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Cross Country/Track & Field Caps Historic Year with National Recognition in USTFCCCA Program of the Year Standings

Story Links Pueblo, Colo. – June 10, 2025 — The Colorado State University-Pueblo men’s and women’s track and field programs have solidified their status among the NCAA Division II elite as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the final 2024-25 Program of the Year standings on […]

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Pueblo, Colo. – June 10, 2025 — The Colorado State University-Pueblo men’s and women’s track and field programs have solidified their status among the NCAA Division II elite as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the final 2024-25 Program of the Year standings on Tuesday.

The ThunderWolves men’s team earned a No. 7 national ranking in the Damon Martin Program of the Year standings, which reward consistency and excellence across cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track seasons. The men totaled 43 points—accumulated by placing 14th at the NCAA Division II Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Championships—proving the squad’s balance and competitiveness throughout the academic year.

CSU Pueblo’s success was once again anchored by standout senior Reece Sharman-Newell, who delivered exceptional performances across all seasons. In cross country, he led the ThunderWolves with a 31st-place All-American finish at nationals in Sacramento, clocking 30:17.7 in the 10K. Sharman-Newell followed that up indoors by becoming the national runner-up in the mile, breaking the 4-minute barrier with a time of 3:59.56. He also anchored the All-American distance medley relay (DMR) squad that placed fourth, alongside Jon Sweepe, Tyrell Smith, and Kaleb Tipton.

During the outdoor season, Sharman-Newell capped his year with a National Championship victory in the 1,500-meter run in front of a home crowd at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl. Additional All-American efforts came from Tim Anstett, who took fifth in the men’s 800-meter, and Jon Sweepe, who joined Sharman-Newell on the All-American list in the 1,500-meter.

On the women’s side, the ThunderWolves soared to fourth place in the Jerry Baltes Program of the Year standings—marking a historic year across all three seasons.

In cross country, CSU Pueblo notched its highest-ever finish with a third-place team performance at the national meet in Sacramento. The ThunderWolves saw three athletes earn All-American honors, led by mid-distance star Helen Braybrook, who finished 13th in the 6K (20:54.5). First-year sensation Leah Keisler, a Scottish native competing in her first-ever cross country season, stunned with a 20th-place finish and All-American accolades.
 

The women maintained their momentum indoors, taking sixth place at the NCAA Championships. Braybrook, the highly decorated veteran runner for the ThunderWolves showed that hard work eventually pays off. The Brit took home her first ever Individual NCAA Title, winning the 800 Meters with a time of 2:04.72. 

Katherine Higgins recorded a personal best in the Shot Put, picking up a mark of 15.78 to bring home second place, while Febe Wessels etched her name into CSU Pueblo history as well, as the South African finished in fifth place in the Shot Put, also throwing a personal best and a mark of 15.39. 

The DMR squad of Jadyn HerronGabrielle DunichLeah Keisler, and Helen Braybrook have officially etched their named in NCAA and CSU Pueblo history, as the four women led the Pack to a National Championship. While the Pack were the favorites to win the championship coming in, the four women did not let that get to their head, winning by more than five seconds.

The season concluded outdoors with another program-best, a ninth-place finish at the Outdoor National Championships on home turf in Pueblo.

Senior Katherine Higgins headlined the day, closing her collegiate career in storybook fashion. Higgins was named the Elite 90 award winner for having the highest GPA (a perfect 4.0) among championship competitors, then topped that achievement by capturing her first individual National Championship in the women’s shot put. She threw a personal best of 16.38m to earn her sixth All-American honor.

n the women’s 800m, Pueblo’s favorite Brit, Helen Braybrook—already a local legend and a likely future Olympian for Great Britain—ran a personal best of 2:03.67 to finish as national runner-up. She was joined on the podium by Scottish junior Leah Keisler, who took seventh in 2:07.07, earning All-American status.

Back in the shot put ring, junior Febe Wessels of South Africa continued her consistent excellence, placing fifth with a throw of 15.44m and adding another All-American performance to her résumé.

Freshman Keturah Templeman capped off her record-breaking debut season in the women’s javelin, finishing ninth with a mark of 46.18m—adding to a historic freshman campaign for the young ThunderWolf.

The 2024-25 campaign represented a year of firsts and milestones for the ThunderWolves. Under the guidance of their coaching staff and the leadership of student-athletes like Sharman-Newell, Braybrook, and Keisler, CSU Pueblo has established itself as one of the most complete and consistent programs in NCAA Division II.

With historic finishes, national titles, and a haul of All-American honors, the ThunderWolves’ success this year will be remembered as one of the finest in program history



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The 2024-25 Frank Kush Award winner is…

In the middle of June, every Sun Devil head coach casts a single vote for the Sun Devil Coach of the Year in honor of Frank Kush. The award – presented around the anniversary of Coach Kush’s passing (June 22, 2017) – is a way for each coach to recognize a peer that impressed them […]

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In the middle of June, every Sun Devil head coach casts a single vote for the Sun Devil Coach of the Year in honor of Frank Kush.

The award – presented around the anniversary of Coach Kush’s passing (June 22, 2017) – is a way for each coach to recognize a peer that impressed them the most.

There are no true guidelines for this honor; coaches can nominate someone who earned any honors, a coach who made an impression in their first year, or simply the nicest coach in the building. Once the nominations are in, one Sun Devil coach earns what one can consider the ultimate show of respect: an award from their peers in the 26-sport, 22-head coach department.

This year’s winner – and Arizona State graduate — did all of this…

–led his team to the Big 12 title (after being picked for last)

–earned Big 12 Coach of the Year

–had his team go undefeated at home for the first time since 2004

–placed his team seventh in the final Associated Press rankings

–impressed everyone associated with the program with a complete rebuild after back-to-back 3-9 seasons (only one was his)

–had every head coach vote for him, the first time that has happened in the awards history.

Congratulations Kenny Dillingham!

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL FRANK KUSH AWARD WINNERS

2024-25: Kenny Dillingham, football

2023-24: JJ Van Niel, volleyball

2022-23: Bob Bowman, swim and dive

2021-22: Matt Thurmond, men’s golf

2020-21: Todd Clapper, water polo

2018-19: Greg Powers, hockey

2017-18: Trisha Ford, softball

 





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Six Fisher Athletes Earn College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Women’s At Large Honors

General | 6/17/2025 4:18:00 PM Story Links PITTSFORD, N.Y. – St. John Fisher student athletes Emma Cooper (field hockey), Audrey Grieb (field hockey), Sydney Carpenter (women’s lacrosse), Kaley Griffin (women’s lacrosse), Anna Winters (women’s rowing) and Sarah Burgess (women’s golf) have been selected to the 2025 NCAA Division III College Communicators Academic […]

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General | 6/17/2025 4:18:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – St. John Fisher student athletes Emma Cooper (field hockey), Audrey Grieb (field hockey), Sydney Carpenter (women’s lacrosse), Kaley Griffin (women’s lacrosse), Anna Winters (women’s rowing) and Sarah Burgess (women’s golf) have been selected to the 2025 NCAA Division III College Communicators Academic All-District Women’s At Large Team.

Cooper and Carpenter have advanced to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. NCAA, NAIA and College Division Women’s At-Large Academic All-America® First-, second- and third-team honorees will be announced on July 8. 

The 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s At-Large teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes at-large honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Cooper sustained a 4.0 grade-point average as a biochemistry student at Fisher. She started in all 20 games and recorded 20 points during the 2024 season en route to second-team All-Region honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Cooper is a four-time NFHCA DIII Scholar of Distinction. 

Grieb maintained a 3.93 grade point average as a nursing student at Fisher. A four-time NFHCA Division III Scholar of Distinction, Grieb played and started in all 20 games this past season, tallying 20 points on six goals and eight assists. She garnered All-Empire 8 Conference first-team honors. 

Carpenter, who studied education and finished her time at Fisher with a 3.90 GPA, earned first-team All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association for the second time in three years this past season. She finished her career with 300 points, the second-most in Empire 8 history, and holds the conference record for draw controls with 504. 

An accounting and finance student, Griffin has maintained a 3.98 GPA through her junior year. This past season, she set career highs in goals (44), assists (14), total points (58) and draw controls. She was named MVP of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament, during which she had seven points on six goals and one assist to go along with nine draw controls over two games.

Winters, a rising junior, has maintained a 3.76 grade-point average while studying accounting and Spanish for two years at Fisher. She was named to the 2025 Liberty League Women’s Rowing All-Academic Team in May. 

Burgess, a biology major, has sustained a 4.0 GPA through two years at St. John Fisher. She earned All-Empire 8 first-team honors for the 2024-25 season. 



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Ohio State women’s volleyball team to benefit from revenue sharing boost

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio State University’s women’s volleyball team is set to receive a financial boost as part of a new revenue-sharing initiative. Starting July 1st, colleges can pay student-athletes directly with a cap of $20.5 million. Schools also have the option to allocate a chunk of the money for scholarships. Ohio State Athletic […]

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Ohio State University’s women’s volleyball team is set to receive a financial boost as part of a new revenue-sharing initiative.

Starting July 1st, colleges can pay student-athletes directly with a cap of $20.5 million. Schools also have the option to allocate a chunk of the money for scholarships.

Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork announced last week that OSU will share $18 million with athletes from four sports: football, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball. Ohio State is also adding 91 scholarships across all sports, worth up to $2.5 million of the $20.5 million cap.

Head Coach Jenn Flynn Oldenburg says the investment underscores the university leadership’s support for both the program and Big Ten women’s volleyball.

“Be one of four, I think, sets the tone for the conference and for our program because volleyball is big in the Big Ten,” Oldenburg said. “In order to compete, you have to compete with the big dogs. And by saying that we’re one of the four at Ohio State to get revenue share, we’re going to compete with the big dogs in volleyball.”

Oldenburg will now be responsible for allocating the funds among her players, with plans to distribute the money based on roster production and incentive-based awards.

“I think it’s going to be year by year based on the roster production awards, those kinds of things. It’s more incentive-based. We have a plan in place. It’s not locked in stone. And I think that we can be creative with it. I think that’s the exciting part about this year. Yeah, I’m excited to be able to use it as we need it,” she said.

As a former decorated Ohio State volleyball player herself, Oldenburg remarked on the remarkable growth and support for the athletes. She said the team is eager to return to the court and pursue championships.

The Buckeyes’ season begins on August 29, with their home opener against Florida scheduled for September 7 at the Covelli Center.



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Harvard Track and Field Goes the Distance at NCAA Outdoor Championships | Sports

Harvard’s track and field team capped off an impressive week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this weekend, earning All-America First Team selections on both the men’s and women’s side. Hungarian sophomore Ferenc Kovacs took home the bronze in the men’s 1,500-meter final with a time of 3:47.42 — becoming Harvard’s highest finisher in the event. […]

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Harvard’s track and field team capped off an impressive week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this weekend, earning All-America First Team selections on both the men’s and women’s side.

Hungarian sophomore Ferenc Kovacs took home the bronze in the men’s 1,500-meter final with a time of 3:47.42 — becoming Harvard’s highest finisher in the event. Then, just two days later, he ran a 3:34.79 in the event at the Portland Track Festival to set a new Ivy League record and put him in a tie for the 14th fastest 1500-meter time in NCAA history. The two races added to Kovacs’ already impressive resume, after he broke the 1,500-meter school record during his freshman campaign.

Alongside Kovacs, seniors Chloe Fair and Izzy Goudros also received first team honors — an award given to the top eight finishers. Fair, who finished sixth in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, becomes just the fourth Harvard women’s hurdler to receive the honor. Goudros finished seventh in the heptathlon after a stellar long jump of 6.39 meters moved her up in the standings from 14th place and earned her a new school record.

The Crimson had an historic performance at the 2024 Outdoor Championships, sending a record 18 athletes and picking up a first-place finish from Maia Ramsden ’24. Still, even though the team did not match last season’s stand-out results, this season marked the third consecutive year the program sent more than 10 athletes to compete, with 15 making the trip.

Fair said that the energy of the meet was palpable — particularly due to its location at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

“Everyone there is actually genuinely fans of track and field,” Fair said. “You look up and the stadium’s almost full, and it’s just absolutely insane.”

Fair, who graduated in May and is now headed to the University of Georgia to continue her track career, said it was “tough” knowing that the meet was her last time competing for the Crimson.

“Being a part of Harvard track and field is the thing I am most proud of from my time at Harvard,” Fair said.

Senior Ben Rosa was one of Harvard’s six athletes to earn an All-America Second Team nod, as the Ivy League 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter champion finished tenth in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA championships. Rosa is Harvard’s first All-American in the event since Crimson star Graham Blanks, who surrendered his remaining NCAA eligibility in December to compete professionally.

Because the race started off slowly, Rosa said he knew “there was going to be a big burn up somewhere in the second half.” But even as the bell lap arrived, the group was still clustered together, and he liked his odds.

“About 600 meters to go, we were still so bunched up. I was saying, ‘shoot, I could win this thing,’” Rosa said. “At that point, I was racing to win.”

With 200 meters to go, the race finally spaced out as Ishmael Kipkurui of New Mexico made a decisive move, gapping the rest of the field. Still, Rosa — who was also participating in the final race of his collegiate career — said he was content with his 10th place finish.

“10th is a little bit far removed from that, but I would not have had it any other way,” he said.

Sophomore Tito Alofe, who was participating in the long jump at the championships for the second straight year, had been battling a nagging knee injury coming into the meet. Just three weeks after winning the Ivy League championships with a personal best jump of 2.25 meters, he aggravated his knee while qualifying for the outdoor championships at regionals.

“When I competed on Friday, I just was not very close to 100%. I actually did better than I expected, to be 100% honest,” Alofe said.

But he will head into the offseason encouraged by his season and motivated for the future.

“While I did not end up getting first team all-American, which was my ultimate goal, I’d say I’ve put myself in a pretty good position to do pretty big things next year,” he said.

On the women’s side, senior Victoria Bossong capped off her decorated Crimson career with a ninth place finish in the 800 meters, earning All-America Second Team recognition.

With the NCAA championships behind them, Harvard’s track and field athletes will now have some time to rest before many return to Oregon for the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at the end of July.

—Staff writer Akshaya Ravi can be reached at akshaya.ravi@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @akshayaravi22.

—Staff writer Cam N. Srivastava can be reached at cam.srivastava@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @camsrivastava.



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LADY COYOTE VOLLEYBALL STARTS WITH HISTORIC TRYOUTS AT “MIDNIGHT MADNESS”

Home Sports LADY COYOTE VOLLEYBALL STARTS WITH HISTORIC TRYOUTS AT “MIDNIGHT MADNESS” LADY COYOTE VOLLEYBALL STARTS WITH HISTORIC TRYOUTS AT “MIDNIGHT MADNESS” By Pete VasquezPvasquez@cherryroad.com For the first time in program history, the Alice Lady Coyote Volleyball team is launching their 2025 season with a Midnight Madness… Previous Post YOUNG EDINBURG MAN KILLED IN EARLY […]

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LADY COYOTE VOLLEYBALL STARTS WITH HISTORIC TRYOUTS AT “MIDNIGHT MADNESS”



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WSU Track and Field cut in half – The Daily Evergreen

On June 16 2025 WSU Athletics informed the men’s and women’s track and field teams that their scope of competitions will be narrowed. Sprinting and hurdle events will be reduced in the future along with field events such as throwing and jumping being cut altogether.   “The program will be shifting to a distance-focused approach,” […]

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On June 16 2025 WSU Athletics informed the men’s and women’s track and field teams that their scope of competitions will be narrowed. Sprinting and hurdle events will be reduced in the future along with field events such as throwing and jumping being cut altogether.

 

“The program will be shifting to a distance-focused approach,” WSU Athletics explained in a statement issued on Monday. “This change gives the WSU Track & Field program the best opportunity to remain competitive at the conference and national levels in distance events in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field.”

 

Student-athletes affected by the cuts will still receive their scholarships if they decide to stay at WSU. Should they decide to pursue their career at a different university, transition support and services will be provided.

Mason Lawyer competing at the NCAA Division-I Championships – Washington State Athletics

The new focus on distance events means that athletes like Mason Lawyer will be limited in their opportunities. In the late stages of May when qualifying for the NCAA Division-I Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Lawyer set a school record for the 200m sprint, running it in 20.34 seconds. On the same day, Lawyer along with Bryson Stubblefield, Parker Duskin and Keenan Kuntz set the school record for the 4x100m Relay running it in 39.09 seconds.

These performances punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship hosted by the University of Oregon on June 11-14. Lawyer finished 15th for the 100m, 17th for the 200m and 20th for the 4x100m Relay alongside Stubblefield, Duskin and Kuntz.

Washington State’s Evans Kurui holds up his trophy after finishing fifth in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Nationals on Wednesday in Eugene, Ore. – Washington State Athletics

This constriction towards distance events also comes off the heels of Evans Kurui receiving All-American recognition. The WSU sophomore competed in his first ever outdoor championship running the 10,000m distance event. He placed fifth with a time of 29:10.91, making him the highest ranking Coug in the championships.

 

WSU Athletes whose events are cut entirely include:

Women

  • Alexandra Gustavel – Freshman – Jumps
  • Nana Gyedu – Senior – Throws
  • LindiDon Kessinger – Freshman – Throws
  • Laura Lindquist – Junior – Throws
  • Luceris Suarez Pacheco – Junior – Throws
  • Bri Sackman – Freshman – Throws
  • Nevaeh Wilson – Sophomore – Throws
  • Baylee Wroble – Freshman – Throws
  • Eva Lowder – Sophomore – Pole Vault
  • Chloe Metz – Freshman – Pole Vault
  • Tatum Moku – Sophomore – Pole Vault
  • Madisyn Negro – Sophomore – Pole Vault
  • Sarah Kovich – Senior – Heptathlon

Men

  • Eli Lawrence – Junior – Jumps
  • A.J. McGloflin – Junior – Jumps
  • Antoni Smith – Sophomore – Jumps
  • Mason Andulajevic – Sophomore – Throws
  • Caden Hottman – Junior – Throws
  • Maxwell Moore – Graduate Student – Throws
  • Henry Sheldrup – Sophomore – Throws
  • Blake Sturgis – Junior – Throws
  • Kai Twaddle-Dunham – Freshman – Throws
  • Tristian Webb – Sophomore – Throws
  • Cody White – Sophomore – Throws
  • Gavin Dimick – Sophomore – Pole Vault
  • Seth Nelson – Sophomore – Pole Vault

 

Athletes who will have their events limited moving forward include:

Women

  • Micaela De Mello – Redshirt Senior – Hurdles
  • Zakiya Hill – Freshman – Sprints
  • Ashley Hollenbeck Willems – Senior – Sprints
  • Brooke Lyons – Sophomore – Sprints
  • Lahela Ray – Freshman – Sprints
  • Zoe Ray – Freshman – Sprints

 

Men

  • Eysias Banks – Senior – Hurdles
  • Grant Buckmiller – Sophomore – Sprints
  • Milan Cieslak – Freshman – Sprints
  • Royal Haley – Freshman – Sprints
  • Keenan Kuntz – Redshirt Freshman – Sprints
  • Mason Lawyer – Junior – Sprints
  • John Parades – Junior – Sprints/Hurdles
  • Parker Duskin – Junior – Sprints/Hurdles

 

No other cuts to athletics have been announced so far. However, as the 2025-2026 school year approaches there may be more realignments as funding is finalized.



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