Sports
Lilly Urban the latest Nevada track and field athlete to represent Wolf Pack at nationals
For Nevada javelin thrower Lilly Urban, her first attempt is usually her best.
But the Wolf Pack track and field star had to make her third throw a charm at last week’s NCAA West Preliminary.
After a hurl of 50.96 meters in her first attempt and 50.53 on her second, Urban sat outside a top-12 spot required to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
“I was stressing,” Urban admitted. “I was back in the grass waiting for everyone to throw, and I kind of freaked out stressing about, ‘Will I make it? Will I not make it?’ I knew my mark wasn’t far enough, so I was kind of scared but still motivated. I wanted to do it and just thought that we’re going all in.”
Urban increased the pace on her approach and unleashed a throw that sailed through the prevailing during the 91-degree day. After releasing the javelin, she walked over to her coach Scott Williamson and gave a head shrug, not knowing if it was good enough to move into the top 12. Then her mark flashed, a throw of 53.49 meters, moving her into eight place to clinch a trip to Oregon’s Hayward Field for the national championships.
“I was a little nervous,” Williamson said heading into the last throw. “That was a great competition with so many kids that got to that point that competed really well. She’s a javelin thrower that doesn’t necessarily like headwinds, and we kind of had a headwind and a crosswind, so that maybe affected her a little bit more. I knew she could do it. It was just a matter of putting it together and adjusting her technique a little.”
Urban has had a historic sophomore season at Nevada, breaking the school javelin record four times, including a personal best of 56.89 meters at the Mountain West Championship to win gold and clear the second-best throw by more than three meters. Urban’s throw of 56.89 meters ranks ninth in the nation with Georgia freshman Manuela Rotundo having the NCAA’s longest throw this year at 64.17 meters.
Urban has already earned All-American honors by being one of 24 javelin throwers to qualify for nationals. But she could be the first to win first-team All-American honors with a top-eight finish since hammer thrower Caira Hane in 2006. That’s the kind of potential Williamson saw in Urban when he recruited her out of Germany many years ago.
Williamson heard of Urban through an agency called Scholar Book and was recruiting her before the pandemic. But once COVID-19 spread across the globe, Urban decided to stay in her home country. At that point, she thought her dream of competing in the United States had come and gone. But Williamson reached back out to the Frankfurt native once the world returned to normalcy and lured her to Reno with the help of Nicola Ader, the German native who won seven All-American honors with the Wolf Pack in the heptathlon/pentathlon before serving an assistant.
“I was pretty happy because she could speak German,” Urban said of Ader’s impact. “Even though my English is not bad, it just felt comfortable and kind of nice to have someone that knows your culture and where you come from and speaks the language, which makes everything easier than I thought. There’s a great connection now. We have about five Germans on the team.”
Urban will be the first individual to make the national championships for Nevada since Ader’s senior season in 2022. She is the first Wolf Pack javelin thrower to make nationals since Marissa Hammond in 2011. But Nevada has sent at least one individual or relay team to six of the last eight NCAA outdoor track and field championships.
“That’s a pretty remarkable thing,” Williamson said. “When you start looking at the level of athletes that are at that meet and what it takes to get there, that’s pretty big accomplishment, and I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able to do that.”
Next week will mark Urban’s first trip to Eugene’s Hayward Field, which is considered the world’s greatest track and field stadium. It underwent a $270 million renovation that was completed in 2022. The Wolf Pack contingent will leave Reno for Oregon on Tuesday with Urban competing Thursday. She expects to be nervous and excited when she takes to the track.
“I think it’s gonna be a mix” Urban said. “I’m pretty excited, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. But still a little bit of pressure, so I hope I don’t get too nervous. But I think it will be a great mix because it will be fun and pressure at the same time, and sometimes that means the greatest things will happen.”
After Urban’s family in Germany stayed up past midnight to track her throw at the NCAA West Preliminary online, at least one family member will support her in person next week. Urban’s older sister, Hannah, is making the trip from Deutschland to America and will be in Oregon for nationals, bringing a little piece of home to Urban’s biggest competition yet.
“It’s exciting because I often see my friends having their family here at conference or at prelims, and it’s just fun to see them having family around,” Urban said. “I know how it feels to have family around because when I was in Germany they would always come to my meets. To have her here this year is just a huge thing, and I appreciate that she’s making it the whole way from Germany to here.”
Urban didn’t get to Nevada until the middle of the semester during her freshman year in January 2024. Less than 18 months later, she will compete against the best javelin throwers in college. Urban increased her personal best from 49.03 meters last year to almost 57 this year, something she credits to working out with the multis group in practice to increase her power and speed.
Williamson said he quickly realized Urban had the work ethic and total package to make it to nationals. It perhaps has come quicker than anybody expected. But as Urban heads off to Oregon, she does so with Williamson’s advice of enjoying the moment and following the script that has led to so much success this season. And if she does that, she could return to Reno a first-team All-American.
“I don’t want to expect too much, but I really hope I can throw around 55 or 56 again, which could maybe place in the first 8,” Urban said. “That would be a really huge goal. I’m always proud to stand for the Wolf Pack, and I try to give something back for all they give me for studying here, for doing sports here. So, I’m happy to give that back, and I hope that next year it’s going to be more people competing with me on the national stage.”
Wolf Pack outdoor track and field All-Americans
* Nicola Ader (pentathlon, heptathlon, long jump)
* Nicole Wadden (heptathlon)
* Emily Myers (steeplechase)
* Caira Hane (hammer throw)
* Nicole Petty (800 meters)
* Marissa Hammond (javelin)
* Jenni Ashcroft (pole vault)
* Ali McKnight (heptathlon)
* 4×400 relay (Emily Costello, Annalies Kalma, Carolyn Ross, Halyn Senegal)
* 4×100 relay (Samantha Calhoun, Angelica Earls, Tanisha Hawkins, Kashae Knox)
Sports
Pride Collect Three GNAC Weekly Awards After Wesleyan Winter Invitational
WESTON, Mass. — Hannah Griffin, Zoe Kirk, and Justin Thuotte each represented the Pride this week in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly awards. Kirk earned her second Rookie of the Week honor of the season, while Griffin collected her first career Track Athlete of the Week award. Thuotte was named Field Athlete of the Week, marking his first honor of the season and the fifth weekly award of his career.
Zoe Kirk continued her strong rookie campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed third overall in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters, setting a new indoor program record and surpassing the previous mark of 1.46 held by teammate Grace Micklon. Kirk also finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 9.93.
Hannah Griffin captured the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 2:44.36, edging her nearest competitor by nearly one second.
Justin Thuotte delivered another standout performance at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, winning the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters to set a new indoor program record, besting his own previous mark of 6.65 from the last meet. He also placed third in the triple jump at 12.99 meters and rounded out his day with a 10th-place finish in the weight throw, posting a personal-best mark of 13.59 meters.
Regis track and field stays close to home this weekend, traveling to Brighton, Massachusetts, to compete at the Suffolk Ice Breaker at The Track at New Balance.
Sports
Ella Parker to Join Milwaukee Volleyball as Newest Addition to Roster
MILWAUKEE – Ella Parker has been announced as the newest addition to the Milwaukee volleyball roster, head coach Susie Johnson announced on Monday afternoon.
Parker will join the Panthers this spring after spending the last three semesters at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., where she was a member of the Red Storm for the past two seasons.
“We are excited to add Ella to our team this spring,” said Johnson. “Having played in the Big East Conference, she has match experience and will bring a lot to our program in the Horizon League. We’re excited that she not only can score points for us but defend as well.”
This past fall, Parker played in 16 matches for St. John’s and recorded 138 kills, along with 10 service aces, 26 digs, and 15 blocks. She posted a season-high 16 kills on Oct. 4 at UConn while hitting .361 and later recorded a season-best .692 hitting percentage with nine kills without an error against LeMoyne earlier in the year.
As a true freshman in 2024, Parker saw action in three matches before an injury ended her season.
Originally from Corrales, New Mexico, Parker was a three-year member of the Cougar volleyball team at Cibola High School in Albuquerque. During her prep career, she earned AVCA Girls High School All-Region honors as both a junior and a senior and was named to the All-American Watch List.
A multiple-time All-State, All-Region, All-Area, and All-Conference selection, Parker was also chosen for the New Mexico Red and Green All-Start Team. She set Cibola program records for both most kills in a season and most kills in a match.
Parker played club volleyball for Duke City Volleyball Academy and competed in beach volleyball with the Albuquerque Beach Volleyball Academy. Away from the court, she was also a competitive swimmer for more than 10 years.
Parker joins fellow transfer Kameron Stover, along with incoming freshmen Olivia Doerre, Emma Duffy, Kayla Landerud, and Hope Wagner as newcomers for the 2026 volleyball season.
Sports
T&F trio earn GNAC honors
PORTLAND, ORE. – The University of Alaska Anchorage had three Seawolves earn GNAC Athlete of the Week honors for indoor track and field.
Liv Heite was named the women’s track athlete of the week. Her top effort was a 60-meter hurdles time of 8.91 seconds, upping her name to third on the GNAC performance list this winter. Heite is the reigning GNAC silver medalist in the event from last season. She also ran 8.09 seconds in the 60 meters, 26.02 seconds in the 200 meters and ran a leg of a UAA 4×400 meter relay squad that posted 3:57.48 minutes to round out her productive weekend. Now in her third season at UAA, Heite is a four-time GNAC medalist earning silver in both the 2024 and 2025 100-meter hurdles (outdoor), silver in the 2025 60-meter hurdles (indoor), and silver in the 2025 400-meter hurdles (outdoor)
“Liv looks like she is ready to pick up where she left off,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “She started the season off faster than she did last year and ran consistently over the weekend. I think she is ready to take it to the next level.”
Sarah Dittman was named the women’s field athlete of the week. She kicked things off with a high jump mark of 4-11.75 feet (1.52 meters) and a long jump of 17-4.25 feet (5.29 meters), placing fifth in both events. Each of those marks slotted her fourth among GNAC competitors so far in the indoor season. Dittman also contributed on the track, running a 200 meters time of 26.79 seconds, a 60-meter hurdles time of 10.61 seconds and running a leg of UAA’s 4×400 meter relay unit that posted a time of 4:14.89 minutes.
“Sarah had an encouraging start to her college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “I am really looking forward to seeing where her growth and development over the course of this season is going to take her.”
Tyler Drake was named the men’s field athlete of the week. His weekend was highlighted by a third-place finish in the long jump, as he cleared 22-3 feet (6.78 meters). That stands as the second-best long jump by a GNAC athlete so far this season. On the track, he posted times of 23.55 seconds in the 200 meters and 8.36 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.
“Tyler had himself a great start to his college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “He set personal bests in the hurdles and long jump and moved himself into the top-10 on UAA’s performance list. His long jump start is even more encouraging because of how obvious it is that he still has so much room to grow.”
UAA will compete at the UW Preview Jan. 16-17.
Sports
Shank Named GNAC Setter of the Week After Facilitating Offense in Season Opener
WESTON, Mass. — Evan Shank earned the first Setter of the Week honor of the 2026 season from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) after leading Regis College to a 3–0 sweep of Elms on Saturday.
The junior directed the offense in the Pride’s straight-sets victory on January 9, recording 33 assists to average an impressive 11.0 assists per set. Making his debut in crimson and gold, Shank efficiently controlled the tempo throughout the match, guiding Regis to a dominant non-conference win.
Shank and the Pride will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Curry College for their 2026 home opener at 7 p.m.
Sports
UC Davis Athletics Concludes Fall With Competitive Success, National Honors and Facilities Investment
DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Athletics capped the Fall 2025 season with record-setting performances, national and conference honors, and postseason success across multiple programs. The season also marked the announcement of Aggie Ascent, a $265 million facilities plan designed to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience.
“Across multiple programs this fall, our teams competed at a high level, earned conference championships, advanced in postseason play, and achieved milestones that reflect the depth and consistency of our department,” said UC Davis Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca. “Those results are a direct credit to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, who continue to raise the standard through their commitment, preparation, and belief in what we’re building here. As we celebrate those accomplishments, we’re focused on matching that competitive momentum with long-term investment in our facilities and resources to support our teams at the highest level of Division I athletics. I’m proud of what this group accomplished this fall and excited about where Aggie Athletics is headed.”
Aggie Ascent Announcement
This fall, UC Davis Athletics announced Aggie Ascent, a comprehensive facilities master plan. The $265 million, phased, gift-driven project prioritizes high-impact and revenue-generating facilities, beginning with a reimagined UC Davis Health Stadium featuring premium seating, suites, and a year-round hospitality space, alongside a new NCAA-compliant Woody Wilson Track and Field Complex and a Golf Training Center serving both Aggie programs and the surrounding community. Future phases include upgrades to baseball, soccer, and the University Credit Union Center, as well as a new softball stadium and redevelopment of south campus facilities.
Developed in partnership with ELS Architecture and Urban Design, the plan represents the university’s unified vision for athletics infrastructure, focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience, elevating the fan experience, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The project reflects UC Davis’ commitment to innovation and competitive excellence at the Division I level.
Championships and Postseason
UC Davis Athletics delivered a strong year highlighted by postseason appearances, conference championships, and historic milestones across multiple programs. Aggie football, gymnastics, and women’s golf each qualified for NCAA postseason competition, with several teams extending their seasons beyond conference play.
Conference success followed, as volleyball captured the Big West regular season title and men’s water polo claimed the Big West Conference championship, continuing the program’s tradition of postseason success.
Football, under second-year head coach Tim Plough, continued its national climb by advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for a second-straight year, while posting a top eight finish nationally in back-to-back seasons coming in at No. 8 following the most recent fall. Field hockey also marked a milestone year, hosting and competing in its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship game.
Historic Wins and Notable Awards
UC Davis student-athletes earned significant national and conference recognition across multiple programs this year. Men’s water polo standout Thomas Kiesling was named a third-team ACWPC All-American after earning All-Big West First Team honors, placing him among the nation’s top collegiate players.
Field hockey collected major accolades, as Karly Redman earned MPSF Offensive Player of the Year honors, while freshman goalkeeper Addie Collingwood was named MPSF Freshman of the Year following an impactful debut season.
Football earned multiple postseason honors this season, highlighted by a handful of Aggies receiving All-America recognition from four different national organizations. Among those was first team All-American Jacob Psyk, making it three-straight seasons the Aggies have had at least one first team All-American.
Volleyball capped a strong season with multiple major awards. Jade Light was named Big West Player of the Year and earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention, becoming the program’s first All-American since 1996. She was joined by Mia Starr, the Big West Setter of the Year, and Ximena Cordero Barr, who earned Libero of the Year honors. These accolades coincided with a record-setting season, as the Aggies posted the most conference wins in program history.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
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