ALBANY, Ga. — Albany State University's track and field program, led by Head Coach Ken Taylor, is gearing up for the competitive 2026 outdoor season. With a mix of experienced athletes and emerging talent, the Golden Rams and Lady Golden Rams aim to build momentum, pursue conference titles, and make a strong postseason push.

The 2026 campaign officially begins on Saturday, March 7, when the Golden Rams travel to Daytona Beach, Florida, to compete in the ERAU Invite, hosted by Embry-Riddle University. The season-opening meet will be the first opportunity for Albany State student-athletes to showcase their offseason preparation while competing against a strong field of collegiate programs.

Following the opener, Albany State will continue its early-season slate with several high-level meets across the Southeast. On March 14, the Golden Rams will travel to Savannah, Georgia, to compete in the Tiger Relays, hosted by Savannah State University. The following week, the team will head to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Emory Spring Break Meet scheduled for March 20–21, where athletes will continue to fine-tune performances across sprint, distance, field, and relay events.

The schedule continues with another major event in Atlanta as Albany State competes in the Annual Morehouse Relays from March 26–28, one of the region's most historic and competitive meets. The Golden Rams will then travel to Carrollton, Georgia, for the University of West Georgia Legends Invitational on April 3–4, providing another opportunity for athletes to post strong marks as the season progresses.

Albany State fans will get their chance to see the Golden Rams compete at home when the program hosts the Alice Coachman Invitational on April 11 in Albany, Georgia. Named in honor of Albany State legend and Olympic gold medalist Alice Coachman, the annual meet is one of the program's signature events. It consistently draws strong participation from programs across the region.

Later in April, Albany State will split competition across two meets on April 17–18, with athletes competing in the Georgia Southern Relays in Statesboro, Georgia, and the Golden Hour Invitational at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. These meets will serve as the final tune-up opportunities before the conference championship portion of the schedule.

The Golden Rams will then turn their attention to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships, scheduled for April 20–23 in Columbia, South Carolina, hosted by Benedict College at the University of South Carolina. The championship meet represents the culmination of the conference season as Albany State looks to contend for SIAC titles and secure strong individual performances.

Following the conference championships, Albany State athletes will continue competing in several late-season meets designed to help qualifiers improve marks and secure postseason opportunities. These include the East Coast Relays and UGA Invitational on May 1–2, followed by the Emory Last Chance Meet on May 6 and the Lee University Last Chance Meet on May 9–10.

The season will conclude at the national level as qualified Golden Rams advance to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, scheduled for May 21–23 in Emporia, Kansas, hosted by Emporia State University.

Coach Taylor and the Golden Rams are excited to kick off the outdoor track and field season in Daytona Beach, aiming for a successful and memorable 2026 season.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.