Duke Track & Field Set to Make 2026 Indoor Return at JDL Mondo College Invitational
After a well-earned break over the holiday season, Duke Track & Field is back in action this weekend, kicking off the next leg of its indoor campaign at the JDL Mondo College Invitational in Winston-Salem on January 17. The Blue Devils are bringing a deep and talented squad to the meet, with 70 athletes - 32 men and 38 women - set to compete across 23 events.
What to Watch For
The day gets rolling early at the JDL Fast Track, with field events opening at 9:30 a.m. and Duke’s first track event - the 60m hurdles prelims - set for 10 a.m. The men’s shot put will lead the way for the Blue Devils in the field, also beginning at 9:30 a.m.
This meet will serve as a key early-season measuring stick for a program that’s already shown it has both depth and top-end firepower. Nine Duke athletes currently rank among the top 20 nationally in their events - a strong indicator that this team is ready to make noise on the national stage.
Julia Jackson leads that group with the No. 1 time in the country in the 500m, while Andres Langston isn’t far behind, sitting third in the same event on the men’s side. Braelyn Baker (7th in the 300m), Beck Wittstadt (7th in the 1500m, 9th in the mile), Bailey Goggans (11th in the 1000m), Aden Bandukwala (15th in both the 1500m and mile), Lauren Tolbert (15th in the 300m), Maya Collins (18th in the 60m), and Gianna Locci (tied for 20th in the long jump) round out the group - a mix of veterans and rising stars who are already turning heads.
Recapping a Record-Breaking Start
Duke opened the 2025-26 indoor season with a split-squad approach, sending athletes to both the Liberty Kick-Off and the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener - and the results spoke volumes.
At Liberty, the Blue Devils came out firing. They brought home seven event wins, broke three school records, and posted 10 new top-five marks in program history.
Baker, Collins, and Langston were the headliners, each rewriting the Duke record books in the 300m (men’s and women’s) and 60m (women’s). And they didn’t stop there - both Baker and Langston added another top-five program mark before the weekend was over.
Mia Edim, Julia Jackson, Lauren Tolbert, and Quinton Godfrey also had standout performances, each earning their place in Duke’s all-time top lists and adding to what was a dominant team showing.
Meanwhile, up in Boston, the Blue Devils made their presence felt at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville meet. Stephanie Moss delivered a defining moment of the weekend, crushing her personal best and breaking a Duke record in the women’s 5,000m - a mark that had stood untouched since 2013. Jette Beermann, Abby Hassman, and Beck Wittstadt also turned in major performances, each climbing into the top three in Duke history in their respective events.
What’s Next
After this weekend’s meet, the Blue Devils won’t have to go far for their next challenge. They’ll return to the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on January 25 for the JDL ASICS Superblast Invitational - another key opportunity to build momentum as the indoor season heats up.
With a roster that’s already setting records and stacking national rankings, Duke Track & Field is heading into 2026 with serious intent. The pieces are in place, and this weekend’s meet could offer another glimpse into just how high this team’s ceiling might be.