Sports
Black Ferns
With the Black Ferns set to open their Rugby World Cup campaign against Spain on August 25, we look back at ten unforgettable moments that have shaped the legacy of one of New Zealand’s most successful teams.
Dutch courage
The Black Ferns tasted World Cup success for the first time in the Netherlands in 1998. In the first tournament to be given official status by World Rugby (the 1991 and 1994 tournaments were given retrospective endorsement), The Black ferns went undefeated throughout the tournament before defeating USA 42-12 in the final. Farah Palmer was inspirational as captain while Vanessa Cootes was a star of the tournament with five tries in the final. The team was greeted by an adoring public on their return home.
Back-to-Back
Barcelona was the venue as the Black Ferns made it back-to-back titles in 2002. Kicking off with a 117-0 rout over Germany, the Black Ferns were just as impressive in beating Australia (36-3) and France (30-0) before facing England in the final. Led once again by Farah Palmer, the final was an epic encounter with the Black Ferns digging deep for a 19-9 victory to secure their second Women’s Rugby World Cup title.
Black Ferns Three-peat
The Black Ferns made it a hat-trick of World Cup tournament wins when they took out the competition again in 2006 in Canada. New Zealand were dominant throughout the tournament, only conceding a total of 17 points throughout pool play and knockouts until the final. It was another nail-biting clash against the old foe, with the Black Ferns coming out on top 25-17. Fullback Amiria Marsh led the try-scoring for the Black Ferns at the tournament with six tries from five appearances.
Awesome foursome
The Black Ferns made it four from four with victory at the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Another relatively comfortable run to the final ended with one of the toughest Tests in the history of the game. Played in front of 13,000 screaming fans at Twickenham. Kelly Brazier and Carla Hohepa scored all of the Black Ferns points in a nail-biting 13-10 win over England. The pair were also top points scorer and try scorer for the tournament respectively.
Hall of Fame for Palmer and Richards
In 2014, Farah Palmer and Anna Richards became the first Black Ferns to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. This was a hugely significant moment for the pair as they were recognised for their service to the team and ongoing services to the game. With 72 Black Ferns appearances between them, the hall-of-famers are legends of Black Ferns and New Zealand rugby.
Woodman scores eight
Portia Woodman scored eight tries against Hong Kong to break the World Cup record for most tries in a single match in 2017. The flying winger was unstoppable in the match, seeming to score a try with every touch of the ball. Woodman made headlines around the world during the tournament for her game breaking play and was a key component in the Black Ferns’ success.
Return to Glory
Having bowed out at the semifinal stage of the 2014 World Cup, the Black Ferns were back to their winning ways in 2017. Led by the inspirational Fiao’o Faamausili, the team stormed through the pool stages with massive wins over Wales, Hong Kong, and Canada. After seeing off USA in the semifinal, the Black Ferns played one of the most exciting games in the history of the tournament, beating England 41-32 in the final.
Team of the year Double
The Black Ferns achieved two hugely significant accolades by being named both the New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby Team of the Year in 2017. This capped off one of the greatest ever years in the history of the Black Ferns.
Historic Capping Ceremony
In June 2018, a special group of Black Ferns from the 1980s and 1990s received Test caps in recognition of their services to New Zealand Rugby. Over the next three years, the remaining Test players were presented with their caps. The caps are based on traditional rugby caps and feature the Black Ferns number, the silver fern and details of their Test debut.
Glory at the Garden
In front of a sold-out Eden Park crowd, the Black Ferns delivered one of the greatest moments in rugby history – defeating England 34-31 in the 2021 Rugby World Cup final. It was a fearless, free-flowing performance that stunned the highly rated Red Roses and captured the hearts of a nation. With Ayesha Leti-I’iga’s match-winning try and Ruahei Demant’s masterful leadership, the Black Ferns became world champions on home soil in an unforgettable night of magic.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off on August 23 when England take on USA. The Black Ferns have been drawn in Pool C alongside Ireland, Japan and Spain. Check out the full draw HERE.

Sports
Phoenix Athletes Shine On Day Two At Liberty Kickoff
LYNCHBURG – Coming home with a pair of event titles and several personal bests, the Elon University women’s track and field team wrapped up competition Friday at the Liberty Kickoff inside the Liberty Indoor Complex.
Isabella Johnson led the Phoenix in the shot put with a fourth-place finish. The sophomore recorded a personal-best throw of 13.99m, moving into fifth on the program’s indoor performance list. Adriana Clarke placed fifth with a personal-best toss of 13.01m.
On the track, Elon earned two event wins as Jasmine Young and Winter Oaster claimed titles in the 5,000 meters and the mile, respectively. Young posted a time of 17:26.66, while Oaster crossed the line in 5:10.95. Shayla Cann added a sixth-place finish in the 500 meters with a time of 1:15.63.
In the high jump, Hannah Schonhoff finished third after clearing 1.68 meters. Newcomer Eloise Mulready placed fifth with a clearance of 1.63 meters. In the 400 meters, Duna Viñals finished fourth with a time of 57.73 while Mary Sollars took sixth in a personal-best 58.74.
Caden Cerminara finished seventh in the pole vault, clearing 3.75m, while Ja’Mia Johnson placed eighth in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles with her time of 8.91.
ON DECK
Select members of the Phoenix distance group will compete at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener tomorrow, hosted at Boston University.
— ELON —
Sports
Big day for Hillsdale’s throwers as Charger men kick off season at GVSU Holiday Open
The Hillsdale College men’s track and field team got off to a strong start in the throws on Friday, kicking off the 2025-26 indoor season at the GVSU Holiday Open.
All four of Hillsdale’s season-opening provisional qualifying marks came in the shot put and weight throw at the meet, showing why the Chargers are one of the best throws programs in NCAA DII.
Leading the way was senior and defending NCAA DII weight throw national champion Ben Haas, who began his title defense by taking second overall and first among collegiate throwers in the event on Friday with a provisional qualfying throw of 21.33 meters.
Haas was joined in setting a provisional qualifying mark in the weight throw by not one, but two teammates on Friday. Redshirt freshman Dominic Scharer had an collegiate debut to remember on Friday, opening his career with a 20.02 meter mark that makes him the just the fourth Charger in program history to break 20 meters in the weight throw. Along with Scharer, junior Dimitry Ermakov had a massive new personal best in the weight throw to earn a provisional mark in the event for the first time with a distance of 18.58 meters. That mark gives Ermakov the sixth-best weight throw mark in Hillsdale College history as well.
Along with his performance in the weight throw, Haas also started strong in the shot put, placing fourth with a throw of 17.24 meters to give himself a second provisional mark on the day. Scharer also had a notable debut in the shot put, with a top throw of 14.99 meters that gives him the eighth-best mark in program history as well.
On the track, Hillsdale had a few notable standouts. Senior Gabriel Phillips ran well against an elite field in the fastest heat of the 5,000m run, finishing ninth in a new personal best time of 14:30.62, the fourth-best mark in the event in program history. Freshman John Richardson also had a strong first collegiate 5K, finishing in a strong time of 15:02.60 for the Chargers as well, and junior Caleb Youngstedt also ran a new personal best in the 5K of 15:06.17 for Hillsdale.
Two freshmen put together impressive first races as well for the Chargers. Watson Magwenzi had a debut to remember for Hillsdale, becoming just the 11th Charger in program history to go under seven seconds in the 60m dash with a time of 6.99, and also running a solid 22.53 in his first collegiate 200. In the 400m dash, freshman Jack Polizzi also started fast for Hillsdale, placing sixth in 49.48 just ahead of teammate Zealand Tarrant, who ran a new personal best 49.77 to take ninth. Magwenzi also was pushed in the 60 and 200 by sophomore Sam Jones, who a personal best 7.03 in the 60 and a 22.63 in the 200.
Senior Mark Masaka placed 10th (1:56.19) and freshman Wyatt Widolff placed 14th (1:57.48) in the 800m run as well for Hillsdale, and freshman Luan Kummle took 14th in the long jump (6.26 meters).
Hillsdale now heads into the Christmas break, and will pick back up in 2026 with the Al Campbell Invite hosted by the University of Akron on Jan. 16.
Sports
Men’s Track & Field: Stefanowicz Tops Hurdles Record at M City Classic
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Macalester College men’s track & field team opened the 2026 indoor season at the M City Classic, hosted by the University of Minnesota on Friday. Senior Sebastian Stefanowicz (Portland, Ore./Valley Catholic) broke the school record in the 60-meter hurdles.
Stefanowicz finished fifth in the 60-meter hurdles behind three Division I athletes and an unattached runner with a time of 8.63. The performance betters the old record of 8.68, set by John Shepard ’01 in 1999. Senior Hamza Mahamud (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) finished seventh in 9.10. Stefanowicz also placed 12th in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.15, which ranks sixth on Macalester’s all-time performance list.
In the 600 meters, seniors Henry Schonebaum (Faribault, Minn./Faribault) and Thomas Malecha (Faribault, Minn.) finished sixth and seventh, respectively. First year Aj Baehr (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) took seventh in the 400 meters (51.18) in his first collegiate race.
In the field events, first year Alex Peters (Belle Plaine, Minn./Jordan) took fourth in the shot put with a mark of 12.55 meters (41-2.25) in his first competition as a Scot. Sophomore Ataa Mensah (St. Paul, Minn./Roseville) finished fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 12.77 meters (41-10.75), followed by first year Garner Miyagawa (Encinitas, Calif./San Dieguito Academy) in fifth with a mark of 12.26 (40-2.75).
Macalester resumes competition in January by hosting the Vanessa Seljeskog Classic on Jan. 24 in the Leonard Center Fieldhouse.
Click here for results.
Sports
Tigers Win Seven Events at Birmingham Icebreaker
Gizel Clayton captured the women’s 60-meter hurdles (8.43) title for the second straight year, while Alex Bobak won the mile (4:15.97) for the first time in his career, setting a personal best in the process. Poorna Raorane also took home a victory in the shot (14.65m) put after finishing third at last year’s meet.
Courtland Noble won the 400m (48.55) making his second career victory in this event.
The Tigers recorded 10 top-five finishes, including sophomore Trinity Brown, who placed second and set a PR in the triple jump (11.91m).
Memphis athletes combined for 21 personal records, the most in a single meet since Feb. 15, 2025, at the Bulldog Open and Invite.
A full list of today’s six wins, top-five finishes and PRs can be found below. Comprehensive meet results can be found in the link above.
Tigers will be back in action in the new year, opening 2026 at the Bob Teel Invitational in Columbus, Missouri, on January 24.
Wins
Gizel Clayton, Women’s 60mH, 8.43
Alex Bobak, Men’s One Mile, 4:15.97
Poorna Raorane, Women’s Shot Put, 14.65m
Oageng Mdlela, Men’s Triple Jump, 15.16m
Kaseiana Meriweather, Women’s 200m, 24.08
Courtland Noble, Men’s 400m, 48.55
Meghan Porterfield, Women’s Weight Throw, 17.49m
Top Finishes (Top 5)
Kaseiana Meriweather, 2nd, Women’s 60m, 7.49
Destiny Jenkins, 4th, Women’s 60m, 7.55
Jazmyn James, 2nd, Women’s Shot Put, 13.88m
Meghan Porterfield, 3rd, Women’s Shot Put, 13.30m
Jean Yves Thiemble Marco, 3rd, Men’s Long Jump, 7.20m
Kouto Anyika, 4th, Men’s 300m, 33.95
Alexandra Allen, 2nd, Women’s 400m, 56.61
Judy Elful, 3rd, Women’s 400m, 56.95
Lilith Stenger, 2nd, Women’s High Jump, 1.60m
Trinity Brown, 2nd, Women’s Triple Jump, 11.91m
Tristian Robinson, 2nd, Men’s Weight Throw, 17.55m
Natalie Albert, 2nd, Women’s Weight Throw, 17.21m
Dajuan Montague, 2nd, Men’s High Jump, 2.10m
PRs
Elizabeth Markwell, Women’s 3000m, 11:10.48
Brooke Doyle, Women’s 3000m, 11:44.71
Jackson Turner, Men’s 3000m, 9:03.57
Jay Prettyman, Men’s 3000m, 9:12.56
Jagger Noel, Men’s 3000m, 9:19.46
Kaseiana Meriweather, Women’s 60m, 7.49
Destiny Jenkins, Women’s 60m, 7.55
Alex Bobak, Men’s One Mile, 4:15.97
Urko Extebeste, Men’s One Mile, 4:28.33
Resse Martin, Women’s 1000m, 3:10.96
Shantel Reed, Women’s 300m, 42.22
Kouto Anyika, Men’s 300m, 33.95
Bryson Wilson, Men’s 300m, 34.47
Jonathan Bunch Jr., Men’s 300m, 36.70
Alexandra Allen, Women’s 400m, 56.61
Lilith Stenger, Women’s High Jump, 1.60m
Trinity Brown, Women’s Triple Jump, 11.91m
Tristian Robinson, Men’s Weight Throw, 17.55m
Amri White, Men’s Weight Throw, 15.70m
Zion Smith, Women’s Long Jump, 5.15m
Dajuan Montague, Men’s High Jump, 2.10m
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Cross Country and Track & Field, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sports
Liston Breaks 5K School Record, Track & Field Starts Indoor Season Strong
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – In their first meet in 195 days, the men’s and women’s track and field teams started strong at the MSU Chuck Peterson Open and M City Classic, with Molly Liston setting a school record in the 5000-meter and multiple top-five finishes against Division I, II, and III opponents at the M City Classic.
Head Coach Aaron Lund elected to send Liston to the Chuck Peterson Open, hosted by MSU-Mankato, with the goal of setting the school record in the 5000m, fresh off of a cross country season where she finished 41st at the NCAA Championships, just one spot away from All-American honors. It was clear that the heartbreak in Spartansburg, South Carolina fueled Liston, who crushed the previous school record of 17:30.02, set in 2006 by Kourtney Joyce, with a time of 17:11.07. The Richfield native maintained record-setting pace throughout the race, running 1000m times of 3:24.98, 3:25.29, 3:27.42, 3:29.41, and 3:23.97 to break the record.
The other nine women for Gustavus traveled to Minneapolis to compete at the M City Classic, hosted by the University of Minnesota. Maddox Lee competed in the pentathlon for the Gusties, scoring 2455 to finish 16th, including tying a personal record in the high jump, clearing 1.44m. On the track, McKenzie Luetmer set her personal record with a time of 8.22 in the 60-meter, as the only person who ran the race for Gustavus. In the 60-meter hurdles, three Gusties advanced to the finals after qualifying in the prelims. In the finals, all three Gustavus women ran faster times than their prelim times, where sophomore Kayla Kajer set a personal record with a time of 9.64, first-year Sophia Vogel ran a time of 9.72, and sophomore Emily Podulke finished just a second slower with a time of 9.73 to finish sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively. Sophomore Teagan Stark was the only entrant for the Gustie women in the 400-meter, running a time of 1:05.26 to finish third in the event and classmate Ella Kienitz was the only entrant in the 600-meter, crossing the finish line in a time of 1:47.79. Two Gustavus women ran in the 300-meter, with Lauren Rocheford finishing in 11th with a time of 45.13 and Podulke with a time of 46.55. Luetmer and Vogel competed in the 200-meter, completing in times of 27.53 and 28.64 respectively. In the field, first-year Kaylee Hawks and Kajer both reached heights of 1.55m, good for second at the M City Classic.
On the men’s side, first-year Amos Anderson started the season for the Gusties, running in the 60-meter prelims, placing 36th with a time of 7.71. In the 400-meter, first-year Luke Scheel led the Gustavus contingent with a time of 52.00 to finish 10th place, followed by Cohen Stursa with a time of 52.67 and Reese Blondin with a time of 53.77. Stursa was also the only entry in the 200-meter for the Gusties, finishing in a time of 24.17 for 19th. In the field, two Gusties competed in the long jump, Ben Wynia and Logan Sandmeyer. Wynia jumped a 6.07m mark, good for ninth place and Sandmeyer leaped to a 5.91m mark, finishing 10th. Three entrants competed in the pole vault, led by first-year Anderson and sophomore Alex Palmer, both vaulting over heights of 3.90m, with senior Joe Ream just behind them with a height of 3.75m.
Gustavus track and field takes a few weeks off now, getting back to competition on January 17th, when the team competes at the Ole Opener, hosted by St. Olaf in Northfield.
Sports
Mens track & field kick start their indoor season at SDSU
BROOKINGS, S.D. — The Jimmie men opened their indoor season with a strong first showing, posting competitive marks across sprint, distance, jump, and throw events.
Avery Ligon placed 20th in the 60 meter with a time of 7.17.
Xander Rath placed 35th in the 60 meter with a time of 7.43.
Conrad P. Baard placed 30th in the 200 meter with a time of 24.04, and 16th in the 400 meter with a time of 57.18.
Andrew Rexin placed 35th in the 200 meter with a time of 24.85, and 18th in the 400 meter with a time of 59.02.
Cael Church placed 15th in the 300 meter with a time of 37.43, and 12th in the 600 meter with a time of 1:26.90.
Clark Lortscher placed 5th in the 3000 meter with a PR of 8:57.81.
Cole Campbell placed 7th in the 3000 meter with a PR of 9:01.75.
Noah Sayler placed 10th in the 3000 meter with a PR of 9:16.42.
Aaron Devine placed 12th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:19.37.
Lucas Dahl placed 13th in the 3000 meter with a PR of 9:20.35.
Braeden Kinzler placed 14th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:22.51.
Payton Mukkada placed 15th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:22.69.
Gavyn Graham placed 18th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:37.02.
Adam Sobolik placed 19th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:38.14.
Landon Thompson placed 20th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:47.66.
Samuel Sampers placed 21st in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:50.89.
Kadin Marshall placed 24th in the 3000 meter with a time of 9:59.83.
Liam Pospisil placed 25th in the 3000 meter with a PR of 10:26.49.
Ethan Duval placed 3rd in the High Jump at 2.00m (6’6.75″), a PR.
Riley Johnson placed 10th in the High Jump at 1.80m (5’10.75″).
Trevor Waldo placed 17th in the Long Jump at 6.02m (19’9″).
Jayden Bittner placed 20th in the Long Jump at 5.75m (18’10.5″).
Brady Crabtree placed 14th in Pole Vault at 4.25m (13’11.25″), a PR.
Evan Schmit placed 11th in Shot Put at 14.59m (47’10.5″) and 20th in Weight Throw at 13.88m (45’6.5″), a PR.
Jobe Rystedt placed 16th in Shot Put at 13.56m (44’6″) and 26th in Weight Throw at 12.11m (39’8.75″).
WHATS NEXT?
The Jimmies return to action on Thursday, 11 December, competing at the Dakota Alumni Classic hosted by NDSU in Fargo, N.D.
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