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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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