Abidi and the third-place finisher ran personal bests.

An African American athlete in a purple track singlet with UALBANY written on it leaps through the air while running down a runway on a track.
Recent UAlbany graduate Louis Gordon finished in first place at the NCAA Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla., to qualify for the NCAA Division I Track and Field Nationals in Eugene, Ore., from June 11-14. (Photo by UAlbany Athletics)

On Wednesday night, Abidi, a senior psychology major from Rades, Tunisia, ran a time of 1:47.91 in his qualifying race to advance to Friday's final. Running an excellent final 200m, Abidi finished third in his heat to advance to the regional final.

On the women's side, Mora Herencia, who is originally from Madrid, Spain, improved about 1.5 meters on each of her throw to finish just a tenth of a meter off her personal record and 12th place overall in the region. 

UAlbany has now sent at least one freshman to nationals for two years in a row. Amelia Benjamin, a high jumper, joined graduate teammate Ludith Campos to represent the Great Danes at the Nationals in 2024.

Gordon and Mora Herencia will close out the season for the UAlbany track and field team at the NCAA Division I National Championship in Eugene, Oregon on June 11-14.