Cincinnati isn't just a football town anymore. If you’ve spent any time near the Gettler Stadium or the Armory Fieldhouse lately, you’ve probably felt it—that specific, electric hum of a program that’s tired of being the underdog. UC track and field has spent years grinding in the shadows of the powerhouse programs out west, but the move to the Big 12 changed the math entirely. It wasn't just a step up in competition; it was a total culture shock that forced the Bearcats to either level up or get left in the dust.
They chose to level up.
Honestly, it's about time. For a while, people looked at Cincinnati as a "stepping stone" school for coaches or a place where local Ohio talent went if they couldn't get into the Big Ten. That narrative is dead. You look at the rosters now and you see international phenoms and local sprinters who are choosing the Queen City over established blue-bloods. It’s gritty. It’s fast. And it’s surprisingly deep.
The Big 12 Reality Check
The jump to the Big 12 was brutal at first. Let's be real. When you’re lining up against the likes of Texas (before their SEC move) or Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, you realize very quickly that "good" doesn't win medals. You need elite. The Big 12 is arguably the deepest track and field conference in the country, especially when you factor in the indoor season.
Coach Susan Seaton has been the steady hand through this transition. She’s been with the program since 2004, taking over the reigns as Director of Track and Field and Cross Country in 2015. She didn't panic when the competition got stiffer. Instead, the focus shifted toward specific event groups where UC could actually dominate.
Take the jumps, for example.
The Bearcats have turned into a literal factory for high jumpers and long jumpers. It’s not an accident. They’ve invested in the coaching and the specific technical training required to compete with the Olympic-level talent found in the Big 12. When you see a UC athlete on the podium at the conference championships, they aren't just happy to be there. They expect to be there.
Why the Throws Circle is the Heart of the Program
If you want to understand the soul of UC track and field, you have to look at the throws. There is something uniquely "Cincinnati" about the shot put and hammer throw—it’s heavy, it’s blue-collar, and it requires a massive amount of technical discipline.
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The program has produced legitimate stars here. Think back to names like Annette Echikunwoke. She wasn't just good; she was a national champion in the weight throw. That kind of legacy doesn't just disappear. It sets a standard for every freshman who walks into the circle. Current athletes are chasing those distances every single day in practice. The throwing culture here is intense. It's loud. It’s probably the most underrated part of the entire athletic department.
Most people focus on the 100-meter dash because it’s flashy. Sure, speed is great. But in a team scoring format, the points earned in the hammer throw or the discus are just as valuable as the points from the sprint relay. UC knows this. They play the numbers game better than almost anyone in the conference.
Indoor vs. Outdoor: The Cincinnati Struggle
Running in Ohio is tough.
You’ve got weather that changes its mind every fifteen minutes. This is why the indoor season is so pivotal for UC track and field. The transition from the flat tracks to the banked ovals requires a different kind of athleticism. Cincinnati’s facilities have had to keep pace. While they might not have the infinite budget of a school like Oregon, the creative use of space at the Armory and the integration of high-level recovery tech has closed the gap.
The Mental Game
Track is 90% mental. You’re alone in your head for most of the race or the approach.
I’ve talked to athletes who say the biggest hurdle wasn't the physical training—it was believing they belonged on the same line as a Texas Tech sprinter. That "mid-major" mindset takes a long time to wash off. But you see it in the way the 4x400 relay teams carry themselves now. There’s a swagger. A bit of a chip on the shoulder. Basically, they stopped playing nice.
Records are Meant to Be Broken
The record books at UC are being rewritten almost monthly. Whether it's the 60m hurdles or the pole vault, the marks set in the early 2010s are falling.
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- Fred Moudani-Likibi redefined what was possible in the shot put for the Bearcats, shattering school records and making noise on the national stage.
- Rylee Penn has been a revelation in the mid-distance events, proving that UC can compete in the tactical world of the 800m and 1500m.
- The women’s pole vault squad has consistently been one of the deepest units in the region.
It’s not just about one superstar. It’s about a collective rise in the floor of the program. When the "worst" person on your travel roster is still a top-regional finisher, you know the recruiting is working.
The Recruiting Shift: Beyond Ohio Borders
For decades, UC lived on Ohio talent. And why not? Ohio is a powerhouse for high school track. But to win in the Big 12, you need a global reach.
If you look at the current UC track and field roster, you’ll see hometowns from Germany, France, Jamaica, and Canada. This international influx has changed the dynamic of the locker room. You’re bringing in athletes who have competed in European U20 championships or Caribbean games. They bring a professionalized approach to the sport that rubs off on the local kids.
It’s a mix that works. You get the grit of the Cincinnati local paired with the technical polish of an international veteran.
Why Coaching Continuity Matters
In an era of the transfer portal, keeping a coaching staff together is nearly impossible. Yet, Seaton has managed to maintain a level of stability that is rare. Assistant coaches at UC aren't just looking for the next paycheck; they seem genuinely invested in the "Building the Bearcat" mantra. That matters when you're trying to convince a 17-year-old kid to move across the country—or the ocean—to train in Southwest Ohio.
The Impact of NIL and the New Landscape
We have to talk about money. Track and field isn't a revenue sport like football, but NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) still plays a role.
The Cincinnati community has stepped up. Local businesses are starting to realize that track athletes are some of the most marketable people on campus. They are disciplined, photogenic, and often have incredible personal stories. While they aren't getting million-dollar deals, the support for UC track and field through collectives and local sponsorships has helped with athlete retention.
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You don't see the "mass exodus" at UC that you see at other programs. People want to stay. They want to finish what they started.
What’s Next for the Bearcats?
The goal is no longer just "qualifying" for the NCAA Championships. The goal is scoring points.
Cincinnati is moving toward a model where they can consistently place in the top 25 nationally. It’s a steep climb. But when you look at the trajectory of the program over the last five years, it’s a straight line up. The facilities are improving, the recruiting classes are getting faster, and the confidence is peaking.
Keep an eye on the outdoor season this year. The distance medley relay and the field events are where UC is going to make their biggest statement. If they can stay healthy, they are going to ruin some people's days at the conference meet.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Athletes
If you're following the program or looking to get involved, here is how to actually engage with the sport beyond just checking a box score:
- Attend the Home Meets: Track is a spectator sport that feels completely different in person. Standing ten feet away from a shot putter throwing 60+ feet is an experience you can't get on TV.
- Watch the Heat Sheets: If you want to know who the next breakout star is, look at the "B" heats in the indoor season. That’s where the freshmen develop the speed that turns into podium finishes by May.
- Support the Collective: If you're a donor, realize that small contributions to Olympic sports like track often have a much larger relative impact on the athletes' lives than they do in football.
- Focus on the Technical: Stop just watching the clock. Watch the technique in the hurdles or the handoffs in the relay. That’s where UC is winning their battles.
The Bearcats have stopped being a "basketball school" that happens to have a track team. They are a track school now. The rest of the Big 12 is starting to notice, and honestly, they should be worried.