The University of Detroit Mercy track and field team is stepping into the 2025-26 season with history already made.By starting the academic year with the largest roster in program history, the Titans are bringing in more athletes across more events than ever before. For head coach Guy Murray, who has led the program for decades, this year’s group represents both growth and opportunity.
“I am optimistic for our year,” Murray said. “Our roster is the largest ever and most complete in a long time. We have potential for many to make improvements and some good rookies. Hopefully, it results in improvement in the Horizon League standings.”
The roster expansion comes at a unique time. Recently, the NCAA introduced new roster limits for track and field programs nationwide, capping the number of athletes allowed on each team. The rule was designed to address scholarship balance and resource management across schools, according to the NCAA. But at Detroit Mercy, Murray found a way to work within the regulations while still welcoming as many athletes as possible.
“We worked with the rules to give as many student-athletes the opportunity to become members of the team as possible,” Murray explained. “The new rules permitted us to designate any student-athlete that was on the team, or committed, prior to the implementation of the rules to not count against the new roster limit. This enabled us to add to the roster, which is a better option than cutting student athletes.”
For athletes, the chance to be part of the program is paired with big goals. Senior hurdler Gracelyn Peebles is entering her final season with bold ambitions.
“I will set a personal record and set a school record in the 400 [meter] hurdles before I graduate,” Peebles said. “I will be an NCAA qualifier this season.”
She admits the return to competition has her feeling both nerves and excitement.
“I’m so excited, it’s like I have veins of electricity,” she said. “That same feeling makes me anxious, but that’ll be used as race fuel.”
Beyond her own goals, Peebles said she’s seen the team culture transform during her time at UDM.
“The team has grown to be more loving and supporting on and off the track, and it’s wonderful to watch happen,” she said. “I look forward to running my last season in undergrad with the current culture we have, it’s highly supportive.”
Senior distance runner Claire Hunt shares that same sense of optimism. For her senior season, Hunt said her main goal is to compete with confidence.
“I want to make the most of it, push away the anxiety and take in the joy of racing confidently and strong,” she said. “My main goal is to just be competitive, stay with my competitors, and I know fast times will come if I stay with them.”
She also believes the team is entering a breakout moment.
“In cross country our pack has only gotten faster and tighter,” Hunt said. “On the track side of things, power comes in numbers, and we have the numbers this year. I’m expecting to see a lot of podium finishes at Horizon Leagues.”
Even with roster limits and travel constraints, Hunt views the challenge as motivation, believing the travel roster limits will push everyone to be even more on top of their game.
Last season at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Detroit Mercy’s women’s team scored 28.5 points to finish eighth place overall. For the men, the team totaled 38 points for seventh place, according to the University of Detroit Mercy Athletics website. With a record roster, Murray hopes the large team will in turn bring higher finishes on the conference stage.
“I think we will improve as a team with many top individual performances,” Murray said.
As the gun goes off on the new season, Detroit Mercy’s track and field team isn’t just competing, they’re proving that growth and unity can push them to the next level.