By: Rashan Addison | Publish Date: February 20th, 2026
Kean University’s track and field program is no longer rebuilding. It is arriving, doing so with the steady confidence of a team that has already endured its growing pains.
Relaunched in 2023, the program had to establish more than just a roster. Coaches rebuilt recruiting pipelines, structured training systems and reshaped the culture in a conference that does not offer easy entry points. In its first season back, Kean showed flashes of promise while adjusting to the demands of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
By 2024, progress turned measurable. The Cougars earned top-10 finishes at the ECAC Championships, a pivotal meet for athletes pursuing national qualifying standards, according to Kean Athletics. The results suggested the foundation being built behind the scenes was beginning to hold under pressure.
That upward trend continued in 2025. Both the men’s and women’s teams placed fourth at the ECAC Championships and combined to set five school records, according to Athletic.net. The marks were not symbolic improvements but competitive statements, placing Kean alongside established programs rather than behind them.
Head coach Danielle Todman said the program’s rapid growth reflects the work of her athletes as much as any strategic blueprint.
“The NJAC commissioner told me I built the program really fast, but I told him they just came,” Todman said. “They did the work.”
Todman’s philosophy centers on long-term belief rather than quick validation. “Work your process, trust your process, so you can walk in your promise,” she said. She often refers to her athletes as “champions of tomorrow,” emphasizing that the standard was set before the results fully materialized.
“We’ve tilled the ground the last few years and set a standard for ourselves,” Todman said. “Now I’m ready to see the outcome.”
That outcome may hinge on a strong returning core. Sprinters Tyjay Henderson and Free Daley headline the speed events, while distance runners Eldon Reynoso and Alyssa Seeley provide depth across longer races. In the field events, throwers John Tan and Jennah Attia add experience and scoring potential.
“The coaches are always working hard to come back better each year,” Attia said. “I want to see my team PR, and I’m excited to see how the team will take off this season.”
Expectations surrounding the program are different now. Kean is no longer seeking credibility within the conference; it is seeking consistency at the top. While the schedule includes elite competition that will test the roster’s depth and durability, the primary benchmark remains internal growth.
When the first starter pistol fires this season, the Cougars will not simply be chasing qualifying marks. They will be attempting to confirm that their rise is not a moment, but a shift in status within the NJAC.
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