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SEASON PREVIEW: Women’s Track & Field

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NEW LONDON, Conn. — 

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy women’s track & field team are set to start their season on Saturday, December 6th, at Boston University’s Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. This season’s group features a strong senior core leading a group of underclassmen expected to take big steps forward.

Multi-athlete Tara Jessen (Signal Mountain, Tenn.), distance specialist Claire Semerod (Cantennial, Colo.), horizontal jumper Kaylee Wright (Plainwell, Mich.), and pole vaulter Mollie Brinker (Wilminton, N.C.) make up the group of four seniors that will lead the team as this season’s captains. Jessen was named the 2025 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Track Athlete of the Year after winning the heptathlon and 400 Hurdles at the conference’s championship meet. Coast Guard’s record holder in the outdoor 400 Hurdles was also a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region pick. Jessen will start earlier than her teammates, competing at the University of Rhode Island’s season-opening pentathlon tomorrow and Thursday.

Semerod is transitioning into her final season on the track after another dynamic fall on the cross country course. She won the NEWMAC Championship race en route to her fourth career National Championship appearance and second career All-America distinction. Semerod was Second Team All-America in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) last season as she returns as the New England Division III (NED3) Indor 5k Champion and an All-NED3 competitor in the Mile.

Wright looks forward to another big year in the jump pits after finishing as runner-up in long jump at the NEWMAC Championships, earning her All-Conference distinction. She holds the program record in the event and got up the second spot of the Academy leaderboard in the triple jump in her first year competing in the latter. Wright is also no stranger to the track, where she’s been a member of the third-best and fifth-best 4×100 Relay teams in program history.

Brinker established herself as the Bears top pole vaulter last season, qualifying for the NED3 Outdoor Championship and recording points at NEWMACs after recording the third-best indoor pole vault in program history.

Headlining the team is Allie Wildsmith (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), who cemented herself as the best high jumper in Division III with a pair of dominant performances at the Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, needing just three jumps to win the latter while gunning for the Division III record. The dual champion holds the Academy’s all-time records in both venues, was named NEWMAC Field Athlete of the Year, and was tabbed the USTFCCCA Regional Field Athlete of the Year for her performances during both seasons.

Alaina Stonebraker (Sandy, Utah) is back as Coast Guard’s top sprinter, with her sights set on the 200 and 400 following her strong 2025 outdoor season. Her name can be found throughout the record books as a member of the program record indoor 4×200 and 4×400 teams and the outdoor 4×400 team, as well as on several leaderboards for individual sprints including third in the outdoor 100, second in the outdoor 200, and 4th in the outdoor 400. Stonebraker earned a USTFCCCA All-Region nod in the 4×400 and was All-NED3 in the 4×200 and 4×400.

Lauren Mellon (Falls Church, Va.) also joins Semerod in transitioning from a strong cross country season. She was an All-NED3 performer in the indoor 5k last season, in which she sits fourth on the program leaderboard.

The junior class features Ella Besant (Morehead, Ky.), who joined Stonebraker as a USTFCCCA All-Region mention in the 4×400 and All-NED3 in the 4×200 and 4×400. Besant is also a member of the school record 4×200 and 4×400 teams and a strong individual sprinter in her own right at third on the Academy’s indoor 400 list and fifth in the outdoor 400.

Mia Mastrogiovanni (Manahawkin, N.J.) and Annabel Molner (Bremen, Germany) both return to the track following great cross country seasons. Mastrogiovanni will be aregular in the Mile and 5k, and currently sits sixth all-time on the program’s Steeplechase leaderboard, while Molner is seventh all-time in the 5k. Kate Stebbins (Chapin, S.C.) will also be one to watch in mid-distance as part of the program’s third-best 4×800 team and holding the eighth-best 800 time in program history.

Brooke Hunter (Phillipsburg, N.J.) leads the sophomores as another top cross country runner gearing up for track season, specializing in the Mile and 5k while holding the program’s ninth-best all-time 10k performance. Hannah Edwards (Highland Village, Tex.) and Millie Wymbs (Salisbury, N.C.) will also be names to keep an eye on in relays, with Edwards being part of the third-best 4×800 team and Wymbs running on the fifth-best 4×100 team.

Finally, the women’s track & field team will welcome 13 freshman cadet-athletes into their ranks. Among them are the Corritore twins, Ella and Hailey, who were both forces to be reckoned with in jumping events during their high school careers. Ella specialized in the high and long jump and hurdles, and will join Jessen at URI tomorrow and Thursday, while Hailey competes in the long and triple jumps.

The trio of Starr Hepburn (Stafford, Va.), Josalyn Rush (Toms River, N.J.), and Bianca McIntosh (Woodbridge, Va.) will all have a presence in sprints and relays as strong 200 and 400 runners. Followers of Coast Guard Athletics will remember McIntosh as a rookie standout on the Academy’s women’s soccer team, where she tallied a team-high five assists as a speedy wingback. Kevyn Fish (Pittsburgh, Pa.) will also look to put forth performances on the track that will equal her impressive freshman cross country season, which culminated in All-Region distinction.

 



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Sooners Wrap Season-Opening Weekend in Boston

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BOSTON — The Oklahoma track and field team capped competition at the esteemed Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday.

Five Sooners competed in the invite, highlighted by top-20 finishes in the men’s 5K by sophomores Evans Biwott and Ronald Ngetich.

Sophomore Leah Jeruto was the only OU female to take the stage, finishing the women’s 5K in 15:55.33 for 30th place.

Biwott led the Sooner men in the 5K, finishing the race in a personal-best 13:35.81 for 17th place (out of more than 200 competitors) and the second-fastest time in OU history. Ngetich crossed the line in 13:36.71, good for 19th place and the No. 4 time in OU annals. Shadrack Kiptoo (13:58.70) and Thobias Cheruiyot (14:08.93) rounded out OU’s performances for the day.

The Sooners return to action Jan. 16 at home for the Owen Hewett Invitational.


For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.





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2025 DII women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

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Here’s everything you need to know leading up to the first round of the 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship. 

The championship bracket was revealed during a selection show on Monday, Nov. 24, live streamed here on NCAA.com. Twenty-three teams earned automatic qualification, with the remaining 41 teams selected at-large by the Division II Women’s Volleyball Committee. Teams from each of the eight regional sites received initial seeds Nos. 1-8. 

🏆 Watch live: 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship rounds

2025 DII women’s volleyball championship bracket

Click or tap here for the 2025 interactive bracket

DII women's volleyball bracket 2025

2025 NCAA DII women’s volleyball schedule

  • Quarterfinals: Thursday, Dec. 11
  • Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 12
  • National Championship: Saturday, Dec. 13

  • Selection show: 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 24
  • Regionals: Dec. 4-6
    • Thursday, Dec. 4
      • No. 3 Indiana (Pennsylvania) 3, No. 6 Fairmont State 0
      • No. 3 Anderson (South Carolina) 3, No. 6 Augusta 1
      • No. 3 Lynn 3, No. 6 UAH 2
      • No. 6 Washburn 3, No. 3 Wayne State (Nebraska) 0
      • No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 6 Molloy 2
      • No. 2 East Stroudsburg 3, No. 7 Charleston (West Virginia) 0
      • No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 6 Quincy 2
      • No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, No. 7 Lander 1
      • No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 3, No. 2 UCCS 2
      • No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 6 Western Washington 0
      • No. 2 Barry 3, No. 7 Eckerd 0
      • No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 7 Central Oklahoma 0
      • No. 7 Holy Family 3, No. 2 Adelphi 2 
      • No. 7 Rockhurst 3, No. 2 Ohio Dominican 0
      • No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 6 Lubbock Christian 1
      • No. 5 Flagler 3, No. 4 Carson-Newman 1
      • No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 8 Fayetteville State 0
      • No. 7 Central Washington 3, No. 2 Simon Fraser 2
      • No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 8 Spring Hill 0
      • No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 1 Missouri-State Louis 2
      • No. 4 St. Cloud St. 3, No. 5 Missouri Western 1
      • No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 8 Bridgeport 1
      • No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 8 Colorado Mesa 0
      • No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 4, No. 5 Shepherd 0
      • No. 4 West Florida 3, No. 5 Palm Beach Atl. 2
      • No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 8 Emmanuel (Georgia) 1
      • No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 8 CSUSB 2
      • No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 3, No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist 2
      • No. 5 Post 3, No. 4 American Int’l 1
      • No. 5 Findlay 3, No. 4 Wayne State (Michigan) 2
      • No. 4 West Tex. A&M 3, No. 5 CSU Pueblo 1
      • No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 3, No. 4 Alas. Anchorage 0
    • Friday, Dec. 5
      • No. 2 Barry 3, No. 3 Lynn 0
      • No. 3 Indiana (PA) 3, No. 2 East Stroudsburg 1
      • No. 3 Anderson (SC) 3, No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 1
      • No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 7 Holy Family 1
      • No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 6 Washburn 0
      • No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 7 Rockhurst 0
      • No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 0
      • No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 5 Post 1
      • No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 7 Central Washington 2
      • No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 1
      • No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 4 West Florida 1
      • No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 5 Flagler 1
      • No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 5 Findlay 1
      • No. 4 St. Cloud State 3, No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 1
      • No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 4 West Tex. A&M 1
      • No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 1
    • Saturday, Dec. 6

NCAA DII women’s volleyball championship history

Here is the full list of champions and runners-up since 1981:

Year Champion (Record) Coach Score Runner-Up Site
2024 Lynn (33-3) Adam Milewski 3-2 San Francisco St. Sioux Falls, SD
2023 Cal State LA (24-10) Juan Figueroa 3-1  West Texas A&M Moon Township, PA
2022 West Texas A&M (33-4) Kendra Potts 3-1 Concordia-St. Paul Seattle, Wash.
2021 Tampa (34-2) Chris Catanach 3-0 Washburn Tampa, FL.
2020 Canceled due to Covid-19
2019 Cal State San Bernardino (33-0) Kim Cherniss 3-1 Nebraska-Kearney Denver, Co.
2018 Tampa (33-4) Chris Catanach 3-2 Western Washington Pittsburgh, Pa.
2017 Concordia-St. Paul (34-3) Brady Starkey 3-0 Florida Southern Pensacola, Fla.
2016 Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) Brady Starkey 3-0 Alaska Anchorage Sioux Falls, S.D.
2015 Wheeling Jesuit (39-4) Christy Benner 3-0 Palm Beach Atlantic  Tampa, Fla. 
2014 Tampa (33-1) Chris Catanach 3-0 S’west Minnesota State Louisville, Ky.
2013 Concordia-St. Paul (35-3) Brady Starkey 3-0 BYU-Hawaii Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2012 Concordia-St. Paul (34-4) Brady Starkey 3-2 Tampa Pensacola, Fla.
2011 Concordia-St. Paul (34-2) Brady Starkey 3-0 Cal State San Bernardino Cal State San Bernardino
2010 Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) Brady Starkey 3-1 Tampa Louisville, Ky.
2009 Concordia-St. Paul (37-0) Brady Starkey 3-0 West Texas A&M Concordia-St. Paul
2008 Concordia-St. Paul (37-1) Brady Starkey 3-2 Cal State San Bernardino Concordia-St. Paul
2007 Concordia-St. Paul (36-4) Brady Starkey 3-1 Western Washington Washburn
2006 Tampa (35-1) Chris Catanach 3-1 North Alabama West Florida
2005 Grand Valley State (32-1) Deanne Scanlon 3-1 Nebraska-Kearney Nebraska-Kearney
2004 Barry (34-1) Dave Nichols 3-1 Truman Barry
2003 North Alabama (33-7) Matt Peck 3-0 Concordia-St. Paul Cal State San Bernardino
2002 BYU-Hawaii (27-2) Wilfred Navalta 3-0 Truman West Texas A&M
2001 Barry (32-2) Dave Nichols 3-0 South Dakota State Grand Valley State
2000 Hawaii Pacific (28-0) Tita Ahuna 3-0 Augustana (S.D.) Augustana (S.D.)
1999 BYU-Hawaii (30-2) Wilfred Navalta 3-0 Tampa Battle Creek, Mich.
1998 Hawaii Pacific (31-5) Tita Ahuna 3-1 North Dakota State Kissimmee, Fla.
1997 West Texas A&M (37-1) Debbie Hendricks 3-2 Barry Cal State Bakersfield
1996 Nebraska-Omaha (35-2) Rose Shires 3-2 Tampa Central Missouri
1995 Barry (34-2) Leonid Yelin 3-1 Northern Michigan Barry
1994 Northern Michigan (32-4) Mark Rosen 3-1 Cal State Bakersfield Cal State Bakersfield
1993 Northern Michigan (38-1) Jim Moore 3-1 Cal State Bakersfield Northern Michigan
1992 Portland State (36-1) Jeff Mozzochi 3-2 Northern Michigan Portland State
1991 West Texas A&M (36-2) Jim Giacomazzi 3-0 Portland State West Texas A&M
1990 West Texas A&M (38-1) Kim Hudson 3-0 North Dakota State Cal State Bakersfield
1989 Cal State Bakersfield (21-15) David Rubio 3-0 Sacramento State Cal State Bakersfield
1988 Portland State (36-5) Jeff Mozzochi 3-0 Cal State Northridge North Dakota State
1987 Cal State Northridge (35-6) Walt Ker 3-2 Central Missouri Nebraska-Omaha
1986 UC Riverside (29-7) Sue Gozansky 3-0 Cal State Northridge Sacramento State
1985 Portland State (36-5) Jeff Mozzochi 3-1 Cal State Northridge Portland State
1984 Portland State (33-4) Jeff Mozzochi 3-0 Cal State Northridge Portland State
1983 Cal State Northridge (30- 6) Walt Ker 3-2 Portland State Florida Southern
1982 UC Riverside (31-5) Sue Gozansky 3-0 Cal State Northridge Cal State Northridge
1981 Sacramento State (28-6) Debby Colbery 3-0 Lewis UC Riverside

Undefeated women’s volleyball teams in 2025

Follow along as we see how long DI women’s volleyball teams can remain perfect.

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2025 DIII women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 NCAA DIII women’s volleyball tournament.

READ MORE

The 10 greatest upsets in NCAA volleyball tournament history

We gathered what we think are 10 of the greatest upsets in the history of the tournament since its inception in 1981 and ranked them.

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Women’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open

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Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 indoor season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.

The Bulldogs posted four MAC qualifying times/marks in the final results.

Among the qualfying times were sophomore Kay Wiscount in the 800-meters taking first place with a time 2:19.89. Her time qualified her for both the MAC Championships and the AARTFC Championships later in the season.

Sophomore Sadie Fenstermaker also had MAC qualfiying marks in the shot put (9.90m) and weight throw (14.10m). Her weight throw mark was the fifth best in team history.

Junior Sophia Manidis also qualified for the MAC Championships with a 12.23m toss in the weight throw.

The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year competing at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.

 



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Dominique Brown Breaks Longstanding School Record As 31 Spartans Set PR’s at Visit Winston-Salem College Kick Off – University of South Carolina

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – USC Upstate track and field began the indoor season at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick Off today.
The first meet of the season was a successful one, highlighted by freshman Dominique Brown breaking the school record in the women’s 400m with her time of 57.51. The previous school record has stood for 10 years.

Head Coach Carson Blackwelder said, “This was a great start to the track season. We have a very talented team with a lot of potential ahead of us.” A total of 31different Spartans all set personal records in today’s meet.

In addition to Brown, Jenelda Aristhil earned a top finish in both the weight throw and shot put. Michael Moody placed third in the men’s long jump, going a distance of 7.00m.

Coach Blackwelder continued to praise his team, saying, “The 400m runners did a great job on Saturday, and we saw some of the fastest times in school history. The throwers hit some big marks and achieved PRs all around.”

Top Performances (Women):

Dominique Brown – 400m- 57.51 – fifth place (School Record)

Jenelda Aristhil – Weight Throw – 16.96m – fourth place  (third all-time in school history)

                                     Shot Put – 12.40m – seventh place (10th all-time in school history)

Paden Bell – 400m – 59.77 (eighth all-time in school history)

Ayla Osterkamp – 400m – 59.85 (ninth all-time in school history)

Aryanna Perez – High Jump – 1.49m (10th all-time in school history)

Jamyllah Handy – Triple Jump – 11.17m (seventh all-time in school history)

Personal Bests (Women)

Brittany Benson– 60m, 200m

Dominique Brown– 60m

Mya Jackson– 60m

Aryanna Perez– 60m Hurdles

Richard’ia Allen– 200m

Paden Bell– 400m

Ayla Osterkamp– 400m

Nia Glover– 400m

Emma Grace Kutilek– 800m

Aryanna Perez– High Jump, Long Jump

Jamyllah Handy– Long Jump, Triple Jump

Jenelda Aristhil– Shot Put, Weight

Saniyah Joyner– Shot Put

Top Performances (Men):

Michael Moody – Long Jump – 7.00m – third place (fifth all-time in school history )

Quintavius James – 60m – 6.83 – fourth place

Jalen Clark – Long Jump – 6.95m – fifth place (sixth all-time in school history)

Collin Bui-Hayes – 60m – 6.88 – seventh place (fourth all-time in school history)

Jeremiah Harris – 200m – 21.53 – seventh place (second all-time in school history)

Shriyaan Krishnaraj – 400m – 48.94 (second all-time in school history)

Elias Harrison – 800m -1:57.98 – 7th place

Pierce Mosley – Shot Put – 14.46m (sixth all-time in school history

                                Weight – 15.48m – sixth place

Joshua Sterling – Weight- 17.52m – 3rd place (fourth all-time in school history)

                                   Shot Put – 13.68m (10th all-time in school history)

Hunter, Walston, Ruff, Krishnaraj – 4x400m – 2:22.12 – fifth place

Personal Bests

Collin Bui-Hayes– 60m

Evan Daniels– 60m

Jared Isley– 60m Hurdles

ZaCorian Johnson– 200m

Khalif Walston– 200m

Cason McKinney– 200m

Jeremiah Harris– 200m

Shriyaan Krishnaraj– 400m

Chandler Hunter– 400m

Jacob Ruff– 400m

Aidan Kenny– High Jump

Michael Moody– Long Jump

Pierce Mosley– Shot Put

Joshua Sterling– Shot Put

Sam Ketch– Shot Put

Nathaniel Bruce– Shot Put

Tristan Pressley– Triple Jump

Jaylen Pressley– Triple Jump

Up Next for the Spartans

The Spartans resume the season in January, competing at the Tryon International Classic held on the 16th and 17th.

Connect with the Spartans     

Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics     

Twitter | @UpstateXCTrack @UpstateSpartans     

Instagram | @UpstateXCTrack @UpstateSpartans     

YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 

INVEST IN CHAMPIONS – Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!

 



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Where to stream Kansas State Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament today

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers look to keep their impressive season going on Saturday night, as they get set to host the Kansas State Wildcats in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

Nebraska looked impressive in the first round of the tournament, vanquishing the Long Island Sharks in straight sets.

The Cornhuskers rolled toward another Big Ten championship. Nebraska has been dominant. Not only are they undefeated, but they have also been nearly untouchable. For two months, the team did not lose a set. The team then went on to win its final five matches in straight sets, clinching a third consecutive Big Ten Championship.

Now, the program that has played in every national tournament since the AIAW days has its sights set on advancing to the final four for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Nebraska looks to avenge last year’s disappointing semifinal exit at the hands of the eventual national champions, Penn State.

They take on a Kansas State that had to work hard to upset San Diego in the opening round, winning in straight sets on Friday. The Wildcats, who are playing in the national tournament for the first time in four years, look to grab the biggest of upsets and move on to the regional semifinal for the first time since 2011.

NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Second Round

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

When: Saturday, December 6

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center (Lincoln, Neb.)

Stream: ESPN+



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Jane Hedengren Obliterates the NCAA 5K Record in Boston

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Two weeks after finishing second at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships, freshman Jane Hedengren shattered the collegiate record in the 5,000 meters.

On Saturday, December 6, the Brigham Young University standout won the women’s elite race in 14:44.79 at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. With a huge surge in the second half of the race, Hedengren improved on the previous indoor collegiate record (14:52.57) set by Doris Lemngole of Alabama at the same meet in Boston last year.

Hedengren also broke the combined collegiate record (indoor and outdoor track), 14:52.18, set by Parker Valby at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hedengren is now No. 2 on the U.S. all-time list and No. 11 on the world all-time list in the event, indoors.

“This season, there’s been a lot of growth, and I think there’s still so much to build on, lots of gratitude approaching this race and this season, and I’m excited to keep working,” Hedengren told Nia Gibson on the FloTrack broadcast after the race.

Hedengren showed her dominance early at Boston University’s indoor facility. From the gun, Hedengren and Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico both positioned themselves behind pacesetter Ellie Leather through the first mile in 4:48, on pace for a 14:55 finish. By the 2K split, both athletes had pulled ahead of the chase pack by 50 meters.

That gap continued to grow heading into the halfway mark as the cross-country rivals dueled for the lead. Just after the 3,000-meter split, which the pair covered in 8:59, Hedengren surged ahead of Kosgei and never looked back.

For the last 2,000 meters, Hedengren knocked off blazing 34 to 35-second splits for each lap until throwing down an impressive 66-second close for the final 400 meters. Her teammate, Riley Chamberlain, battled for second-place in 14:58.97, a 25-second personal best. Kosgei finished third in 15:05:41.

Before she graduated from Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, last spring, Hedengren broke nine national records on the track—including the 5,000 meters in April when she became the first high school girl to go sub-15 for the distance.

At 19 years old, Hedengren has already emerged as an NCAA leader in her first season running for the Cougars. In October, she dominated the Pre-National Invitational and shattered the course record in her collegiate cross-country debut. She went on to win the Big 12 Championships and NCAA Mountain Region Championships by huge margins.

In late November, Hedengren was competing for the win at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships but couldn’t match the closing speed of Lemngole, the defending champion. With a surge in the last kilometer of the race in Columbia, Missouri, the junior from Kenya claimed the 6K title in 18:25, about 13 seconds ahead of Hedengren.

In a quick turnaround to the track season, Hedengren earned a form of redemption in Boston. She is the most recent athlete in the last several years to break the collegiate record at the indoor season opener, which many elite athletes utilize as a final push of fitness before the holidays. Lemngole—and Valby prior to her—set the indoor record at the same meet.

Headshot of Taylor Dutch

Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.



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